Woman's Exchange Movement

The Woman's Exchange Movement in the United States dates to 1832, with the establishment of the Philadelphia Ladies' Depository.[1][2]

Exchanges are non-profit establishments. In the 19th century they were mainly set up by philanthropic women, providing a setting for women to sell their embroidery, sewing, and fancywork. This allowed women to earn a living without working outside their homes.[3]^: 1 Initially, the exchanges in Philadelphia and New Brunswick appear to have catered for women who had seen better days and had now become self-supporting.[4] At the time it was socially unacceptable for "genteel women" to work and the Women's Exchanges allowed them to sell their work anonymously.[5] The managers and organizers of the exchanges added to their philanthropic status.[3]^: 2 These women were also able to use their entrepreneurial skills in a socially acceptable way.[3]^: 3

Many exchanges added tearooms and lunchrooms, which provided more revenue and became fashionable meeting places for upper-class women.[3]^: 95 While almost all the exchanges were unsuccessful as businesses, they nevertheless set high standards for the items they accepted, charging a commission of only 10 percent on sales. Consumers were therefore able to benefit from an interesting selection of hand-made articles at interesting prices.[4]

While many depositories and exchanges were local or regional operations, the Federation of Woman's Exchanges was established in 1934 and is still active.[6] While the Woman's Exchange Movement continued through the twentieth century and some exchanges are still in business, the movement has faded, due to a changing work force, rising rents, and a resistance to high-priced, hand-made merchandise.[7]

A table of Woman's Exchanges from 1832 through 1891 compiled from the 1891 publication Directory of Exchanges for Woman's Work and other sources.[3]^{: 121–123}

• Louisa May Alcott, founder of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, Boston
• Sara Dary Armbruster, founder of the Woman's Exchange, Philadelphia
• Margaret W. Bartlett, founder of the Christian Woman's Exchange, New Orleans[10]
• Ida Wikoff Baker, first president of the Woman's Exchange, Decatur, Illinois
• Mrs. G. Harmon Brown, founder of the Woman's Industrial Exchange, Baltimore
• Mary Atwater Choate, founder of the New York Exchange for Women's Work[11]
• Harriet Clisby, founder of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, Boston
• Elizabeth Bacon Custer, founder of the New York Exchange for Women's Work
• Abby Morton Diaz, founder of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, Boston
• Julia Ward Howe, founder of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, Boston
• Grace Carew Sheldon, founder of the Woman's Exchange, Buffalo
• Candace Wheeler, founder of the New York Exchange for Women's Work[11]

• Sarasota Woman's Exchange (founded 1962)