Subject File
National Association of Colored
Women, undated Mss. reports
to 1897 or 1899 conventions

Report of The Little Rock
Branch of the National
Association of Colored 
Women.
Madame Pres. & Officers of
the N.A.C.W. -- Greetings:-
"I represent a state, whose 
name, but a short time since, 
possessed the magic power 
of conjuring up to the imaginations 
of strangers, what 
was supposed to be orthodox
visions of the wild and
wooly west - Society lawless 
in character; justice of the 
frontier yellow-back-novel-type 
and popular ettiquette in 
the use of the bowie instead 
of the table knife the correct 
accomplishment. So that, when 
in the course of human events 
it became necessary for a delegate
from Ark. to dissolve the bonds


2.
That bound him to his own 
state, and cross over into
another, a proper respect 
for the opinions of mankind
made it decent to apologise 
for being an Arkansian. 

In looking back several 
decades, we shall find 
the picture not overdrawn;
indeed there are not a 
few who are still ignorant 
on this point, believing that 
all the states were created 
free and equal except Ark.
And all have remained 
so except Ark., Traveller
“Turned the tune” literally, the 
tune of progress has kept 
with it in rhythm and harmony.
Now Ark. is attracting

3.
No less attention than
Alaskian fields of gold
Her matchless climate 
and unbounded resources 
are her most precious jewels 
and her teeming waters 
make her no less a priceless 
pearl.
The woman’s club of 
Little Rock, in casting about 
for a name for the club
hit upon the euphonious
title of the The Little Rock Branch 
of the National Association 
of Colored Women It will be 
found upon examination 
that the name is very suggestive 
first because it conveys 
the idea of firmness- 
Adamantine firmness! It too 
affords an excellent illustration


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of that trite saying “Its 
a poor rule that will not 
work both ways.” When worked 
by the 1st way - by value or 
quality, little rocks are the 
most precious of stones.
When worked by the other 
way we find little rocks are 
only so by comparison; as 
we hope to be little only by 
comparison with this National 
Body.
The L.R.B. of the N.A.C.W. is 
a young Club, in fact, 
an infant of seven months
through the call of Mrs Anna R. Johnson,
State organizer, its organization 
was effected on 11th of Feb.
It owns its parentage to 
the National body and feels
grateful for the impetus
given it through that great 
organization, the sound of 
whose deliberations have but

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so lately echoed from 
Arkansian hills and valleys

The preamble of our constitution 
sets forth the object 
of the club: 1st to form a 
closer union, 2nd to further 
and engage in charitable 
work, social reform, intellectual 
and industrial elevation. 
Like fabled Athene who 
sprang full grown from 
the head of Zeus we had 
and still have 32 active 
members, with an average 
attendance of 16. Our membership 
is limited to 40 
members; that in our opinion 
being a fair working number 
insuring far more individual 
work, and far less friction. 
Our membership embraces 
all denominations, thereby 


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providing for harmony and 
zealousness. The first of our 
bimonthly meetings is set apart 
for business; for it is especially 
along this line we expect to 
do much work. Our constitution 
pledges the club 
to the establishment of an industrial 
department, one feature
of which is to be a 
bureau of exchange, in 
which the products of the 
skill and industry of our 
women and girls are to be 
exposed for sale. 

Another contemplated feature 
is a training department 
where systematic instruction 
will enable those 
who work from home to 
do work in a more scientific 
way, thereby commanding

7.
better wages; also to train those who will have the care of homes in those domestic virtues that be at the foundation of an elevated and civilized condition. 
In connection with this department our peculiar needs demand provision for a public library. While discussing and planning we have also been busy trying to get on foot. We have not yet moved into quarters, for the reason that our arrangements are not fully matured. 
But if pluck and zeal do not desert us we expect soon to see the fruition of our hopes and plans. 


