Speeches & Writings File

Remarks made at the College Alumnae Luncheon, Dec. 29, 1948

Remarks Made at the College Alumnae Luncheon, Dec. 29, 1946

You will all agree with me, I am sure, when I tell you that it was a real red-letter 
day in my life when a few of our women met at our home, 326 T Street, North west to 
form a [collegge Alumae Club] college woman's club on the 5th of March [1948] 1910. I had been thinking about it for 
a long time and had talked with [some] a few of our women who held degrees from some of the
largest and best-known colleges and universities in the United States, but I was not
sure it was a wise thing to do. I have always hated segregation and I did not want our college-bred colored women to do
anything which seemed to indicate that they approved of segregation in any way, shape 
or form. [I have] But at the same time I felt we would take a long step forward, if our women
who had enjoyed exceptional educational opportunities could be united to promote the
welfare of the race, and I felt it would be a tragedy if we failed to do so. 
Comparitively few of our women had received degrees from accredited colleges,
in 1910, so that only these few were eligible for admission to the American Association of University
Women. However, a few of us were members of the A.L.U.W. even then, And so the
plain, unvarnished truth which stared us in the face was that many of our college
women would be deprived of the advantages which undoubtedly accrue from membership in
a college woman's club, if we did not establish one of our own. Those of us who debated the question and reviewed the situation
also felt that if we did not establish a club of our own, we would be unable to do a great deal of good which might otherwise be
accomplished in a variety of ways. And so, after mature deliberation we decided to
organize a college club of our own, even though we knew we ran the risk of being misunderstood
by some, and wrongfully accused of deliberately advocating and practicing segregation.
This is the first time I have ever publicly stated the reasons which induced some of
our women to take this step, and, so far as I know, the other women who helped form the
club have never done so either.
But today, nearly forty years after making this momentous decision, we are happy in
the realization that we acted wisely and well, and that we [?u?lded] better than we knew.
There is no doubt that we have been an inspiration to may of our girls, that we have
helped and encouraged them to decide to cultivate their minds, acquire a college education,
take a degree in music or art and model their lives after exemplars with the
highest ideals, We have interested the public in our efforts to elevate the standards



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of our racial group in literature, art, music, and in progressive, active citizenship.
Also from this College, Alumnae Club has sprung a large, national organization of our
college women. This enables us to enjoy the extraordinary experience of bearing the 
unprecident [relatio] dual relationship of Mother and Daughter to our national organization
of college women at one and the same time.
I do not claim that our College Alumnae Club has done everything it might, could and
should have done. But I can say without fear of successful contradiction that we have
been a powerful factor in advancing the interests and promoting the welfare of our group.
Mary Church Terrell

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