At the beginning of the 1920s, women in North America had established themselves in the political arena through suffrage and in the professional world as a result of World War I. The time was right for women actively engaged in professions and careers to come together for mutual support and friendship, and to serve the communities to which they belonged.  The time was right for Soroptimist.

In the spring of 1921, Stuart Morrow, an organizer of men’s service clubs, visited Oakland, California.  In search of a potential member for an Optimist* club, Morrow called on the Parker-Goddard Secretarial School, presuming it was run by men and found instead Miss Adelaide  Goddard and Miss Mabel Parker owned the school.  Explaining his mistake, Morrow excused himself.  As Morrow left, Miss Goddard remarked she would be interested in joining such a club for women if he ever considered forming one.

Goddard’s remark set the wheels in motion for Stuart Morrow.  He contacted a number of business women in the community, and invited them to a preliminary meeting on May 21.  Of the six women in attendance, only one showed real interest.  This woman began recruiting her acquaintances and on June 21, a luncheon meeting with 10 women officially launched the club toward its goal of 80 members to receive a charter from Morrow.

This core group met once a week, and continued to gather the names of eligible women from Alameda County; they also chose the name Soroptimist for the organization, coining a word from two Latin words “soror”—woman and “optima”—the best.