Our History The Bellarmine Women's Council was formed in 1963 at the invitation of Msgr. Alfred F. Horrigan, the first President of Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University).
In the invitation, Msgr. Horrigan noted that the college must be prepared to provide leadership for the quality of civic, cultural and professional life which Louisville would have in the next generation. He also observed that Bellarmine, which at the time was a men's college, needed sustained contact with women who were leaders in educational and cultural affairs of the community. He felt that a women's council would meet this need and serve as a liaison between the college and the community it served.
Seventy-five women became charter members of the Council on April 23, 1963, with the first formal meeting on October 8, 1963. Purposes of the Council were a) to serve as a liaison between the college and the community; b) to advise and assist the college in promotion of its program of cultural activities; c) to advise and assist the college in developing the programs and resources of its library; and d) in general, to advise and assist the college in its various activities as requested by the President of the College.
Designers' Show House
The Council introduced in November 1973 a refreshing and new fundraising project to Louisville – a Decorators' Show House, now known as the Designers' Show House. In 2008 the 35th Designer Show House was produced. Over the years, the Bellarmine's Women's Council has donated more than $1.5 million to the Student Aid Fund for Bellarmine students.
