Ida Cummins 10th Club President 1895-1896
Ida Lucerne Gallery Cummins (August 15, 1853-February 27, 1918) was the 10th president of Des Moines Women’s Club from 1895-1896. Her husband Albert Baird Cummins had a long political career in Iowa including a three terms as Iowa governor, served eighteen years as an Iowa Senator, and ran two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. president. Ida’s sister-in-law, Mrs. J. C. Cummins served as club president from 1904-1905.
Mrs. Cummins was a prominent club woman and served as president of the national organization Children of the Revolution and similar organizations.
According to her tribute in Find a grave:
Mrs. Cummins was active in Des Moines and in Washington in the interest of child welfare. She, more than any one person to Iowa, was responsible for the Iowa child labor law. Mrs. Cummins was president of the Des Moines Home for the Friendless Children for a number of years prior to her removal to Washington. She was retained as honorary president, and whenever in Des Moines devoted her time to the affairs in the home.
She was also actively identified with Plymouth Congregational Church, and at one time was president of the Des Moines Women’s club.
Mrs. Cummins last August celebrated her birthday in the home in which she was born in Eaton Rapids, Mich. She was educated in the schools there and met Senator Cummins while he was a law student in Chicago.
They were married in 1874 and lived in Chicago until 1878, when they came to Des Moines.
Their only child is Mrs. Hollis Rawson in Des Moines.
Following her death, the Des Moines Women’s Club established a collection containing history and literature at the Des Moines Public Library named for her. The collection was accepted by city librarian Forrest Spaulding and still exists in the library’s special collections room. Upon hearing of the memorial gift, her husband A. B. Cummins said “The idea is a noble, beautiful conception and I shall never cease to be grateful to you and your association for the proposal. I have a library of nearly 5000 volumes, partially in my Des Moines home and here in Washington. When you are ready to make the collection will you not go into my library and make such selections as you think will be appropriate? Des Moines Register May 16, 1918.