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The Atlanta University Publications, No. 14 

EFFORTS FOR -4 

\ lul; 

SOCIAL BETTERMENT 

AMONG 

NEGRO AMERICANS 

A Social Study made by Atlanta 

University, under the patronage 

of the Trustees of the John F. 

Slater Fund 

Price, 75 Cents 

The Atlanta University Press 

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 

1900 

 \ 

"aiJM 

?r»v 

03? 

¥F every just man that now 
* pines with want had but a 
moderate and beseeming share 
of that which lewdly=pampered 
Luxury now heaps upon some 
few with vast excess, Nature's 
full blessings would be well= 
dispensed in superfluous even 
proportion. 

Milton. 

The Atlanta University Publications, No. 14 

Efforts for 

Social Betterment 

among 

Negro Americans 

Report of a Social Study made by Atlanta University 
under the patronage of the Trustees of the John F. 
Slater Fund; together with the Proceedings of the 
14th Annual Conference for the Study of the Negro 
Problems, held at Atlanta University on Tuesday, 
May the 24th, 1909 

Edited ty 

W. E. Burghardt Du Bois 

Corresponding Secretary of the Conference 

The Atlanta University Press 

ATLANTA. GA. 

1909 

 ./ A 
\ 

TS he not sailing, 
Lost like thyself 
on an ocean unknown, 
and is he not guided 

By the same star that 
guides thee? 

Why should'sT: thou 
hate, then, thy 
brother? 

Bishop Tegner. 

Copyright, 1910, by Atlanta University 

SSSffi® 

Efforts for Social Betterment among 
Negro Americans 

Contents 

PAGE 

Program of the Fourteenth Annual Conference .... 4 

Preface .....•••••••• 

Bibliography ......-•••• 7 

1. Scope of the Inquiry ......... 9 

2. The African Background ........ 10 

3. Slavery ......•••••• 10 

4. The Present Economic Basis ...... 12 

5. The Church .......-•• 16 

6. The School ......---•• 29 

7. Miscellaneous General Efforts ....... 35 

8. Negro Philanthropists .....•••• 37 

9. General Charity .......... 42 

10. Women's Clubs .......... 47 

11. Old Folk's Homes .......... 66 

12. Orphanages .....-••••• 77 

13. Hospitals ....-.•••••• 87 

14. Y. M. C. Associations and Y. W. C. Associations ... 95 

15. Eefuges and Homes for Women and Children . . .100 

16. Social, Literary and Art Clubs ....... 104 

17. Literature and Newspapers ........ 109 

18. Libraries ....••••••• 117 

19. Day Nurseries ...-••••• H9 

20. Social Settlements .......... 121 

21. Kindergartens ........... 126 

22. Civic Reform .....-•••-• 127 

23. Miscellaneous ........... 180 

t 24. Conclusion ........... 133 

' Index .............. 134 

o 

 The Fourteenth Annual Conference 

Efforts for Social Betterment among Negro Americans 

PROGRAMME 

First Session, 10:00 a. m. 

President E. T. Ware presiding. 

Siibject: "Local Charities." 

Address: Mr. William A. Rogers, '99, of the State Normal School, Peters- 
biirg, Va. 

Explanation of Charts: Dr. W. E. B- DnBois, Secretary of the Conference. 
Second Session, 11:30 a. m. 

Subject: "Health and Social Betterment." 

Special Talk to Men: Dr. Stephen A. Peters, '97 (Room 16). 

Special Talk to Women: Miss Anna Knight, Medical Missionary in India 
(Chapel). 

Third Session. 3:00 p. m. 

Twelfth Anmial Mothers' Meeting. (In charge of the Gate City Free Kin 
dergarten.) Mrs. David T. Howard presiding. 

Siibiect: "The Children and Health." 

1. Kindergarten songs, games and exercises by 150 children of the five free 
kindergartens: 

East Cain Street—Miss Ola Perry. 
Bradley Street—Miss Hattie Sims. 
Martin Street—Mrs. John Rush. 
Dover Street—Miss Leila Golden. 
Leonard Street—Miss Nannie Nichols, 

2. Address: Miss Cornelia Bowen, president of the Alabama State Federa 
tion of Colored Women's Clubs. 
Address: Mrs. J. W. E. Bowen. 

4. Explanation of Kindergarten Exhibit—Miss Gertrude Ware. 

6. Report of Treasurer: Mrs. Lizzie Biirch. 

6. Collection. 

Fourth Session, 8:00 p. m. 

President E. T. Ware presiding. 

Siibject: "Efforts for Social Betterment." 

Address: "The Social Betterment of the Russian Peasant": Mr. I. M. 
Rubinow, Special Agent, Biireau of Labor, Washington, D. C., formerly 
of the Imperial Riissian Civil Service. 

Stereopticon Exhibit of varioiis current methods of Social Uplift. 

3. 

Errata 

On page 113 insert after "Dunbar, Paul Lawrence," and before "The 
Sport of the Gods": 

M 

Lyrics of Lowly Life. 
Lyrics of the Hearth Side. 
Candle-lightin' time. 
Lyrics of Love and Laughter. 
Poems of Cabin and Field. 

Folks from Dixie. 
The Uncalled. 
The Strength of Gideon. 
The Love of Landry. 
The Fanatics. 

Preface 

In 1898 the Atlanta University Negro Conference made an investi 
gation into "Efforts of American Negroes for their own Social Better 
ment." As was explained in the report of that study: "To be of the 
highest value such an investigation should be exhaustive, covering 
the whole country and recording all species of effort,. Funds were not 
available for such an inquiry. The method followed, therefore, was to 
choose nine Southern cities of varying size and to have selected in 
them such organizations of Negroes as were engaged in benevolent 
and reformatory work. The cities from which returns were obtained 
were: Washington, D. C., Petersburg, Va., Augusta-, Ga., Atlanta, Ga., 
Mobile, Ala., Bowling Green, Ky., Clarke.sville,Tenii., Fort Smith, Ark.i 
and Galveston, Tex. Graduates of Atlanta University, Fisk Univer 
sity, Howard University, the Meharry Medical College, and other 
Negro institutions co-operated in gathering the information desired. 

