In 1896, when women were authorized to vote by the Utah State Constitution, a group of 18 women organized the Utah Women’s Democratic Club (WDC). The major purposes of the organization were to support the Democratic Party, promote legislation of interest to women and involve women in the political process.
The WDC’s first president, Dr. Ellen Ferguson, was elected as an alternate to the National Democratic Convention in Chicago and had the honor of being the only woman occupying a seat in the Convention.
The WDC labored hard to amend Utah's Constitution to recognize the political equality of women by an equal suffrage clause. As a result, Article IV was incorporated in Utah's State Constitution. Article IV, Section 1 states: "The rights of citizens of the State of Utah to vote and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Both male and female citizens of this State shall enjoy equally all civil, political and religious rights and privileges."
In 1922, through the efforts of the WDC, the Democratic Party adopted the 50/50 gender resolution, the first such resolution passed by a political body in the United States.
In the minutes of 1925, Club members honored the WDC’s President, Lottie Dern, as she resigned this prominent position to become “Utah’s First Lady”. The minutes give details outlining what members could expect from her including bringing together the women of Salt Lake City and Utah for the common good. She extended an invitation to the members to use her home for meetings of the Club at any time.
In 1928, efforts made by the Women’s Democratic Club helped pass an “act to entitle women to be official, equal and continuing members of the state, county, precinct and district committee” adopted into the by-laws of the State Convention.