Sorosis

so-ro'sis, a women's club of New York City. It was founded in 1868 by Alice Cary, Jenny June Croly, and other literary women. It lays claim to be the first women's club founded exclusively by women. It grew out of a dinner given in 1867 by the Press Club of New York to Charles Dickens. Women were permitted to attend as spectators but not as regular guests. In a spirit of indignation they organized a club of their own. The name is evidently based on soror, the Latin name for sister. It has been suggested that the spelling should have been "Sorores," not "Sorosis." Sorosis has been active in the formation of women's clubs throughout the United States and the world, for that matter. In 1889, the twenty-first anniversary of the birthday of the club, a general federation was formed which now includes thirty-nine state federations.