"No attempt was made to catalogue all charitable and reformatory 
efforts, but rather to illustrate the character of the work being done 
by typical examples. In one case, Petersburg, Va., nearly all efforts 
of all kinds were reported, in order to illustrate the full activity of 
one group. The report for one large city, Washington, was pretty full 
although not exhaustive. In all of the other localities only selected 
organizations were reported. The returns being for the most part direct 
and reduced to a basis of actual figures seem to be reliable." 

Eleven years later the Atlanta Conference returns to the study of 
this subject, aided by an appropriation of $1,000 from the Trustees of 
the John F. Slater Fund. It is, however, again not possible to make 
an exhaustive study of Social Betterment among the ten million peo 
ple of Negro descent in the United States. An attempt has been made, 
however, to secure in all parts of the country a fairly representative 
list of typical efforts and institutions, and the resulting picture while 
incomplete is nevertheless instructive. 

This study is, therefore, a further carrying out of the Atlanta Uni 
versity plan of social study of the Negro American, by means of an 
annual series of decennially recurring subjects covering, so far as is 
practicable, every phase of human life. The object of these studies is 
primarily scientific—a careful research for truth, conducted as thor 
oughly, broadly and honestly as the material resources and mental 
equipment at command will allow. It must be remembered that math 
ematical accuracy in these studies is impossible; the sources of infor 
mation are of varying degrees of accuracy and the pictures are wofully 
incomplete. There is necessarily much repetition in the successive 
studies, and some contradiction of previous reports by later ones as new 
material comes to hand. All we claim is that the work is as thorough 

 6 Efforts for Social Betterment 

as circumstances permit and that with all its obvious limitations it is 
well worth the doing. Our object is not simply to serve Science. We 
wish not only to make the Truth clear but to present it in such shape 
as will encourage and help social reform. 

Our financial resources are unfortunately meager: Atlanta University 
is primarily a school and most of its funds and energy go to teaching. 
It is, however, also a seat of learning and as such it has endeavored to 
advance knowledge, particularly in matters of racial contact and 
development, which seem obviously its nearest field. In this work 
it has received unusual encouragement from the scientific world, and 
the published results of these studies are used in America, Europe, Asia 
and Africa. Very few books on the Negro problem, or any phase of it, 
have been published in the last decade which have not acknowledged 
their indebtedness to our work. 

On the other hand, the financial support given this work has been 
very small. The total cost of the fourteen publications has been about 
$16,000, or a little over $1,000 a year. The growing demands of the work, 
the vast field to be covered and the delicacy and equipment needed in 
such work, call for far greater resources. We need, for workers, labora 
tory and publications, a fund of $6,000 a year, if this work is going ade 
quately to fulfill its promise. Two years ago a small temporary grant 
from the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D. C., greatly helped us, 
and for two years our work has been saved from suspension by an 
appropriation from the John F. Slater Fund. 

In past years we have been enabled to serve the United States Bureau 
of Labor, the United States Census, the Board of Education of the Eng 
lish Government, many scientific associations, professors in nearly all 
the leading universities, and many periodicals and reviews. May we 
not hope in the future for such increased financial resources as will 
enable us to study adequately this the greatest group of social problems 
that ever faced America ? 

A Select Bibliography of Efforts for Social Betterment among 

Negro Americans 
Books 

Annual Report of the Home Mission Board (Baptists!. 14 reports. 
Annual Report of the National Baptist Young People's Union Board. 10 reports. 
Annual Reports of the Executive Board and Corresponding Secretary of the Wom 
an's Convention Auxiliary to the National Baptist Convention. 9 reports. 
1900(?)-1909. 

Annual Reports: Published by the various Institutions noted -within. 
Atlanta University Publications: 

No. 3. Some Efforts of Negroes for Social Betterment; 6ti pp. 
No. 6. The Negro Common School; 120 pp., 1901. 
No. 8. The Negro Church; 212 pp., IMS. 

No. 11. Health and Physique of the Negro American; 112 pp. 
No. 12. Economic Co-operation among Negro Americans; 184 pp., 1907. 
No. 13. The Negro American Family; 152 pp., 1908. 
Arnett, Bishop B. B. The Budget. 7 vols. 1881,1•-_!, 1883,1884, jv>6-6,1887-8, lii(4. 
Bruce, Roscoe Conkling. Service by the educated Negro. Tuskegee, 1903; 17 pp., 12mo. 
Cincinnati convention of colored freedraen of Ohio. Proceedings. January 14-19.1852 

Cincinnati, 1852. 8vo. 
Cleveland national emigration convention of colored people. Proceedings, August 

22-24,1854. Pittsburg, 1-fVU 8vo. 
Cromwell, John W. The early Negro convention movement. Washington, 1904. 

(The American Negro Acad.) 23 pp., 8vo. 

Delaware association for the moral Improvement and education of the colored peo 
ple. An. Reps., 1868,186B, 1>70. Wllmlngton, Del. 

Eaton, J. Grant, Lincoln and the freemen. $2.00. 1807. Longmans. 
Freedmen, Annual reports of the Presbyterian Committee of Missions for 1871-1882. 
(Committee incorporated under the name of Presbyterian Board of Missions 
for Freedmen.) An. Reps., 1883-1WW. Pittsburgh. 8vo. 
Freedmen's Bureau: 

Annual report of Adjutant-General's Branch of Freedmen for 1*73-1877. 
Annual report of Superintendent of North Carolina for 18154, 1867; of Louisiana 
forTW; of Alabama for 1867; of the District of Columbia and West Virginia 
for 1867. 
Report of the General Superintendent of Freedmen. Department of the States 

of Tennessee and Arkansas, for 1864-5. 
Report of Commissioner of Bureau of refugees, freedmen, and abandoned lands, 

for 1865-1871. 

Report of the Secretary of War for 1867, containing a Synopsis of the report of 
the Commissioners of the Bureau of refugees, freedmen, and abandoned lands, 
for the same year. 

