Humanist Heritage: The Emerson Club

The Emerson Club was founded by members of the London ethical societies as a ‘social place of meeting for many men and women interested in ethical social reform’. Housed in the same building as the Union of Ethical Societies’ headquarters at 19 Buckingham Street, London, the Club was operational from 1905 until the early 1930s. In 1907, it was the birthplace of the Women’s Freedom League. Over the following decades of its existence, many reformist groups found a home there, and numerous notable figures lectured and socialised in its rooms.

In 1907, the South London Press reported:

The Emerson Club, Buckingham Street, Strand, held its third annual meeting on Monday. This club is the social place of meeting for many men and women interested in ethical social reform. The chairman reported an increase of members, and congratulated those present on the recent enlargement of the club premises. He also announced a new series of lectures for the coming year, and that the club is now open from 11am to 11pm. On the motion of Dr. Stanton Coit it was resolved to give greater attention to the lighter side of the club’s operations, and make arrangements for monthly whist drives and occasional dances.

Among the groups who met at the Emerson Club were: the Ethics of Nature Society, Irish League for Women’s Suffrage, Indian Women’s Education Fund, Divorce Law Reform Union, International Women’s Franchise Club, Central London Branch of the British Socialist Party (BSP), the Association of Advertising Women, Sylvia Pankurst’s East London Federation of Suffragettes, No-Conscription Fellowship (Westminster Branch), National Socialist Party (Central Branch), Social Democratic Federation, Bedales Club, Women’s Group of the Ethical Movement, T.P.’s Literary Society, and the London Clarion Fellowship.