Brown, Charlotte Emerson (1838–1895)

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Brown, Charlotte Emerson (1838–1895)

American clubwoman. Born Charlotte Emerson, April 21, 1838, in Andover, Massachusetts; died Feb 5, 1895, in East Orange, New Jersey; dau. of a cleric and a relative of Ralph Waldo Emerson; m. Rev. William B. Brown, July 1880.

Founded many clubs, including Euterpe (musical club); served as president of local Woman's Club in East Orange, NJ; with Jane Cunningham Croly, founded the General Federation of Women's Clubs in New York City, an alliance of women's literary clubs and civic reform societies which was one of the most influential women's organizations then in US, serving as its 1st president (1889–94); assisted Woman's Board of Missions of the Congregational Church.