Grlggs, Button E. Imperlum in Imperio. Cincinnati, 18HU; 265 pp, 8vo. 
Helm, Mary. The Upward Path, the Evolution of a Race. New York, 190B. 388 pp. 
Illinois State Convention of colored men. Proceedings at Galesburg, October 16,17, 

18. Chicago, 1867. 37 pp, Kvo. 

Johnson, Edward A. Light ahead for the Negro. New York. 1B04. 182 pp. 12mo. 
Jones, C. C. The rellg'ious instruction of the Negroes In the United States. Savan 
nah, 1842. 277 pp. 121110. 
Joyner, E. M. Missions to the colored people in the South. Hartford, 1893. 18pp. 

12mo. 
Leaflets, reports, etc., Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, A. M. E. Z. 

Church. 
Mayo, Amory Dwlght. The opportunity and obligation of the educated class of the 

colored people In the Southern States. N.p. 18'J9(?). 32 pp. 8vo. 

Minutes of the first annual convention of the people of color. Philadelphia, 1831. 
Pamphlet, 

 \ 

e;^ 
«^.> 

1 

8 Efforts for Social Betterment 

Minutes of the third annual convention of the free Negroes. Phila., 1883. 
Minutes of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. 6 reports. 1897-1909. 
National convention of colored men and their friends. Troy, N. Y., 1847. 38 pp. 8vo. 
National convention of colored men. Syracuse, N. Y., October 4-7,1864. Boston, 1864. 

62 pp. 8vo. 
National convention of colored men of America. 1869. Proceedings. Washington, 

I860. 42 pp. 8vo. 
Needles, Edward. Ten years1 progress, or a comparison of the state and condition 

of the colored people in the city and county of Philadelphia from 1837 to 1847. 

Phila., 1849. 
Negroes, Charities for. Home for destitute colored children, Marylandville, Pa. 

Annual reports, ist-21st. Philadelphia, 1856-76. 2 vols. 8vo. 
Negro young people's Christian and educational congress. Atlanta, 191)2. The United 

Negro. 600pp. 8vo. 

Penn, Irvine Garland. The Afro-American press and its editors. Springfield. 1891. 
665 pp. 12mo. 

Proceedings of State Federations of Colored Women's Clubs. Texas, West Virginia, 
Iowa,'Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minne 
sota. Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, California, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, 
Illinois, Florida, Virginia. 

Ciuadrennial conference of the Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society of the A 
M. E. Church. 4 reports. 

Eichings, G. F. Evidences of progress among colored people. 12th ed. $1.00. 1905. 
G. F. Richlngs, Ashland, Ohio. 

Rudd, L. E. Catholic Afro-American congresses. Cincinnati, 189S. 

Smith, Mrs. Amanda. Autobiography of Amanda Smith. Chicago, 1803. 

Periodicals 

Appeal for hospital endowment. 68:903. Outlook. 

Atlanta University conference. W. E. B. DuBois. Charities. 

Conference of Negroes at Tuskegee, Ala. 1892. R. C. Bedford. 8:251. Lend a Hand 

Elevation of Tropical Races. B. Kidd. 57:545-50. Independent. 

Ex-Governor Northen's work in Georgia. Independent. June 13,1907. 

Evolution of a Kentucky Negro Mission. L. J. Speed. Charities. September 21,1907. 

Fresh air work among colored children in New York. M. W. Ovington. Charities. 

October IS, 1906. 

Lifting of Negroes. G.Bradford. 89:462. Nation. 

Negroes: What they are doing for themselves. S. J. Barrows. Atlantic. 67:805. 
Negroes: how we can help them. C.A.Oliver. 42:85. Catholic World. 
Negro Building and exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition. 1907. H. A. Tucker 

Charities. September 21,1907. 

Negro's up-hill climb. R. R. Moton. World's Work. April, May, August, 1907. 
Progress among Negroes. B. P. Clark. 48:461. Nation. 
Progress of the Negro in one county in the South. B. T. Washington. Outlook. 

December 9,1905. 

Progress of the Negro. A.Walters. 53:651-2. Independent. 
Race Question solved in Buxton. G. L. McNutt. Independent. May 30, 1907. 
Savings of black Georgia. W. E. B. DuBois. 69:128-30. Outlook. 
Mettlenient idea in the cotton belt. P. Dillingham. 70:920-2. Outlook. 
Social condition of the Negro. H. L. Phillips. 9:575. Charities. 
Training of Negroes for social power. W. E. B. DuBois. 75-409-14. Outlook. 
Village improvement among the Negroes. R. L. smith. 64:783-6. Outlook. 
Washington's colored population. S. C. Fernandis. Charities. September 14,1907. 
Washington's colored settlement. R. W. Buell. World To-day. August, 1906. 
What the North and South have done for tlie Negro. 21:606. DeBow's Review. 
Washington, B. T. The Free Negro. Outlook. September 18,1909. 
Washington, B. T. Law and order and the Negro. Outlook. November 6,1C09. 
Work, M. W. Belf-help among the Negroes. Survey. Vol. 22, No. 9. 

I 

Efforts for Social Betterment among 
Negro Americans 

Section 1. Scope and Method of the Study. This monograph is an 
attempt to study efforts for social betterment among Negro Americans. 
By efforts for social betterment is meant mainly benevolent efforts; 
i. e,., efforts not, designed to secure direct economic return. Such ac 
tivities as are usually called charitable and reformatory are the ones 
mainly noticed. The efforts noted are mainly those of colored people 
themselves directed toward their own social uplift, but some notice 
has also been taken of the charitable work of whites for Negroes and 
of the general charities of Negroes not confined to their race. The 
investigation was conducted as follows: In all the chief centers of Ne 
gro population the addresses of a number of persons of standing were 
obtained and the following letter sent them: 

My dear Sir: 

I want to get a list of all charitable institutions, clubs, or organizations 
of any kind conducted wholly or mainly by Negroes which are doing phil 
anthropic work among colored people. I want to omit purely business enter 
prises, but to include everything that can reasonably be called an effort for 
social betterment. Will you kindly send me such a list for ........... so far as 

you know, and the addresses of persons who can give me further information ? 

