SPEECHES & WRITINGS FILE Remarks at Victory After Vision Dinner Given by the Tuesday Evening Club of Social Workers, Dec. 7, 1951 After Vision Remarks at Victory Dinner Given by the Tuesday Evening Club of Social Workers, Friday, December 7, 1951 As soon as I was honored with an invitation to attend this Vic Victory After Vision Dinner , a flood of memories relating to the wonderful work which this Club has done, the reason it was organised and th names of some of the woman instrumental in forming it rushed through [over] my mi mind so fast it made my head swim. Before I could say Jack Robinson I w was recollecting when our women here had no clubs at all except those the Church women formed which generally concerned themselves with affairs connected with the Church to which they belonged. Then I immediately thought of the first secular club which was here organized here to improve the conditions [and] under which we lived and to advance our interests along various lines of human endeavor -It was the Colored Woman's League which was organized in June 1892- sixty years ago. with Mrs. John F. Cook as president. Its preamble reads as follows: Whereas in Union there is strength, and whereas we, as a people have been and are the subject of prejudice, proscription and injustice, the more successful because of lack of unity and organization, Resolved that we, the colored women of Washington, associate ourselves together to collect all facts [together] obtainable, showing the moral, intellectual and social growth and attainments of our people; to foster unity of purpose, to consider and determine methods which will promote the best interests of the colored people in any direction which suggests itself. Resolved that we appeal to the colored women of the United States interested in the objects set forth to form similar organizations which shall cooperate with the Washington League, thus forming a National League in which each society shall be represented. On January 11, 1894 the Colored Woman's League was incorporated. Of the 8 women who signed the Act of Incorporation only 2 are living today- Dr. Anna J. Cooper and myself. But inspite of the fact that there were so many progressive civic-minded women who had enjoyed superior educational opportunities here, many ye 2 years passed before we realized that it was our duty to extend a helping hadn, to try to improve the morals and to come to the rescue of our relinquent girls, some of whom had committed crimes, and were involved in serious troubles of various kinds, but a number of whom were more sinned against than sinning. I remember well when this phase of our duty to unfortunate girls began to be discussed earnestly and fluently. But among those who pressed for action in this matter, the one who stands out prominently in my memory is Clara Smythe. It is natural that this should be and often talked with me about doing this much needed work. so, for Clara had been one of my pupils. Her mother Mrs. Smythe, the and her dauther ardently advocated establishing a home for delinquent widow of a minister to Liberia [was deeply interested in helping delinquent] unfortunate girls. until the effort become a reality. Of course, Dr. W Whipper's earnestness, her determination and her continuous hard work appealed to me strongly and impressed me deeply. Even if I had the time it would be impossible for me adequately to [appraise] descibe [and appraise] and appraise the marvellous humanitarian work which this Club has done. With all my heart I thank [congratulate] the members of this Tuesday Afternoon Club for [on] the help they have given and the kindness shown the girls who needed their ministrations so badly. And I congratulate you upon the invaluable service you have rendered to our own group in particular and to the community as a whole. After Vision Remarks at Victory Dinner Given by the Tuesday Evening Club of Social Workers, Friday, December 7, 1951 As soon as I was honored with an invitation to attend this Vic Victory After Vision Dinner , a flood of memories relating to the wonderful work which this Club has done, [*Why,when and where*]the reason it was organised and th names of some of the woman instrumental in forming it rushed through [over] my mi mind so fast it made my head swim. Before I could say Jack Robinson I w was recollecting when our women here had no clubs at all except those the Church women formed which generally concerned themselves with affairs connected with the Church to which they belonged. Then I [immediately] thought immediately of the first secular club which was [here] organized here to improve the conditions [and] under which we lived and to advance our interests along various lines of human endeavor -It was the Colored Woman's League which was organized in June 1892- sixty years ago. with Mrs. John F. Cook as president. Its preamble reads as follows: Whereas in Union there is strength, and whereas we, as a people have been and are the subject of prejudice, proscription and injustice, the more successful because of lack of unity and organization, Resolved that we, the colored women of Washington, associate ourselves together to collect all facts [together] obtainable, showing the moral, intellectual and social growth and attainments of our people; to foster unity of purpose, to consider and determine methods which will promote the best interests of the colored people in any direction which suggests itself. Resolved that we appeal to the colored women of the United States interested in the objects set forth to form similar organizations which shall cooperate with the Washington League, thus forming a National League in which each society shall be represented. [*Over*] On January 11, 1894 the Colored Woman's League was incorporated. Of the 8 women who signed the Act of Incorporation only 2 are living today- Dr. Anna J. Cooper and myself. But inspite of the fact that there were so many progressive civic-minded women who had enjoyed superior educational opportunities here, many ye When I realized that my mind was running back through reams of ancient history I decided Right then and there [I made up my mind] definitely that I woould honestly confuse my [?] not trust myself to speak at a club woman's dinner without writing a few broken remarks beforehand which would stay within the limits of the time assigned to me and not to trespass on the time assigned to other speakers. When girls have reach the ripe old age of 80 years plus you know, [xxx] is and has lived in the same city for 60 years, as I have, it is a dangerous risk to let her loose on an audience without a manuscript. So far as I have been able to ascertain by diligent search the Colored Womans League [organized here] in Washington was the first club organized by our women for the definite purpose of becoming national 2 years passed before we realized that it was our duty to extend a helping hadn, [to try to improve the morals] and to come to the rescue of our delinquent girls, some of whom had committed crimes, and were involved in serious troubles of various kinds, but a number of whom were more sinned against than sinning. I remember well when this phase of our duty to unfortunate girls began to be discussed earnestly and fluently. But among those who pressed for action in this matter, the one who stands out prominently in my memory is Clara Smythe. It is natural that this should be so, for Clara had been one of my pupils and often talked with me about doing this much needed work. Her mother Mrs. Smythe, the widow of a minister to Liberia and her daughter ardently advocated establishing a home for delinquent, unfortunate girls. until the effort became a reality. Of course Dr. W Whipper's earnestness,her determination and her continuous hard work appealed to me strongly and impressed me deeply. Even if I had the time it would be impossible for me adequately to describe and appraise the marvellous humanitarian work which this Club has done. With all my heart I [congratulate] thank the members of this Tuesday Afternoon Club [on] for the help they have given and the kindness shown the girls who needed their ministrations so badly . And I congratulate you upon the invaluable service you have rendered both to our own group in particular and to the community as a whole. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.