Women's Industrial Exchange

The Woman's Industrial Exchange began shortly after the Civil War in the home of Mrs. G. Harmon Brown of Baltimore, where women brought their handwork to be sold to local citizens and visitors. In 1882 the State Legislature incorporated the organization “for the purpose of endeavoring by sympathy and practical aid to encourage and help needy women to help themselves by procuring for them and establishing a sales room for the sale of Women's Work.” The Woman's Industrial Exchange continues to serve its non-profit mission as an outlet of hand crafted goods made by needy women and men intent on supporting themselves with dignity. Its 150-plus consignors receive 65% of the sale price of the items sold by the Exchange.