SPEECHES & WRITINGS FILE
Remarks at Julia West 
Hamilton Banquet, Oct. 15, 1948


Remarks by Mary Church Terrell at Julia West Hamilton Banquet, October 15, 1948

When I received a letter from Mrs. Gregory honoring me by inviting me to come here
tonight to talk about Mrs. Julia West Hamilton's club activities and work and then saw [she]
that out of the generosity of her heart she had given me three whole minutes to perform that
herculean task, right off the reel I made up my mind that I would take my pen in hand and
write a polite little note saying "Dear Sister Gregory: It would take me at least three
hours by anybody's clock just to give a list of all the clubs, organizations, associations
, societies and committees with which Julia West Hamilton has been working here in Washington lo these
many years.  Even if you gave me three hours to pull off that gigantic tast I would not
guarantee that it would be completely and satisfactorily done.

But even though I cannot go into details, I can say that Julia West Hamilton has
been working hard for many years to improve the status our group here in the capital
of the United States. And she has not confined her interest and activities to any one particular
division or section of our community life, but she has been genuinely, deeply interested
in all of them and has tried to help and improve them all.  Since actions speak
louder than words Mrs. Hamilton has evidently been saying to herself what's everybody's business is
nobody's business, so I'll do the best I can to straighten things out and build things up.
Just think what it would have meant to the improvement of the physical, educational,  spiritual 
and moral conditions of our group in this city, if a few more women had emulated the
fine example which Julia West Hamilton has set.

Personally, I have enjoyed my friendship with Mrs. Hamilton, which dates back many
years, because I knew she would lend a sypathetic ear and, if possible, a helping hand
to any idea or proposition I made, if she felt it had real merit. And I knew that even if
she did not agree whole-heartedly with the method by which I wanted to do a certian thing,
she sould tell me so frankly, and together we could work out a better plan.

As the first president of the National Association of Colored Women, founded here
in the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, 52 years ago I want to say I am proud of the fine
record which Mrs. Hamilton made as Treasurer of that organization- a position which she held
for thirteen years.

Even though I have been allotted only three minutes it is a great temptation to
mention some [several] outstanding services rendered by Julia West Hamilton
to promote the welfare of our group along many lines and in various ways
Finally, I want to say that whatever Julia West Hamilton's hands have found to do has been
conscientiously and cheerfully done. And it is a great pleasure for me to testify that in
addition to being conscientiously and cheerfully done, it has been done exceedingly well.


Remarks by Mary Church Terrell at Julia West Hamilton Banquet, October 15, 1948

When I received a letter from Mrs. Gregory honoring me by inviting me to come here
tonight to talk about Mrs. Julia West Hamilton's club activities and work and then saw [she]
that out of the generosity of her heart she had given me three whole minutes to perform that
herculean task, right off the reel I made up my mind that I would take my pen in hand and
write a polite little note saying "Dear Sister Gregory: It would take me at least three
hours by anybody's clock just to give a list of all the clubs, organizations, associations
, societies and committees with which Julia West Hamilton has been working here in Washington lo these
many years.  Even if you gave me three hours to pull of that gigantic tast I would not
guarantee that it would be completely and satisfactorily done.

But even though I cannot go into details I can say that Julia West Hamilton has
been working hard for many years to improve the status our group here in the capital
of the United States. And she has not confined her interest and activities to any one particular
division or section of our community life, but she has been genuinely, deeply interested
in all of them and has tried to help and improve them all.  Since actions speak
louder than words Mrs. Hamilton has evidently been saying to herself what's everybody's business is
nobody's business, so I'll do the best I can to straighten things out and build things up.
Just thing what it would have meant to the improvement of the physical, educational,  spiritual 
and moral conditions of our group in this city, if a few more women had emulated the
fine example which Julie West Hamilton has set.

Personally, I have enjoyed my friendship with Mrs. Hamilton, which dates back many
years, because I knew she would lend a sypathetic ear and, if possible, a helping hand
to any idea or proposition I made, if she felt it had real merit. And I knew that even if
she did not agree whole-heartedly with the method by which I wanted to do a certian thing,
she sould tell me so frankly, and together we could work out a better plan.

As the first president of the National Association of Colored Women, founded here
in the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, 52 years ago I want to say I am proud of the fine
record which Mrs. Hamilton made as Treasurer of that organization- a position which she held
for thieteen years.

Even though I have been allotted only three minutes it is a great temptation to
mention several outstanding services rendered by Julia West Hamilton
to promote the welfare of our group along many lines and in various ways
Finally, I want to say that whatever Julia West Hamilton's hands have found to do has been
conscientiously and cheerfully done. And it is a great pleasure for me to testify that in
addition to being conscientiously and cheerfully done, it has been done exceedingly well.

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.