Dimies T. Stocking Denison

Dimies Tryphena Stocking Denison, or Demeis was an American businesswoman, philanthropist and clubwoman. She was elected the president of the General Federation of [Women's Clubs] in 1902.

Career

Denison's husband Charles Halbert Denison invented and patented the marginal index system for bookkeeping, known as thumb indexing, which scooped out places in books to enable the reader to turn to any section they want. When her husband died from heart failure in 1911, she took over the business, overseeing 15 staff and turning over $50,000 by 1936.

Denison was also a clubwoman and was vice president of the philanthropic newspaper club the International Sunshine Society, serving under the president Cynthia May Alden. Denison served as vice president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs for four years, then was elected president of the GFWC for a term of two years from 1902 to 1904. While a member of the GFWC, Denison endorsed Clara Burdette's movement to exclude African American women's organisations from joining the federation.