Frances Willard House Museum
Home of the WCTU
Preserving the Past, Transforming the Future
National WCTU Library and Archives - the place where researchers come for primary sources.
Frances Willard House Museum
A National Historic Landmark
Current WCTU Officers: President Merry Lee Powell, Vice President Kathleen Johnson, Promotion Director Cheryl Seaman, Recording Secretary Jacqueline Stull, Signal Press Manager Nancy Schultz and National Public Relations Director Bunny Galladora keeping a close check on WCTU's historic properties.
Welcome to our home!
We are thrilled to have you here for a virtual visit.
Please make yourself comfortable, grab a cup of coffee, sit down and stay a while.
Let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay more enjoyable.
Welcome to the Frances Willard House Museum. This historic landmark, better known to WCTU women as "Rest Cottage" is located in the city of Evanston Illinois, about 14 miles north Chicago. In 1965, the Department of the Interior of the United States designated Frances Willard House as a Registered National Historic Landmark.
​
The house was built by Frances Willard's father, Josiah Flint Willard. In her book Glimpses of Fifty Years, Frances Willard records, "Father built Rest Cottage three blocks from our first home in Evanston, on some new lots reclaimed from the swamp and embellished by him with as much enthusiasm as he had felt in the creation of Forest Home. My parents moved into this house in December 1865." To see it now in its beauty one cannot realize that the location and surrounding area had come from swamp and mire.
​
The House now is a double dwelling. From a single cottage house a commodious addition was built by Mary B. Willard, the widowed sister-in-law of Frances Willard. When Mary Willard no longer had need of the home, Frances Willard purchased it and it became part of Frances' estate. Frances Willard never occupied this part of the house but rent it to friends and members of the cause. It was here in the north half of the double cottage where the headquarters of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union was located. The spaciousness of the rooms lent themselves to this need when offices were moved to Evanston.
​
National WCTU purchased from Mary B. Willard and her daughters their life interest, (under Frances Willard's will ) in one half of the Willard property. One half of the property was willed for her life time to Anna A. Gordon, and Gordon held a life tenancy to the original Rest Cottage. When Anna Gordon passed away the entire property, 1728 and 1730 Chicago Avenue, became the property of the National WCTU in accordance with the provisions in Frances Willard's will.
​
​
​
​
​​
​
​
​
​
The rooms are preserved, in Rest Cottage, with their furnishings just as they were used by Frances Willard and her mother. National WCTU spares no expense to keep the place in good repair both inside and out. "Spring cleaning" is in progress year around as we prepare for your visit. The landscaping of our property keeps our property looking much like a well kept garden or park.
The house is open to the public for tours, during spring, summer and fall months. Groups of children are welcome to visit with their parents, club, school or church group.
When you come, we request you sign our guest book just as prominent persons from all around the world have done over the years. Come and feel the excitement and enjoy the charm of the entire complex as you follow in the foot-steps of Frances Willard and the great women of the WCTU.
"The Rest Cottage home at Evanston, Ill. (deed recored in Chicago). I bequeath to my beloved sister, Mary Bannister Willard and to Anna Gordon equally, to be used by them...but to revert, aside from the claimats herein named, to the National Women's Christian Temperance Union for the purpose of teaching boys and girls the evil effects of alcoholic and tobacco upon the tissues of the body and temper of the soul, and to indoctrinae in the habits of personal purity in word and deed. (This disposition of the dear old home is in accordance with the understanding I had with my blessed mother, who hallowed it by so much of her life and by her triumphant passage to heaven from within its peaceful walls.)
Let's Work
Together
Throughout the years, WCTU members and volunteers have played a crucial role in the success of our organization.
From organizing events to spreading awareness about our cause, members and volunteers have been and continue to be the backbone of our movement.
Most of us work from our home offices, just like Frances Willard did. Located around the world, home offices allow us to volunteer while still taking care of our families.
We continue to honor their contributions and inspire more people to join us in making a positive impact in our communities.
(847) 864-1396
Email: Nancy Schultz, Manager
NWCTU
1730 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL