The International Association of Lyceum Clubs was a young woman’s dream to create a network of female clubs around the world, united by the same ideal in the service of women.
Born in Birmingham, England, Constance Smedley moved to London in 1902 with her parents to pursue her career as a writer and journalist. Like all women who planned to work in publishing or the press at that time, she joined the Writers’ Club. At the same time, Constance’s popularity increased: the actress Mrs Patrick Campbell accepted to perform in one of her plays ‘Mrs Jordan’ and an editor took on her book ‘An April Princess’ which became successful .
But for her, the Writers Club, which was supposed to help its members, fell short and with her enthusiastic spirit, she presented her ideas for improvement to an unreceptive committee. She was not discouraged by their refusal and instead, with the help of some friends, embarked on the creation of a new club: a club for women, run by women.
Her friend, Jessie Trimble, suggested the name “the Lyceum Club”. The name sounds universal with an intellectual reference: for Americans it recalled the centres of lectures and debates that flourished in their country from the 19th century and for Europeans, the Greek origins of the word Lykeion, the place where Aristotle taught his students.
Constance’s dream became a reality the following year thanks to the generosity of her father. After having made the family apartment the meeting place of Lyceum’s provisional committee, the new club moved to 128 Piccadilly in June 1904.
Lady Balfour accepted the Presidency of the Club, more than 1000 members joined the initiative in the first year and above all, the project immediately took on an international dimension.
The International Association of Lyceum Clubs was formed in the wake of the London club and laid the ground for the opening of new clubs: in Berlin in 1905, then Paris in 1906, Florence in 1908 ……… … The opening of these clubs was all thanks to the members’ connections and enthusiasm.
Members shared a common interest; a way for women to demonstrate both their capacity and their talent and to claim their rights (right to vote and equality in the work environment) but also to contribute to peace between nations at a time when international relations were becoming more strained, particularly between England and Germany. Constance was convinced that a peaceful world order would require the strengthening of international relations to fight against nationalism.
Following her marriage with the artist Maxwell Armfield and health complications, Constance resigned from her position as Honorary Secretary and from the club. Her mother, Annie Elizabeth Smedley, took over and, in full swing, the International Association of Lyceum Clubs continued to develop. In 1912 the first international congress took place in London. It was there that the statutes of the association were voted on by the members. It was decided that the International Congress should be held every two years. New clubs opened in New York and Melbourne. The next congress was held in Paris in 1914 but World War 1 imposed a pause and the International Congress only resumed in 1922 in Florence, Italy.
In 1941, Constance Smedley died in West Wycombe. Constance’s founding club, renowned for its dinners attended by leading figures from the worlds of politics and the arts, its circles, theatrical performances and debates on ideas, went through many vicissitudes, while the Lyceum philosophy continued to expand abroad with more Clubs opening in different countries.
The IALC knows how to adapt to new and challenging environment and changes in our societies. The headquarters of the International Association of Lyceum Clubs moved to Switzerland. In 1968, the International Congress became triennial and Cultural Days are organised between Congresses.
Since its inception, the Association has taken the initiative in opening new clubs, bringing members together through twinning arrangements between clubs and the publication of an international newsletter.