our history

2021 marks the 68th anniversary of the founding of Marine Officers' Spouses' Club of Washington, D.C. (formerly called the Marine Officers' Wives' Club, of Washington, D.C.) by Mrs. W.P.T. Hill (Edythe) in 1953. In an article written by Josie Flynn in 1993, we learn about why Mrs. Hill created the club:

Of great concern to Mrs. Hill during this WWII period was the fact that the Marine Corps had suddenly grown from a small military service of only a total of 835 Officers to the huge WWII buildup of thousands:

“It was just so difficult for anyone in Washington to get to know all the new people-at a critical time when we all needed to be in touch and know each other,” recalled Mrs. Hill. “I decided we should start a club for all wives that would serve as a meeting ground and contact point."

After discussing the matter with Virginia Shepard (wife of 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Lemuel C. Shepherd), these motivated ladies obtained the names of all Marine Officers’ wives in the area from the Marine Personnel Office and sent out an announcement of the first meeting. With this simple and generous act, the Washington Marine Officers’ Wives’ Club was founded. From then on, monthly luncheons were at the Army-Navy Country Club for over 100 ladies who came together to hear prominent speakers, make new friends, and support one another through the ups and downs of military life. We celebrate Mrs. Hill as the founder of MOWC-turned-MOSCDC that we continue to enjoy today!

In honor of our long and rich history, MOSCDC is still locating photos and information to preserve our past and promote our present. Fortunately, we discovered nine scrapbooks in the Marine Corps Archives at Marine Corps Base Quantico, which had been saved in the collection of our 24th Commandant, General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. These photographs and newspaper articles, coupled with photos and newsletters that members have preserved, are helping us to piece together our history.