I shall thank you very much. 
To the-addresses thus obtained was sent the following letter: 

My dear Sir: 

I am trying to get a list of all charitable institutions, clubs, or organiza 
tions of any kind conducted wholly or mainly by Negroes, which are doing 
philanthropic work among colored people. The name of the ............ has 

been handed me. I should like to know its history and all the material facts 
about this ..... ....... together with a picture of the building and members, 

and also the figures showing the growth and present activities, and amount 
of property owned. I shall thank you very much. 

In this way a large number of reports were obtained, and sometimes 
several reports of the same club or institution. For the most part, 
however, the only proof of the work reported was: (a) the word of a 
reliable resident that the institution existed and was doing some work 
of the kind indicated ; (b) the report of the directors of the work. There 
is here room for some exaggeration and coloring. Some of the insti 
tutions reported may go out of existence before the report is in print 
and others may be started. The report is not complete or exhaus 
tive in any sense of the word. It does, however, cover most of the 
larger efforts and many of the more typical ones and some of the 
minor ones. 

 \ 

V 

JV 
§ 

' 

10 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Section 2. The African Background. It' there is one thing in which 
the life of barbarians shows a decided superiority to that of civilized 
people it is in its solution of the problem of poverty. Under tribal 
communism no individual can be poorer than the tribe. This, to be 
sure, makes all suffer for the laziness of a few and to a degree penal 
izes individual thrift. It is doubtful, however, if this explains alto 
gether the lack of accumulated wealth. At any rate it is no little 
thing- to avoid thp fearful paradox of modern life—abounding wealth 
and stinging poverty in the same group, with the necessity of personal 
charity to ward off the extremes of death and suffering. Of charity, 
as such, there was no need among Africans, since all nhftred the com 
mon fund of land and food. In the care of the old and young there 
was a chance for benevolence. The young were adopted by law, into 
the brother's family if the father died, into the care of another wife 
of the father if the mother died. The old did not fare so well. If the 
tribe was nomadic they were killed to keep them from falling into 
the hands of the enemy or from baser motives. Gradually the perma 
nently si ttled tribes began to hold their elders in more veneration and 
look up to them for advice and tradition. Oucside of these funda 
mental matters there was nothing in African life corresponding to 
modern benevolence. 

Section 3. Slavery. No generalization is safe touching the condi 
tion of slaves in America. The plantations were self-sufficient oligar 
chies or monarchies, little interfered with by State or municipal law. 
On some of them there was severe child labor, no care in sickness, and 
neglect or sale of the old. On other plantations the children were well 
cared for, the sick nursed and the old protected. Two abstracts will 
illustrate these things. FrancesKenihlewrit.es: 

The Infirmary is a large two-story building, terminating the broad orange- 
planted space between the two rows of houses which form the first settle 
ment; it is huilt of whitewashed wood, and contains four large-sized rooms. 
But how shall I describe to you the spectacle which was presented to me on 
entering the first of these? But half the casements, of which there were 
six, were glazed and these were obscured with dirt, almost as much as the 
other windowless ones were darkened by the dingy shutters, which the 
shivering inmates had fastened to in order to protect themselves from the 
cold. In the enormous chimney glimmered the powerless embers of a few 
sticks of wood, round which, however, as many of tlie sick women as could 
approach were cowering, some on wooden settles, most of them on the 
ground, excluding those who were too ill to rise; and these last poor 
wretches lay prostrate on the floor, without bed, mattress, or pillow, buried 
in tattered and filthy blankets, which, huddled round them as they lay 
strewed about, left hardly space to move upon the floor. And here, in their 
hour of sickness and suffering, lay those whose health and strength are spent 
in unrequited labor for us—those who, perhaps even yesterday, were being 
urged on to their unpaid task—those whose husbands, fathers, brothers and 
sons were even at that hour sweating over the earth, whose produce was to 
bny for us all the luxuries which health can revel in, all the comforts which 
can alleviate sickness. I stood in the midst of them, perfectly unable to 

h 

Slavery 

11 

speak, the tears pouring from my eyes at this sad spectacle of their misery, 
myself and my emotion alike strange and incomprehensible to them. Here 
lay women expecting every hour the terrors and agonies of childbirth, others 
who had just brought their doomed offspring into the world, others who were 
groaning over the anguish and bitter disappointment of miscarriages—here 
lay some burning with fever, others chilled with cold and aching with rheu 
matism,upon the hard cold ground, the draughts and dampness of the atmos 
phere increasing their sufferings, and dirt, noise and stench,and every aggra 
vation of which sickness is capable, combined in their condition—here they 
lay like brute beasts, absorbed in physical suffering; unvisited by any of 
those Divine influences which may ennohle the dispensations of pain and ill 
ness, forsaken, as it seemed to me, of all good; and yet, O God, Thou surely 
hadst not forsaken them! Now pray take notice that this is the hospital of 
an estate where the owners are supposed to he humane, the overseer efficient 
and kind, and the negroes remarkably well cared for and comfortable. 

()» the other hand Byron Tyson declares: 

"Thus, of the three stages, youth, maturity, and old age, through which the 
servants pass, there is but one in which they are relied on as regular labor 
ers. In childhood and in old age they are well taken care of, and thus the 
whole slave population is rendered self-supporting. So, of the 3,953,760 slaves 
that were in the United States in I860, there was not one supported by a pub 
lic tax. Such an instance, I presume, is unknown among an equal number 
of the industrial classes, anywhere in the civilized world. I will ask where 
else on the face of the globe could you go to find, in a population of nearly 
foivr millions, no paupers ? 1 

That slaves were often neglected is shown by laws like the following 
law of Georgia: 

"Section]. From and after the passing of this act (December 12,1815), it 
shall be the duty of the inferior courts of the several counties in this State, on 
receiving information, on oath, of any infirm slave or slaves being in a suf 
fering situation, from the neglect of the owner or owners of such slave or 
slaves, to make particular inquiries into the situation of such slave or slaves, 
and render such relief as tliey in their discretion may think proper. 

