National Association of Colored Women's Clubs Facts for Kids

The emblem of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs

The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC) is an American group that started in July 1896. It was formed in Washington, D.C., United States. This happened when several groups, like the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the Woman's Era Club of Boston, and the Colored Women's League of Washington, D.C., joined together. Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin called for this meeting.

From 1896 to 1904, the group was known as the National Association of Colored Women (NACW). They chose the motto "Lifting as we climb." This motto showed the world that their goals were the same as those of all good women who wanted to improve. When the group officially became a corporation in 1904, it changed its name to the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC).

History of the NACWC
Goals of the NACWC
Presidents of the NACWC
See also

History of the NACWC

The headquarters of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in Washington, D.C.

The National Association of Colored Women (which later became the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs) was created in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 1896. Their first big meeting was held at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. Many groups attended this meeting. These included the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the Woman's Era Club from Boston, and the National League of Colored Women from Washington, D.C. Smaller groups that were part of the African-American women's club movement also joined.

These groups, and others from across the country, came together to form the National Association of Colored Women. The organization worked to help all African-Americans. They focused on important issues like civil rights and unfairness. This included fighting for women's right to vote and against Jim Crow laws.

How the NACWC Started

Two important members of the NACWC were Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and Mary Church Terrell. They brought their local women's clubs together at the July 1896 meeting. Their goal was to fight against negative ideas about Black women. Mrs. Booker T. Washington, Margaret Murray Washington, helped organize this important meeting.

Some of the amazing women who helped start the NACWC were Harriet Tubman, Margaret Murray Washington, Frances E. W. Harper, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Victoria Earle Matthews, Josephine Silone Yates, and Mary Church Terrell.

What the NACWC Wanted to Do

In its first year, the NACWC focused on many problems that made it hard for Black people to get ahead in society. These problems included:

The "Chain Gang System" in the South, which was a harsh way of making prisoners work.
The "Separate Car Law" in the South, which forced Black people to sit in separate train cars.
Helping mothers and children on plantations.
Doing rescue work in poor city areas.
Creating homes for working people.
Encouraging more interest in helping those who had made mistakes or gone astray.

Over the next ten years, the NACWC became very active. They worked to get women the right to vote. They also fought against lynching (when a mob kills someone, often by hanging) and Jim Crow laws (laws that enforced racial segregation). They also worked hard to make education better. And they helped care for both children and older people.

The number of members grew a lot. In 1897, there were 5,000 members. By 1924, there were 100,000 members! However, membership went down during the Great Depression.

Important Leaders

Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and Mary Church Terrell made huge contributions to the National Association of Colored Women. Their hard work helped the NACWC become the most important group formed during the African-American Woman Suffrage Movement.

Both women were well-educated. Their parents were also successful. Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin used some of her money to start Woman’s Era. This was the first newspaper written by and for African-American women. This newspaper helped Black women become a public audience. It also created a community for NACWC members and those who wanted to join.

Mary Church Terrell was a very strong organizer. She led the fight in Washington, D.C., against segregation in restaurants. She even won a court case that helped make restaurants open to everyone.

First Leaders Elected

At the first meeting in July 1896, many important women were chosen to lead the National Association of Colored Women.

President - Mrs. Mary Church Terrell
First Vice President - Mrs. Fanny Jackson Coppin
Second Vice President - Mrs. F. E. W. Harper
Third Vice President - Mrs. Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
Fourth Vice President - Mrs. Josephine Silone Yates
Fifth Vice President - Mrs. Sylvanie Williams
Sixth Vice President - Mrs. Jennie Chase Williams
Seventh Vice President - Mrs. Lucy Thurman
Recording Secretary - Mrs. Alice Ruth Moore
Corresponding Secretary - Miss A. V. Thompkins
Treasurer - Mrs. Helen Appo Cook
Chairman of the Executive Committee - Mrs. Margaret Murray Washington
National Organizer - Mrs. Victoria Earle Matthews

Goals of the NACWC

The NACWC has clear goals that guide its work:

To improve the economic, moral, religious, and social well-being of women and children.
To protect the rights of women and children.
To make homes and families better.
To use their influence to make sure civil and political rights are fair for everyone.
To help educate women and children through effective programs.
To help African-American families achieve their highest potential.
To work well with the organization's male support group.
To help different races understand each other, so that fairness and kindness can be everywhere.

Presidents of the NACWC

Many inspiring women have led the NACWC throughout its history:

Mary Church Terrell – 1st President (1896–1900)
Josephine Silone Yates – 2nd President (1900–1904)
Lucy Thurman – 3rd President (1904–1908)
Elizabeth Carter Brooks – 4th President (1908–1912)
Margaret James Murray (Mrs. Booker T. Washington) – 5th President (1912–1916)
Mary B. Talbert – 6th President (1916–1920)
Miss Hallie Q. Brown – 7th President (1920–1924)
Mary McLeod Bethune – 8th President (1924–1928)
Mrs. Sallie Wyatt Stewart – 9th President (1928–1933)
Dr. Mary Fitzbutler Waring – 10th President (1933–1937)
Mrs. Jennie B. Moton – 11th President (1937–1941)
Mrs. Ada Belle Dement – 12th President (1941–1945)
Mrs. Christine S. Smith – 13th President (1946–1948)
Ella P. Stewart – 14th President (1948–1952)
Irene McCoy Gaines – 15th President (1952–1958)

Irene M. Gaines, the 15th President of the NACWC

Dr Rosa L. Gragg – 16th President (1958–1964)
Mamie B. Reese – 17th President (1964–1968)
Myrtle Ollison – 18th President (1968–1972)
Juanita W. Brown – 19th President (1972–1976)
Inez W. Tinsley – 20th President (1976–1980)
Otelia Champion – 21st President (1980–1984)
Myrtle E. Gray – 22nd President (1984–1988)
Dr. Dolores M. Harris – 23rd President (1988–1992)
Savannah C. Jones — 24th President (1992–1996)
Dr. Patricia L. Fletcher — 25th President (1996–2002)
Margaret J. Cooper — 26th President (2002–2006)
Dr. Marie Wright Tolliver – 27th President (2006–2010)
Evelyn Rising – 28th President (2010–2014)
Sharon R. Bridgeforth – 29th President (2014–2018)
Dr. Andrea Brooks-Smith – 30th President (2018–2022)
Opal Bacon - 31st President (2022–present)

National Association of Colored Women's Clubs facts for kids

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