8.
A series of benefits occurring about every six weeks has proven not only remunerative but has given us the opportunity to elevate the class and character of popular amusements. 
The sums netted from these entertainments, from time to time, have almost reached the point of application, and pending that event, our delegate here is representative of our desire to be in closer sympathy with other clubs; to interchange club methods and to become in-touch with your plans for the highest and broadest culture. 
Our second bimonthly meeting is devoted to literature, music, and occasionally a parliamentary drill. [?]

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to the present time we have studied and discussed, writings of Bunyan, Milton, and Longfellow. We are perfecting plans for bringing the children at stated times to our literary meetings, hoping by this means to interest and direct their readings; believing that if we succeed in forming a taste for pure literature in the home, thus recognizing it as the bulwark of civilization, we will have protected its sancity from violation
We can not conclude this report without a tribute to the worth and oneness of those noble women who form the National organization and who by the sacrifice of their time comfort and means 


10.
are doing so much to quicken the interest and arouse the zeal of their sisters for race improvement; It is because of them that we feel thankful to God for planting in the human heart the impulse to do good, and that this national Association having gathered the threads of these impulses into one knot, has sent along each strand a wave motion that must keep them quivering when the 19th Century stands side by side with its fellow centuries. 
Respectfully submitted. 
Mrs. Maria Craigen._Pres. 
Mrs. H. Oliver._Sect.
" E. F. Horne_Cor. Sect. 
Mary H. Spight_Delegate

Report of the Y. [Im St.?] Paul
Madam President and 
members of the National Asso-
ciation of colored women.
The B. K. Bruce Young
Women Christian Temperance
Union send greeting to the
National Association of colored
women.
Our union is small in 
number and young in age &
experiences, but with the 
assistances of our dear Supt.
Mrs. Lyles who is ever willing
and ready to help us and

with a firm faith in God
we expect to do a great work
this year.
Mrs. Lyles organized
us with 11 members and
now we have 22 and 5
honorary members. We held
ten parlor meetings one
public meeting. We made
ten visits to the sick and
gave food and clothing to
three needy families and
had the honor of our Secretary
Miss Minnie Vance being appoin-
ted one of the pages of the Great
National W.C.T.U. Convention
held Nov. 98 for which we
were very proud. We gave also
$15. toward the expense of the
National Convention of the W.C.T.U

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We had the honor at that
time and the first time for some
of us of hearing Mrs. Lucy Therman
Mrs. Joseph of New Orleans
& Miss[Bullock]  Lynch Mrs 
Bullick, who gave us pleasing
address on the great Temperance
work which proved a
great inspiration to us all.
We pledge our self to do all
we can in the future for the 
up lifting of humanity
Respectful submitted
Miss Bessie Mills Pres.
Miss M. Howell Sec.


Woman's Improvement
Club of Louisville Ky
We consider our most
important work the formation
of a Kindergarten association
in our city whose
object is to increase
the Kindergarten facilities
for our children in Louisville,
and form a training
class for Colord Kindergarteners.
Arrangements have 
been made and we hope
to see the realization of both
objects in Sept.
Mrs. Fannie B. Williams Pres.
 Miss G. A. Nugent Sect.

Report of work done
by the Woman's [Improvement]
Club of Louisville, Ky.

Condensed Report
of the
St. Louis Colored Orphan Home

the St. Louis Colored Orphan
Home was Established
under the auspicies of
the Harper WCTU cl-
1888 they Seeing the
great need of a Home
for our Motherless and
destitute children other
than the house of 
Refuge. So with the 
grit and determination
that usually posses our
Western Women these

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these ladies looked about
for a Suitable Building
the Came in possession 
of a house formerly used
by the working women
home this was given to
the ladies for a home [rent]
free A Very Old House
truly but a shelter [---]
on the above date the 
St. Louis Colored Orphanage was
open to a much needed 
Charity with 3 Children 
this was 10 years ago.
during the next few years