"Section 2. The said courts may, and they are hereby authorized, to sue 
for and recover from the owner or owners of such slave or slaves, the amount 
that may be appropriated for the relief of such slave or slaves, in any court 
having jurisdiction of the same; any law, usage or custom to the contrary 
notwithstanding."—Prince's Digest, 460. 

Relief of suffering among sla.ves depended entirely on the character 
of the masters. That there was a great deal of relief work there can 
be no doubt. Indeed, the habit of direct relief to Negroes which thus 
grew up in slavery is now a great hindrance to organized and scientific 
charity in the South. Among the slaves the charitable work was 
chiefly in the line of adopting children and caring for the sick. The 
habit of adoption is still wide-spread and beneficent. 

1 Pamphlet on the Institution of Slavery, etc., toy Byron Tyson, p. 8-9. 

 \ 

12 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Section 4. The Present Economic Basis. How far is the Negro 

American to-day economically able to maintain a system of chari 
table relief for his own people? We can perhaps best realize these con 
ditions by picturing a single community: Jacksonville,Florida for in 
stance, had 16,000 Negroes in 1900. To-day it has nine colored lawyers 
eighteen colored physicians, ten colored drugstores, two sanitariums' 
one bank, one livery sale and feed stable, two garages, ten real estate 
dealers, three undertaking establishments, three denominational 
schools and a school for girls only, one old folks' home, one orphan 
age, one industrial school, one institutional church which operates a 
sewing class, dressmaking, bookkeeping, kindergarten, cooking, gym 
nasium, music-instrumental and vocal; has two paid missionaries an 
assistant pastor. The church owns a full city block in the heart of 
the city, valued at $125,000. There are two dentists, a colored board 
of trade, the first and only one in the South; three cigar factories 
three wholesale fish and poultry dealers; four hotels, containing 
twenty-five to one hundred rooms each; three weekly newspapers- 
one Odd Fellows Temple, valued at $100,000, and one K of P Temple' 
both paid for; several Masonic Temples of less value; one large jew 
elry store; one curio store; ten public school buildings; twenty-six 
letter carriers and postal clerks; three deputy collectors of customs- 
numbers of railway mail clerks; one shoe store; two industrial insur 
ance companies that own their buildings, one valued at $35000 

To this may be added the following general facts: a committee of 
the American Economic Association reported : 

The evidence in hand leads your committee to the conclusion that the 
accumulated wealth of the Negro race in the United States in 1900 was ap- 
' $250,000,000 nor more 

Since 1900 the increase of Negro property holdings has been verv 
rapid, as the records in three States show: 

Year 

1800 .. 
1901 . 
1802 ... 
1C03 ... 
1904 . .. 
1805 ... 

1906 ... 

1907 ... 

1908 ... 

North Carolina—Property listed by Negro citizens 

Total 

.$ 9,478.399 

. 11,173,227 

. 12,108,576 

.. 14,839,402 

-. 15,046,665 

.. 17,434,844 

.. 17,945,109 

.. 21,253,581 

Total Value of Real Estate and Personal Property Owned by Negroes In Virginia 

1891 

Real estate... ........................................... , 8iflCB)B14 

.......................... ..... 8,094,451 

Personal property. 
Total. 

...... $12,089,966 

Present Economic Basis 

1900 

Real estate.................................................. .$12,033,988 

Personal property......... ........................ ........ 8,822,882 

Total...... ................ ....................... .....$15,856,570 

190S 

Real estate................................... ........... ... .$16,599,152 

Personal property............................................ 5,384,116 

Total..... ............. ...................................$21,888,268 

1908 

Real estate............................... ................... .$18,807,889 

Personal property............................................ 6,920,447 

Total.......................................................$25,628,336 

Total Assessed Wealth of Georgia Negroes 

Year 

1874.. ........... 

1875................ 

1876. ......... ..... 

1877... .. .... 

1878..... ..... .... 

1879................ 

1880. .......... . .. 

1881... ... ........ 

1882.. ............. 

1883.. . . ........ 
1884................ 

1885............ ... 

1886................ 

1887................ 

1888... ..... ...... 

1889................ 

1881. ............... 

Total 
property 

$ 6,157,798 

5,S93,X-ft 

5,488,807 

5,124,875 

5,7B4,293 

7,582,395 
8,021,625 

8,153,!j!.0 

o t|g{j 47U 

J2 S2"' COS 

Year 

1892. .............. 

18113.. ........... 

1894...... ...... 

18W5. ...... ....... 

1&I8. .. ...... 

18;I9 ....... 

1901. ......... 

1904. .............. 

1907 .............. 

Total 
property 

$14,869,575 

14,960,(i75 

14,387,730 

12,1)41,230 

18,292,816 

18,719,200 

14,118,720 

15,629,811 
15,188,069 

25,!ii 1,822 

Property per Capita for Georgia Negroes 

Year 

1874................ 

1875...... ......... 

1876................ 

1877..... .......... 

1878................ 

1880. ............... 

1881................ 

1883................ 

1884 

1885 .......... .... 

1888........... .... 

1890. ............... 

1891................ 

Property 
per capita 

$ 9.98 

8.09 

7.33 

7.95 

8.77 

9.91 

10.21 

10.75 

10 Q5J 

11.57 

12.32 

14.35 

1620 

Year 

1892...... ........ 

1894. ............. 

1895. .............. 

1896............... 

1897... .... ...... 

1899............... 

1S05..... .... ... 

1907............... 

1908............... 

