Founding

Just 23 days after the national "bank holiday" proclamation which closed all banks throughout the country, a select group of six men met at the Cosmos Club on March 31, 1933 to establish the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Washington (as it was then called).  The purpose of the Club, according to the first Club Directory, was to "forward the cordial association of resident alumni".  Founding fathers J. Garland Pollard, Jr., Wilford White and Wally Flint felt that "there is naturally a community of interest among those who gained economic momentum under the common influence of the Harvard Business School."

It is intersting to note that the Club was formed almost simultanesouly with the inception of Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term, and of the total membership of 40 in that first year, approximately 24 were employed by the Federal Government.  A year later, 127 members indicated that they were employed as follows:  104 in Government, 14 in business, 6 in teaching, law and associations and 3 were unemployed.  The Depression was taking its toll on HBS Club members.

Although most of the members lived in the District in 1924, some lived so far out (i.e. the 2200 block of California Street, NW) that they had rural party-line telephones.  Club activities were many, including bachelor dinners every Tuesday in the Willard Coffee Shop for "alumni who want good food at reasonable prices."  In those early days, members met monthly, every third Tuesday, for lunch at one of three places; Sholl's Restaurant, 1219 G Street, Oak Tree Inn, on 17th Street, and also at a restaurant owned by a member, Lofton Wesley.  Records indicated that Lofton's farm was the scene of the annual picnic which was "always great fun".

A number of dinner meetings were held that first year, averaging one every other month with such illustrious speakrs from teh school as Dean Dunham, Professors Cabot and John Baker.  Additionally, the first scholarship was awarded by this local club.

By 1939, the Federal Government had become the largest single employer of HBS alumni in the country with over 200 men on the rolls in the Washington area.  This number had risen to 650 in the war year 1943, a five-fold increase in the 10 years since the Club had been established at the depths of the Depression.

The 1943 Club Directory, prepared in the middle of the War, reported that 133 were military officers, 36 were with the War Production Board and the rest served with other agencies, boards, bureaus and committees.  Seven members were in the Office of Price Administration, one of whom was assigned to the Bicycle Rationing Branch.  Only 22 civilians were located in the War and Navy Departments, a sharp contrast with the current complement in the DOD.

Other differences include the average annual Government starting salary of the HBS man in 1940 of $2,800, although 22% had started at salaries under $2,200 and 6% commanded $5,000 or more.

During the period 1947-1952, the HBS Club hosted six annual Washington Regional Conferences with such challenging topics as "World Leadership", "Statesmanship" and "Economic Survival".  This period in history was culminated by the election to the presidency in 1952 of Philip Caldwell, the featured speaker at our 50th Anniversary Gala.

1952 - 1969

A transition period - the fifties and sixties - brought marked changes to the Club's organzational focus, together with an expanded alumni base.  Social activities were interspersed with special study and scholarship efforts.  A few of the highlights are listed below in chronological order.

1958 - The compilation and production of a major research effort entitled "Businessmen in Government".  This work involved the voluntary effort of over 100 alumni over a three year period.  Its aim was to explore the questions of what is the Federal Government's need for top-level business executives, what are the essential professional qualifications and personal attributes required, and how long will these business executives continue to participate in the Federal Government's activities.

1962 - The acceptance into, and graduation from the AMP Program, of the first woman from the U.S.; she subsequently became the HBS Club President in Washington in 1971.

1963 - When HBS started admitting women into the two year MBA program in the fall of 1963, our HBS Club accepted women graduates of the Harvard Radcliffe Program in Business Administration and its predecessor, the Management Training Program, into its membership.  This coincided with the invitation to members' spouses to attend monthly evening meetings.

1964 - The initiation of monthly meetings at historical and prominent sites.  One of the first included a dinner at the National Gallery of Art followed by a personal tour conducted by the Director.

1965 - The establishment of the College Relations Group, an alumni effort to assist in recruiting outstanding candidates for admission to HBS.

1967 - The most successful Fund Drive ever undertaken by the Club.  It included 30 Vice-Chairman and 101 Club Agents who achieved a record 49.7% participation in the annual fund drive.

In a lighter vein, Club files speak of the annual spring meeting at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown.  For many years, club members were allowed only in the Orangerie (greenhouse) and the surrounding gardens.  Due to the persistent efforts of three Club Presidents in the mid-60's, the Club was allowed to have its annual meeting within the estate.  To permit this innovation, it was necessary to cover the parquet floor to protect against the fashionable spike heels of the time.  In addition, all refreshments and floral arrangements were brought in by Club officials. An illuminating story concerns the annual meeting in May 1964 when Mrs. Bliss, owner and grande dame of Dumbarton Oaks was present.  In advance of the meeting, she had approved te savories, and had examined and expanded upon the floral decorations from her own gardens.  Further, she regaled members with stories of her acquisitions i.e., the purchase of her piano in advance of the recent visit of Paderewski.

An outstanding feature of this time period was the solidarity and zeal evidenced by club members.  The aforementioned achievements flourished because of the infrastructure and the vital support system which contributed to its status as one of the largest alumni clubs throughout the world, second only to that of New York City.

