The Women's Board

The Golden Gate International Exhibition was notorious for its introduction of a Women’s Board. Comprised of nine women, the Women’s Board was concerned with publicity, buildings, and events related to women’s activities. The Board collaborated with a n Advisory Board in addition to having representatives that each woman was responsible for contacting and representing. This infrastructure allowed the Board to be in contact with over a quarter of a million women whose ideas and opinions were considered. Some of the notable contributions of the Board include the Hall of Flowers, special radio shows, the Yerba Buena Club, the Hostess House, and Woman’s Day.

Of these important components of the exhibition, the radio shows and Woman’s Day are of utmost interest. The Women’s Board coordinated and sponsored twenty-one weekly radio programs. As mentioned in the Technology post below, the radio was one of the most critical innovations that was utilized at the exhibition. The fact that the Women’s Board took this important aspect of the expo and was able to include programming targeted at women is truly remarkable and quite creative. The radio was a vehicle for those women who could not physically be at the fair to listen in on developments and news from the fair from the comforts of their home.

Another interesting bridge between the home and the fair for women was vis-à-vis Woman’s Day. The Women’s Board organized a special day at the Expo, which attracted the most visitors during a week day for the entire fair. On October 25^th, women from everywhere came to Treasure Island to celebrate the achievements and impact of the Women’s Board on the Golden Gate International Exposition. The Board arranged for San Francisco schools to be closed so that every mom could attend the exposition. Home economics and radio commentators held food shows and the Yerba Buena Club held an open house. The Day was capped off with a gala and fireworks show – quite fitting given the aforementioned emphasis on lighting at this fair. It can therefore be said that the Women’s Board of the Golden Gate International Exhibition orchestrated the connection between women and the home.

Works Cited:

James, Jack, and Earle Weller. Treasure Island : "The Magic City". San Francisco, CA:

Pisani Printing and Publishing Company, 1941. Print.