Christine Shoecraft Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christine Shoecraft Smith
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1916
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Christine Shoecraft
July 1, 1866 |
| Died | 1954 (aged 87–88) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Mrs. C. S. Smith |
| Occupation | community worker |
| Years active | 1883–1950 |
| Known for | NACWC 13th president |
Christine Shoecraft Smith (born July 1, 1866 – died 1954) was an important African-American community leader. She started her career as an assistant principal. Later, she helped manage a large publishing company. She was also involved in many clubs and became the 13th president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC).
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Early Life and Education
Christine Shoecraft was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 1, 1866. Her parents were Mary B. and A. R. Shoecraft. When Christine was only two years old, her mother passed away. Her father and grandmother raised her.
The family moved to Muncie when Christine was eight. She worked hard doing jobs like washing and ironing. She also did domestic work while she was still in school. Even with all her work, she graduated from high school at 17. She even saved enough money to buy her own graduation dress!
Starting Her Career
Right after high school, Christine was offered a job. She became the assistant principal at the State Normal and Industrial School in Normal, Alabama. She worked there until December 1887.
In December 1888, she married Rev. Charles Spencer Smith. He was a minister and later became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). Rev. Smith also started the AME Church's Sunday School Union. This was the largest publishing company owned by African-Americans in the United States.
Working at the Press
Christine Smith began working at the press. She was a book-keeper, cashier, and clerk. Later, she became the assistant manager of the Union. She was the first woman to hold this important position. Her work continued even after her son, Charles Spencer Smith, Jr., was born.
In 1896, she started the Women's Club of Nashville. This club joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC). By 1899, Smith was very active in the NACWC. She was elected as its recording secretary. She kept working as assistant manager of the press until 1900. That year, her husband became a bishop. His new job meant a lot of travel. So, the family moved and made their home in Detroit, Michigan.
Leadership and Community Work
In Detroit, Smith continued her community work. She was elected president of the Michigan State Association of Colored Women. She was also an executive member of the Detroit branch of the Urban League. This group worked to help African-Americans move to cities and find jobs.
Smith also served on the board of the Lucy Thurman YWCA branch. She worked for six years as the residential and maintenance secretary for the Detroit YWCA. In 1916, she helped create the Young People's Department for the AME Church's Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society.
In 1923, the year her husband passed away, she became the first vice president of the Mite Society. In 1931, she became the president of this organization. As president, she traveled to Kingston, Jamaica many times. She gave presentations and helped with missionary work there. The Mite Society was a group of women who did social work in their communities. They also raised money to pay missionaries working abroad and to build new churches.
Smith was a leader in many other clubs and groups. These included the United Council of Church Women and the Race Relations Commission. She attended all the big meetings of the NACWC. In 1946, she was elected president of the NACWC. As president, she traveled all over the United States. She also visited Mexico near the end of her term.
For several years, Smith wrote articles for National Notes. This was the newsletter of the NACWC. The newsletter stopped being published in 1935. But Smith brought it back in 1947 and became its editor-in-chief. Her term as NACWC president ended in 1948. That same year, she was appointed to the board of the National Council for a Permanent Fair Employment. This group worked for fair job opportunities for everyone.
Later Life and Legacy
Christine Shoecraft Smith passed away in 1954. Her important papers from her time with the NACWC are kept in a special collection. These papers are at the University at Albany, SUNY, in Albany, New York. They help people learn about her many years of service and leadership.