1969 - 1983

This phase was marked by numerous managerial innivations.  Chief among these were the following:

   a.  The designation of an Assistant to the President to provide direction and continuity for the Club's programs and policies.

   b.  The introduction of the "early bird letter" to improve the financial position of the Club.  This resulted in generating working capital annually in August with which to conduct Club business.

   c.  The long-range plan of training Club officers for accension to higher positions of responsibility, based on performance in office.

   d.  The initiation of a Cash Accounting System and the incorporation of the Club with a  Federal Tax-exempt status, Section 501 C(7).

   e.  The election of three women presidents during this period.

   f.  The expanded use of historical and/or controversial buildings and embassies as meteing places.  Chief among these were teh Russian Embassy, the Dolly Madison House, the CIA Headquarters, and the Iranian and Chinese Embassies.

   g.  The establishment of the Business Statesman Award to honor an individual in a high ranking position who made an outstanding contribution in both business and government.

   h.  The designation of a recent MBA graduate to chair the Business School Relations group, a liaison function between teh Club and the Admissions office at HBS.  In 1982, 30 students were admitted from teh greater Washington environs.

Of the many anecdotes which characterized this period, the followng are noteworthy:

The 70's decade ushered in the innovative idea of honoring the Club's Patrons and Sponsors (now called benefactors and boosters) with a Special Event each year.  One of the most appreciated was a trip via two buses to Bel Air, the estate of the Pollards on the Rappahannock in the Tidewater Region.  J. Garland Pollard, a club founder and first club president, invited the Club's special members to sample the oysters at his processing plant and to enjoy a gourment meal graciously sered in his home.

For many years, the Club was invited to a summer outing at the country home of the Brooke Lees.  replete with an antique Rolls Royce for the children, the guests enjoyed a marvelous repast (much of it from the garden), and a tour of the working farm, including a view of the breeding stock.

Topping all Christmas festivities, to help celebrate the bicentennial, was the walking tour of selected members' homes in Georgetown where the costumed Colonial quartet played carols on the lute, viola, harp and flute at each home, and refreshments were provided.  Even the weatherman cooperated, providing a snowfall.

A Business Government Conference was held on "Capital and Job Formation" at the Mayflower Hotel, May 18, 1978.  This intellectually stimulating forum was attended by 283 interested persons, including local business and government leaders and their 18 sponsoring organizations, and 70 of our own alumni.  This thought-provoking program, moderated by Austin Kiplinger, presented six well known authorities including Dr. Charles Kuehner of AT&T, Dr. Carl Madden, Chief Economist of the US CHamber of Commerce; and Senator Lloyd Bentson.

Our 50th Anniversary Gala, attended by 221 members and guests, was held at the Congressional Country Club, March 31, 1983.  Philip Caldwell, the featured speaker, was Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Ford Motor Company.  In 1952, when a civilian executive in the Navy Department in Washington, DC, he was our club president.

1983 - 1996

By the 1980's the demographics of the Washington Area alumni of the 1930's and 1940's had greatly changed.  Many more alumni worked in business; many fewer worked in government.  Organizations formerly in downtown or midtown D.C. were relocated to the Beltway, Northern Virginia, and to Rockville and Gaithersburg in Montgomery COunty.

To accommodate this shift, luncheon meetings were held in centrally located facilities close to METRO stops for fast, easy transit; and evening meetings were held near parking facilities.

In fall, 1988, the Pentagon Luncheon Group and Military services were merged into one office; the Government Activities Luncheon.  Because the Pentagon Executive Dining Room changed sponsorship requirements and these luncheons had been held at various Capitol Hill and government locations, the Board felt one office could plan these programs featuring both civilian and service leaders.

Receptions honoring newly elected Harvard members of Congress were enjoyed biennially by Harvard and Radcliffe graduates until the rules for sponsorship and catering changed on The Hill.

Corporate nights and AMP "Power Breakfasts" became a club tradition for several years.

Our club members had dinner meetings at the corporate headquarters of GEICO, Marriott, and Martin Marietta.  The AMPs were able to get corporate executives to speak at 8 am before their busy days started.  Two memorable breakfasts feaatured Norman Augustine, Chairman and CEO of Martin Maritta; and Eugene Zuckert, first head of the AMP at HBS and former Secretary of the Air Force.

Two new interests developed during these years were: the challenges and successes of various entrepreneurs (many of them HBS graduates) and the HBS management educational video series:

Entrepreneurs - a few of the many who shared their experience with our members:

     Jon Ledecky - Founder and Chairman of U.S. Office Products

     Kevin Abt - Founder and CEO of Takeout Taxi

     Mark Ordan - Founder, President and CEO of Fresh Fields

     Ken Hakuta - producer of Wacky Wallwalker and President of its company, Tradex Corp.

Video Evenings (known as "B School on the Potomac") started in November 1993 with Michael Porter's "The Competitive Advantage of Nations" presented at the IMF Visitor Center.  In January 1994, our members participated with other HBS alumni throughout the world in a teleconfernce from the Marriott Headquarters.  Dean MacArthur commented that this teleconference reached over 10,000 in 100 locations."

 1996 - 2006

Culminated with the Washington Club hosting the Global Leadership Conference, June 20 - 22, 2006.

2006 - today

Featured the Centennial of HBS in 2008.  The Washington Club held its Centennial event on Sept 18, 2008 at the Washington Club on Dupont Circle.  Professor Warren MacFarlan delivered the keynote address.