Property 
per capita 

$16.63 

16.41 

15.48 

13.67 

1378 

13.87 

13.72 

18.22 

13 64 

14.19 

15.87 

16.28 

18.37 

22.37 

 14 

»K tj 
^^X, 

/9iO 

/SOS 

/see 

\ 

?•*> & 
&^ 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

i« § 

<i 
^ 

1 § 

§ 

^ 

G £) 

Q *0 

^ <N 

^*« *^Mrj} HGJ 

eaaa, 

tt&UkS Zt_JiU t'Hi -C, 

s 

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Amon£ Negro Americans 

15 

 i 

DENOMINATION 

All denominations consisting in whole or in part of colored 

Denominations consisting wholly of colored organizations.... 
Baptist bodies: 

Churches of the Living God: 
Church of the Living God (Christian Workers tor Friendship} .... 

Evangelistic associations: 

Methodist bodies: 

Reformed Zion Union Episcopal Church ...... ., .... 

Presbvterian bodies: 

Denominations consisting iu part ol colored organizations .... 

Number of colored 
organizations 

1900 

36,770 

31,393 

18,534 
7'.-7 
251 

48 

44 
15 
<J 

3 
15 

77 
6,647 
69 
2,204 

2,381 
45 

196 
5,377 

1890 

23,462 

19.158 

12,533 
323 

42 
2,481 
40 
1.704 
9 
1,759 
32 

11 

224 
4,304 

Number of commu 
nicants or mem 
bers reported 

11)06 

3,685,097 

3,207,307 

2,-->"-l,607 
35,076 
14,489 

1,823 

2,676 

752 
848 

•XS 

1,KK 

4,S47 
494,777 
5,5»2 
184,542 

172,9!)6 
3,059 
4,397 

18^K6 
477,790 

1890 

2,fi73,977 

2,321,813 

1,348,989 
18,162 

. ....... 

.......... 

2.279 
452,725 
B,415 
349,7"^ 
319 
12!»,883 
2,346 

951 

12,956 
352,664 

Value of 
Ohurcli Property 
Reported 

1MW 

$56,636,159 

44,673,049 

24,437,272 
296,539 
79,278 

6,000 

23,175 
25,700 
9,700 

2,400 
5,957 

170,150 
ll,:»-i,489 
1SH,6..7 
4,833,207 

" 3,017,849 ' 

37,875 
36,!<tlO 

203,778 
11,963,110 

1890 

$26,626,448 

20,525,141 

9,038,549 
135,427 

187,600 
6,468,280 
54,440 
2,714,128 
525 
2,713,366 

15,'M.II 

2,000 

195,826 
6,101,307 

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18 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

It was estimated in 1907 that these churches raised seven and a halt' 
million dollars a year. Most of the half million goes probably to pay 
high interest on a debt of five millions. The remaining seven millions 
goes chiefly to the support of the pastor, the maintenance of the plant 
and general church purposes. A large and growing share, however, 
goes to '-mission" work. Part of this is proselyting, but the larger part 
of it is distinctly benevolence and work for social betterment. No 
complete record of this work can be obtained. Outside of these money 
contributions by far the larger part of the benevolent work of Negroes 
is the unorganized personal work of church members among the congre 
gations. This consists of donations, visits, care of the sick, adoption of 
children, etc. 

The missionary money raised by the churches is shown by the fol 
lowing figures: 

A. M. E. Missionary Dept.—Totai collection, April 23,1904, to April 4,1908, inclusive 

Kaster Collections: 
Received by Missionary Depart- 

Received and disbursed by Oon- 

Total Easter Collections, 4 years 

P. H. & F. M. Society: 
Received by Missionary Depart 
ment, 40 per cent .. .... . ...... 
Received and disbursed by Con- 

Total P. H. & F. M. Society (lol- 

W. H.&F. M. Society: 
Received by Missionary Depart- 

Received and disbursed by Con 
ferences, 50 per cent . ... ..... 

Total W. H. & F. M. Society Ool- 

\V. P. M. M. Society: 
Received by Woman's Parent 
Mite Missionary Society, 40 

Received and disbursed by Con- 

Woman's Parent Mite Missionary 
Socletv, 4 vears. .... ............... 

Total collections for Missions, 
4 years. . . .......... .... .... 

1«J5 

113,020.41 
4.B40.14 

$17,360.55 

$ 1,4111.15 
2,196.18 

If 3,660.38 

$ 57:!.fi7 
$ 573.67 

% 1,147.34 

19(16 

$18,310.00 
6,103.33 

1 $24,413.38 

,.f 1,762.05 
2,643.06 

$ 4,405.11 

$ 1,101.40 
$ 1,101.40 

$ 2,202.80 

1903-1904 11104-1905 

$ 2,016.91 
3,025.38 

$ 5,042.29 

$ 1,972.13 
2,1168.18 

$ 4,930.81 

19»7 

$15,340.27 
5,113.42 

S20.453.69 

$ 1,1113,03 
2,914.56 

$ 4,857.59 

$ l,2i)2.23 
$ 1,292.23 

.$ 2,'iM.46 

1!.0,)-1«0() 

$ 3,202.24 
4.80S. 36 

J 8,|)U5.6() 

1908 

$4,922.01 
1.610.87 

$5,563.48 

$ 2,224.15 
8,336.24 

% fi,5«n.3(l 

$ 1,931.35 
$ 1,931.35 

$ 3,sr.i70 

lMrt-l'.07 

$ 8,194.31 
4,7111.43 

$ 7,985.74 

Total 

$ 68,791.05 
$ 18,483.42 
$ 9,797.30 

$ 25,963.94 

$123,035.71 

The Church 

A. M. E. Church, 1864-1903 
Home and Foreign Missionary Department 

19 

1864-l.Si' v..... 

1-' 8-1872....... 
1872-188(1 
lH80-l'-"4...... 
1^4-1 ss^. 
1- 8-1892. 
I892-189IJ. ..... 
1896-111 ' ....... 
19(10-1803. 

Total. . . . . . 

