History

It is interesting to note that in March 1949, Inez Awty Schaeffer brought together 12 New Orleans oil women who launched a program that they did not even contemplate reaching beyond their city.  The roster shows that the charter members of that group numbered 12; Desk & Derrick members now number in the thousands.

 

But the original idea was for a local group who would meet so they could know each other better, instead of just being ‘telephone voices’ to each other, and to provide a forum in which they could learn more about the petroleum business.

 

You see, Inez had been in the Land Department of Humble Oil and Refining Company for nine years, and she knew very few women in oil companies besides her immediate associates.  She thought that an informal get-together occasionally might prove beneficial and interesting.  She mentioned this to John F. Bricker, Division Land Manager for Humble, who liked the idea and offered to contact other men in the industry to underwrite a gathering if she’d arrange it.  The men contacted were enthusiastic about such a gathering…Inez arranged the gathering…and they discovered an amazing thing…the women who came to the meeting had longed to do the same thing, but had been hesitant in effecting it!  When they found out about each other, they did organize a club.

 

With the help of Gordon Atwater, Consulting Geologist in New Orleans, they coined the name “Desk and Derrick”!  The 12 women who formed the First Board of Directors of the New Orleans club were selected in April 1949.  On May 3, 1949, letters were sent to various oil companies located in New Orleans inviting their women employees to join Desk & Derrick.  On June 9, 1949, the first regular meeting was held, at which time 200 were present!

 

Oil women in Jackson, Mississippi, heard of it, wrote for information, and formed the second club in June 1949.  Los Angeles was third when they formed in June 1950, and Houston, Texas, was fourth in September 1950.

 

Now, it was when these four clubs were well into their own programs that they realized how this idea was catching on.  There was a real need for clubs, and an intense desire on the part of oil women to organize.  These four clubs recognized something else…they had begun an educational forum which was serving a valuable function.  But they foresaw the need to protect the purpose so that the clubs would not stray from the goal they had set.

 

 

And so these four clubs, through reams of communications amongst selected representatives, plus one meeting (held in New Orleans) formed what is now the Association of Desk and Derrick Clubs.

 

Our first Association President was Lee Wilson Hoover, with Alvin H. Howard, Independent, in New Orleans.  She served from July 1951 through 1952.  With her during these months were a Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Regional Directors.  During that time, they affiliated 39 additional clubs.  When the first Convention was held in Houston, at the Shamrock Hotel, in September of 1952 there were 46 clubs eligible to vote in the Association.  And a remarkable note is that with ADDC only a year and two months old, 1000 women came to that Convention!  It was indeed a memorable occasion…the Shamrock was new, the women were lovely and friendly, the atmosphere charged with excitement and gaiety--but with the sober realization of the solemn purpose they were developing.  There will never be another Convention like it.  It was our first, and the very air crackled with anticipation.  And that anticipation was realized.  Each Convention…each D&D meeting since has been most satisfying.  One of our most enjoyable customs began on the Friday evening of that first Convention.  The Shell Oil Company was host at a “Shamburger Party” held at poolside.  You may know that the pool there is shaped like a music lyre, and it is lighted at night.  The tables were set on the three levels surrounding the water.  The girls were wearing lovely summer dresses.  Everyone went table-hopping, meeting oil women from the four corners of the United States and the wonderful Calgary members!  That’s one of our delightful customs that endures today…meeting others in our chosen profession.   You know, we hear frequently that other people in other parts of our country…and in Canada…act differently from us; perhaps they’re colder, hard to know, or maybe breezy and casual.  You will find that oil men and women everywhere are open, inviting, friendly, cordial, and wonderfully interesting.