The complete Rotary timeline
120 years of service, told milestone by milestone — from one Chicago meeting to a movement in 200 countries.
Dr. Charles H. Mayo is born
Dr. Charles H. Mayo, cofounder of the Mayo Clinic and an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Rochester, Minnesota, USA, is born.
Raymond M. Havens is born
Raymond M. Havens, 12th President of Rotary International and a member of the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, is born at Fort Scott, Kansas.
Rotary is founded in Chicago
Attorney Paul P. Harris convenes the first gathering of the Rotary Club of Chicago on Thursday evening, 23 February 1905 — the first of the sixteen clubs that preceded the National Association of Rotary Clubs.
Paul Harris marries Jean Thomson
Jean Thomson and Paul Harris are married. Jean Thomson Harris would become known as Rotary's "First Lady."
Rotary Club of Hartford is chartered
Hartford, Connecticut is chartered on 14 July 1911 and given club number 26. Spokane was officially chartered three days later but received the number 21; both clubs use #21 in early records.
Rotary Club of Spokane is chartered
Spokane is officially chartered by Rotary on 17 July 1911 and given the club number 21.
First Rotary club of continental Europe: Madrid
The Rotary Club of Madrid is chartered — the first club of Europe outside Ireland and Great Britain.
First Rotary club in Africa: Johannesburg
The Rotary Club of Johannesburg becomes the first Rotary club on the African continent (1921).
Inner Wheel is founded
Mrs. Margarette Oliver Golding founds the Inner Wheel movement (10 January 1924).
First Rotary club of Ecuador: Guayaquil
The Rotary Club of Guayaquil, the first club of Ecuador, is chartered.
District 78 (Sweden) is established
District 78, comprising the Rotary clubs in Sweden, is established. (The Rotarian, July 1938.)
First Rotary club of Senegal: Dakar
The Rotary Club of Dakar, Senegal is chartered.
Death of Rotary founder Paul Harris
After many years of ill health, Rotary founder Paul P. Harris dies in Chicago.
Sylvia Whitlock becomes first woman club president
Sylvia Whitlock of the Rotary Club of Duarte, California begins her term as the first woman club president in Rotary International.
Women officially welcomed into Rotary worldwide
Council on Legislation changes take effect and women are officially welcomed into Rotary clubs worldwide.
First woman trustee of The Rotary Foundation
Carolyn E. Jones, PDG District 5010, Alaska, USA becomes the first woman trustee of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.