During the years after the Civil War and throughout the Progressive Era, Athens’ charitably-minded, white women founded multiple voluntary societies to comfort, educate, and heal their community. For example, the Ladies Memorial Association provided comfort to families affected by the War; the United Daughters of the Confederacy tended the memorialization of the Confederacy; and the Athens Women’s Club was founded to “help other women.” These organizations were made up of white women whose efforts at “helping” primarily focused on white women and children.