Eaiiiefl 

$ 6,42565 

11,317.82 
12,504.22 

34,811.83 
10,1X11.0!) 
25,675.47 
66,8111.27 
58,876.36 
80,815.06 

$313,246.87 

Ilece-ived from 
dollar Money 

$ 27,1)18 56 
54,510.51 
73,227.18 
187,772.45 
146,050.24 
145,226.71 
136,805.15 

,$771, SI Vv 80 

Total 
expended 

$ 6,426.65 

9,817.82 
40,417.78 
89,3-_'J.34 
02,228.27 
213,447.92 
212,809,61 
2n4,108.07 
217,62(1.81 

11,081.762.67 

Seven per cent of the income of the, African Methodists goes for 
missionary and charitable purposes. If this is true of all Negro 
church bodies, then their expenditure for such purposes is over half 
a million a year. The expenditures of the Baptists are reported as 
follows: 

Year 
18W7 .. 
1898 .. 
18WSI .. 

iwno .. 

1801 
1902 .. 
111(18 . 
1904 
11105 
1110(1 - 
1(108 .. 

Negro Baptists, 1897-1909 

For MiKKions 
......,.......................$ 1,00(1 00 

........... ..... . . 2,557 41 

! 25 
I 40 
17 

15,741 26 
10,824 19 
27,520 13 
33,227 76 
49,621 90 
4i,2il5 94 
48,316 12 

Total....... . .....,$261,56544 

The figures for Negro Baptist foreign mission work for 1907 were: 

Nummary by Months 

September ... 
October ...... 

November... 
December . 
January 
February.. 
March . 
April.... 

May...... 

•June 
July..... 

August .. 

Total..... 

1.85R 60 
(HI 10 

3,011 77 
653 37 
«34 74 

1,S8!I 78 
136 7!1 

4,197 69 

i,ivn 7s 

736 26 
1,151 33 
2,273 «) 

J 

...$ 18,727 90 

The report of activities for 1908 and 1909 follows: 

£ 

 zo 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Colored Baptist Missionary Work 

Number of missionaries, colporters, Sunday-school and Bible 
workers working In co-operation with our Board during 

Money collected and applied to missionary work in commn- 

Value of tracts, pamphlets and booklets distributed free. ..... 
Money collected by missionaries and colporters and applied 

Money donated by Home Mission Board of Southern Baptist 

Salaries of female missionaries working in co-operation with 

Cash, commission, and books supplemented on missionaries' 
salaries working In co-operation with our Board . .. . .. 
Salary, traveling, office rent, and other expenses of Field See- 

1908 

43 

8,678 

8,582 

1.S45 
2,869 

395 

2,141 

10,229 
5, KM 

507 

8,221 

00 

42 

58 

1 260 

1,970 

10,265 

12,569 
157,363 

1908 

585 46 
5,521 57 

0.788 96 
2 400 00 

' 

$44,295 '.I 

19tt» 

65 

q 010 

1,141 

2,7(55 

2,859 

4,755 

39 

87 

Rll 

1,542 

1.5S/7 

11,847 

18,569 

270,689 

1909 

$16,027 24 
599 46 

6,937 87 
9,250 00 

6,082 85 

8,850 00 
i *7nn nn 

"The Home Mission Board, In Its general organization, is made up of fifty- 
three members appointed from the Same number of State and Territorial con 
ventions by your body. We have a general organization. This organization 
holds annually two sessions when at the sitting of the convention, for the rea 
son that it is a financial Impossibility to bring these members from the vari 
ous parts of the United States and its insular possessions oftener than once a 
year. However, we, by the provision of the Constitution, have an Executive 
Board of the National Baptist Publishing Board, located at Nashville, Tenn. 
We co-operate with them both in the employment of a missionary or corre 
sponding secretary, and in performing missionary work; by this method we 
are attempting to economize as much as possible, and use all the available 
means on purely missionary work. This method of operation has proven bene 
ficial to the field and satisfactory to both boards." 

The Church 

Zl 

One of the agencies of uplift among the Baptists is the Baptist Young- 
People's Union. The department has in ten years accomplished the 
following work: 

State B. Y. P. U. Conventions ..... , .. .... ......... 

District B. Y. P. U. Conventions............................... 

County B. Y. P. U. Conventions........ ....... ... .... .... 

City Conquest organizations................................... 

Local B. Y. P. IT. Societies ..............:...................... 

Converts joined the churches.................................. 

Number taking Bible Reader's Course............... ....... 

Number taking Baptist History................. ............. 

Number taking Baptist Doctrines.................... 

320 
510 
880 
7,600 
19,M8t> 
78,250 
71,810 
68,240 

Moneys Contributed 
For Christian Education............... ................... .$(58,200 oo 

" Home Missions ............................... .......... 46,500 00 

" Foreign Missions...... ................................. 88,460 00 

" State Missions.............. ... ............. ........... 28,210 00 

" Church Repairs......... .. ...... .. .. ......... 69,840 00 

Most of the local benevolence of Baptist churches is not reported 
and can be ascertained only in local associations. For instance, a West 
Virginia association (New River'Valley) reports, July, 1908: 

Fifty-eight churches gave in one year for: 

State Missions ... ......................................... ..$ 3185 

Home Missions ................................................ 11 87 

Foreign Missions. ................ .................. ........ 645 

Benevolence.. .................................... ........ 1,04380 

The Baptist convention of the State of Texas reported under church 
support in 1903: Five schools, a chautauqua. an orphanage and a.n "Old 
Folk's" home. 

The convention has raised the following sums of money: 
State Mission Money 

RaiKed by the Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, commenc 
ing with the year 1883: 

1888 ............................... $ 2,39060 

1884 .................................... 116 30 

1885 ... ................. -.-.. ....... 2,16811 

1886 ...................... , , 8,185 82 

1887 ..... ....... .. ................... 2,674 80 

ItWH............................. ...... 2,58815 

1889 ......... ....................... .. 10,266 97 

1890 . 

1891 ...... 

18SI1 ....... 

1892 .... .. 

1808 .... 

1894 ....... 

1895 ....... 

18H6 . . . . 

1887 .. 

13,4*. 71 
2,669 84 
18,085 91 
18,381 76 
6,955 68 
2,614 48 
3,721 02 
2,260 56 
1,644 79 

18H8................ ... -- -..-- .-.--. 2,125 61 

18W9 . 

1900 .. 

1901 .. 

