Alice Wiley Seay facts for kids
Alice W. Wiley Seay (born 1858 – died 1937) was an important American social worker. She helped many people through her charity work. Alice also started a big group called the Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs. She was a leader in many groups that worked to make life better for women and girls.
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About Alice W. Wiley Seay
Alice Seay was born in Giles, Virginia, in 1858. This was a time when slavery was still legal in parts of the United States. By 1880, Alice had left her family home. In 1886, she married Pleasant Wiley. She and her husband later moved to Brooklyn, New York. Alice worked as a dressmaker. She and her husband also had people renting rooms in their home.
Helping Others and Leading Clubs
While living in Brooklyn, Alice became very active in clubs. She worked hard to raise money for people who needed help. She started her charity work with the Dorcas Home Missionary Society. Alice became the president of the Dorcas Society in Brooklyn in the late 1880s.
In 1903, she became the vice president of the Northeastern Federation of Colored Women's Clubs (NFCWC). Two years later, in 1905, she was elected president of that group. In 1908, Alice Seay started her own organization. It was called the Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs (ESFWC). This group was connected to the NFCWC. The ESFWC worked to improve the lives of women and girls. They also raised money to help care for Harriet Tubman, a famous abolitionist.
Later Life and Continued Work
Alice's first husband died in 1906. After his death, Alice moved back to Virginia for a short time. In 1910, she married James Alfred Seay. She then moved back to Brooklyn for a few years. There, she again led the Dorcas Society. She also served on the board for the Mothers Day Nursery at the Lincoln Settlement.
Alice was also involved in the temperance movement. This movement worked to reduce or stop the use of alcohol. She held a special meeting about this topic for her ESFWC group. She was also a member of the Order of Tents. This was a secret society for African American women. She also joined the Equal Suffrage League of Brooklyn. This group worked for women's right to vote.
In 1915, Alice was the chairman of the membership committee. This was for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP is a very important civil rights organization.
Returning to Virginia
Alice returned to Virginia in 1916. There, she worked as a social worker. Her husband, James, had a farm in Virginia. James died in 1932. Five years later, Alice Seay passed away in Mattoax, Virginia, in November 1937. She was buried next to James at the Flower Hill Baptist Church in Giles. In February 1938, more than 300 people attended a memorial service for Alice Seay. It was held at the Concord Baptist Church.
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