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the work and needs of
the house increased So
rapidly it was deemed 
wise to organize a
Colored Orphan Home
Association and become
incorporated, this was
done, thus opening a
feild of work to all charitable
ladies of good repute.
Support
the home is not endowed
as are Some More fortunate
homes of like kind
Our Support is derived

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from Contributions,
from churches, societies
public schools, through their
teachers, + clubs (ladies) of
which number the ladies
Wednesday Club takes the
lead.  they for over 2 years
has most nobly assisted
with clothing - we also
give Entertainments
realizing Several hundred
dollars annually.  In 10
years we have cared for
300 children, that number
we have placed some in good


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homes, others have been
claimed by relatives or
died.  At present 35. are
in the home. [*at present*]
Average number cared for
annually per month 40. Cost
of [*monetariaes*] per year
$1400. individual cost $25.
this includes food, clothing,
warmth, and home comfort.
We have in Connection
with the home a nursery, where
we care for infants of distitute Mothers
who can not earn a support
and keep their babies with


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them. These and others are
cared for at the home and
paid for by the City - untill they are, three
years of age. We have helped
homeless women, sheltering
them untill work could
be found for them.
Sometimes, we are able to give them work
our selves. We have toward
the Building fund over
$800. _which sum has been
obtained by hard labor on the
part of the management
during the last few years.
That and, the cost of keeping 


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up the home every year
represents in cents and
dollars the Charitable
interest of the [negroes of]
Colored Citizen of St. Louis
now we are preparing to
secure better quarters in
the purchas of a New
home where the children
will be better cared for
we strive to give a
Common school Education.
We send them All to school
under charge of the Matron
our little ones to the

Mrs Elmira Napier Treas
"   [?]   Oliver Sec
" Nellie Gibson Cor Sec

St Louis orphan home report 

Report of the Lucy Therman M. C. T. U. Minneapolis Minn.

Madam President + members of the National association of Colored Women. 
The Lucy Therman M.C.T.U. of Minneapolis Minn. sends greetings to the National Association of Colored Women. 
In submitting our report of this years work I do so with a feeling of encouragement. Our labors have not been in vain. We have made progress all along the line of temperance and reform. The great national M.C.T.U.

convention that convened in
the People Church in St. Paul
Nov. 95 was a wonderful
gathering of Christian Temperance
Women and their utterances
stirred the hearts of both men
and women to aid us in our
work and gave us new vigor
to work for the cause.
We had the honor of having
Mrs. Lucy Therman the National
Supertendance of the W. C. T.U 
of which our [member w]
union has the honor to be named
after.  We had also with us
Mrs. Joseph of New Orleans &
Mrs. Bullock who delivered 
elegant addresses on temperance
& told of the great work that they
were doing in the south land
As our time is limited I have


condensed my report but I do
wish to say that we are doing all
kinds of charity work. Prison 
work Rescue work & etc.
Our state organizer & Supertindance 
Mrs. T.H. Lyles has held
2 very successful gospel temperance
meetings in Minneapolis &
through her presistant effort
has succeeded in getting
pardon from The penetintiary 
a poor colored girl who had
been sent their for four years 
and secured for her a nice
place to work. Our union
gave a large donation to the rescue
home in our city.
Hoping to do more in the
future. respectful submitted
Mrs. R.A. Ragan Pres
Sadie Williams Sec.

Annual Report of The Woman's Club of Mutual Improvement Of Selma, Alabama.
Our club was organized June 9, 1894. It now has a good membership - forty-five in all - and meets once every two weeks. While the literary department is a prominent feature of it, it is by no means confined to that alone, but it has broadened its sphere of work, so that during the past year it has made donations to the hospital, carried food, money and clothing to the poor and needy, and has paid the tuition of several children of widowed mothers in the schools of the city. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was remembered by us last winter in fitting and appropriate exercises.
A lecture course has been established, and lecture subjects relative to our people, such as "The Duty of Parents to Children," "The Negro as a Factor in Business," and others of a like nature have been given.

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