Santa Ana Women's Marching Club

Santa Ana Women’s Marching Club, c.1900 Unknown Photographer; Santa Ana, California Photographic print; 6.25 x 10 in. 6641 Terry E. Stephenson Collection

These women with matching uniforms and caps that bear the initials W M C are part of the Santa Ana Women’s Marching Club. Especially in the late 19th century, citizens across the country formed marching clubs as a way to show support for their political views and representatives. Marching clubs participated in campaign events, community parades and political rallies; they competed against one another for the title of best drilled team. At a time before women had the right to vote, women’s marching clubs were an important vehicle for expressing support of local and national issues. Only twenty-nine women are visible in this photograph although most marching groups attempted to have one hundred members. Each club had a unique name and uniform. The uniforms could be bought directly from a manufacturer who in addition to the pants or skirt and jacket, could provide canes, flags, and torches. It is unknown whether the rifles with bayonets in this photograph are real or part of the equipment from the manufacturer.

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