14 Kelly Drive Boathouse Row Philadelphia PA 19130 (215) 978 8824

history and highlights

1938

Minutes from the first 118 meetings from May 4, 1938 to December 4, 1947.

1938

Seventeen women founded the club on May 4, 1938:

Ernestine Bayer
Doris Starsmore Brugger
Sally Greeley Cibort
Lenore Mongan Davis
Lovey Kohut Farrell
Betty Flavin Ford
Kay McFarland Gillen
Jeannette Waetjen Hoover
Mary Prior Jonik

Helen Muldowney Kiniry
Gladys Hauser Lux
Eileen Coughlan Mockus
Lucille Browning Nino
Jeanne Murphy Quirk
Ruth Adams Robinhold
Marge Cantwell Sonzogni
Betty McManus Wilkins

1939

Photo taken at the Philadelphia Rifle Club.Front row left to right:Stella Sokolowska Peters, Doris Starsmore Brugger, Margaret Cantwell Sonzogni, Evelyn Forkan, Betty Flavin Ford, Ruth Adams Robinhold, Helen Muldowny Kiniry, Lucille Browning Nino, Gladys Hauser Lux.

Top row left to right: Salley Greeley Cibort, Betty McManus Wilkins, Mary Prior Jonik, unidentified, Lenore Mongan Davis, Lovey Kohut Farrell, Jeanne Murphy Quirk, Eilieen Coughlin Mockus, Ernestine Bayer. Not pictured, Jeannette Waetjen Hoover and Kay McFarland Gillen.

The PGRC Girls

1948

PGRC 10th Anniversary Dinner Dance

PGRC Tenth Anniversary Banquet - 1948

1961




The Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club house at 14 Boat House Row predates the founding of the club in 1938. As early as 1855 The Philadelphia Skating and Humane Society tried to secure a grant from the city to build a home on the banks of the Schuylkill. The building was completed for $4,873 by February 1861. In addition to providing comfort for skaters, the building housed a hospital and "apparatus used for rescuing persons from a watery grave." Other clubs,including University and Undine rented the house before PGRC. The complete report on the building can be read by clicking on The Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club: An Incremental Historic Structure Report (4.1mb), by Anna Stillner, MS. See also Submission to the Philadelphia Historical Commission (868kb), by Susan Anderson, 1980.

1967

PGRC - first U.S. Women's Team arriving in France.

The Mayor of Philadelphia honors the PGRC with the "Key to the City"

1973

Marge Flynn organized the first Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta. The other organizers were Tom Rafferty and Vince Bindo. Today the Braxton Regatta proceeds make it possible to fund scholarships given to entering college freshmen.

1984

Elizabeth Griffin Bergen was elected Commodore of the Schuylkill Navy. The Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club was permitted to join the Schuylkill Navy in the 1960s.

July 1984. Pictured on the porch of the club: Helen Kiniry, Stella Peters, Jeanne Quirk, Lorraine English, Mary Jonik, Jeannette Hoover, Lovey Farrell, Betty Wilkins, Doris Brugger, Betty Ford, Claire Eisner.

1998

We celebrated our 60th anniversary on May 1-2, 1998 and were delighted that so many former members and six of the founders joined us!

Founders

Special tribute was paid to founding member Ruth Robinhold. Not only has she been an active member for all sixty years, her constant and generous support of the club is an inspiration to us all. A new trophy in her name will be awarded at the Stotesbury Regatta to the Girl's Junior Quad, one of her favorite events. In addition to her club support, she is well known for giving out medals at many regattas.

Ruth Adams Robinhold

2007

Ruth Robinhold, taken on her wedding day, September 2007. Ruth was previously married to William Robinhold, a member of Undine, for more than 60 years. After being widowed, she married Richard Henderson in September 2007.

Spotlight on Joanne Iverson


Joanne Iverson was inducted into the NCAA Women’s Rowing Hall of Fame for organizing, along with Ted Nash and Ed Lickiss, the National Women’s Rowing Association, that later became part of the National Association of Amateur Oarsman, presently known as the United States Rowing Association.

2008

70th Anniversary