1902 
1!)08 . 
1904 . . 
1!)05 . . 
1900 .. 

Total 

1,059 68 

2,272 50 
1,286 17 
3,335 64 
3,782 4fi 
2,368 54 
8,218 62 

. $109,554 27 

Most of this money was raised among Negroes, but there were some 
contributions from whites. From Arkansas it is reported: 

 22 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

In our State (Arkansas) the Baptists support four general missionaries and 
a Superintendent of Missions; one college located at Little Rock, Ark., eight 
academies at other points in the State. 

The actual amount of money raised and expended in missionary and educa 
tional work by the colored Baptists In Arkansas ranges from $45,000.00 to 
$50,000.00 a year—$50,»iO.OO for present year. 

It is the women that do the larger part of the benevolent work in 
Negro churches. 

In Mott's Sketches there is the narration of the work of a colored woman 
in New York city, who conceived the notion of child instruction and who 
carried it out under the most adverse circumstances. In the church econ 
omy of that day the child life was uncoiisidered, until this woman had 
planned and set in motion this very work. This was not long after the Rev 
olutionary period. 

In the early days of the Nineteenth Century another figure came into 
view—Jarena Lee. She was horn in (Jape May county, New Jersey, and 
attended school with the whites, getting the best there was to be had at 
that time. She was an ardent student, both of the Bible and in a general 
way, and possessed the gift of expression in an uncommon degree. Churches 
were widely scattered, and as a rule her kind, through prejudice, were with 
out ministry or church. The need was paramount, and this woman with a 
will meant to fill it. She opened a Sunday-school in a private house, and the 
children for miles around came of a Sunday to be catechised and indoctrin 
ated into the Bible lore. Jarena Lee had persistency, was possessed of a 
splendid memory and was naturally a voluble talker, and these with thorough 
goodness,unselfishness and large personal magnetism,made her the very one 
for such a crusade. 

That was in South Jersey, and not only the fame but the work spread, and 
soon Philadelphia felt the force of her influence. Later on we find her in 
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and even as far as Ohio. She first 
taught a secular school in Southern Jersey, but after awhile gave it up for 
mission effort in behalf of the church of her intelligent choice—the A. M. K. 
Church. 

The gift of prodigious work was hers, and with the mental strength pos 
sessed by her there was a singular sweetness attached. This was attested by 
all the early fathers of the church, and proved how a woman could be strong 
in mind and action without losing the spell of her sex. The consensus of 
opinion from those contemporaneous with her gave her a position, for 
good, in the A. M. E. Church advancement, unmatched by any man of her 
day. 

Her autobiography is a master hit of reason, and apart from its personal 
flavor throws much light upon the days wherein she figured, for the good of 
her kind, and especially for the church of her own communion. 

Although the work of Mary Lewton, of Philadelphia, was more circum 
scribed than that of Jarena Lee, it was a valuable one. She taught the 
children of her neighborhood, near Fourth and Fairmount avenues, at her 
home, and from her endeavors the Sunday-school of Union A. M. E. Church 
was begotten.1 

] Christian Recorder, 1901). 

The Church 

23 

The Ninth Annual Report of the Baptist Woman's Convention shows 
the following cash account: 

Receipts Expenses 

Balance, September 1. 1908. .......$ 18 05 Foreign Missions ..... ... ....... .$1,145 50 

Home Missions and Education... 141 55 

National Bapt. Pub. Board .... 11 25 

National Bapt. Union ............. 8 25 

Field Missionaries, salaries...... 839 59 

Field Missionaries, traveling... 624 77 

Printing . fn 25 

Postage. 276 88 

Office . 52 40 

Supplies . 749 74 

Salaries .... . . 1,419 67 

Traveling 181 22 

Field iN 05 

Stamp Day...... .... 141 18 

Expense ol Officers ......... 889 45 

Expressage and Drayage.... . 4924 

Alabama. 241 18 

Arkansas..... 167 IE 

California..... -'" 25 

Colorado .............. 29 62 

District ol Columbia .... 40 95 

Florida........ ... 163 41 

Georgia.. ... 180 H 

[ndiana ........ .....,....,,. 143 58 

niinois ....... ........... 310 54 

Iowa ... ........... L 45 

Kansas ....... 1(8 IB 

Kentucky. . 158 fil 

Louisiana. .. 139 62 

Maryland ....... 39 66 

Minnesota .. 17 45 

Mississippi.. 317 25 

Missouri ..... . 36ti 36 

New Jersey .... . .. (i2 01 

New York .... 13 70 

North Carolina .. 2(i 55 

Ohio ...... 314 :« 

Oklahoma.... ... ..... 234 10 

National Convention—Sales... .. 21000 

Miss O.K. E wen.. .... 8775 

Pennsylvania. ... 168 75 

Rhodt Island....... 1 45 

South Carolina..... liV. 15 

Tennessee ........ 227 55 

Texas . .. 8!I3 40 

Virginia....... 55 44 

West Virginia ............. 167 9si 

Borrowed Training School Fund N25 34 

Treas. Finance Committee ... 707 in 

Total, September 1,1«09...... .$6.756 00 ' 

Total. .................. ...$6,71770 

Reported by local 
societies and State 
organizations ... .. .$6,782 09 

Total received by Con 
vention. . . ... 6,756 00 

Grand total receipts..... $13,538 09 

Total expenses Na 
tional Auxiliary. ...$6,71770 

Total expenses local 
and State organiza 
tions .. 6,782 00 

Grand total expenses.... . 13,499 7S) 
Balance on hand Sept. 1, iDOH.. $38 30 

Besides this, $5,594.97 was raised for a girls' training school. The 
convention reported 326 societies and 107 children's bands. They have 
distributed 200,000 tracts in ten years. One tract is "The Traveler's 
Friend." Some of its paragraphs are: 

It' possible, always purchase your ticket the day before you contemplate 
going on a trip. If this can not be done, leave home in ample time to avoid 
the rush that is usual at the ticket window a few minutes before the train 
leaves. 

If the ticket must be shown at the gate, have it in your hand, where it can 
be displayed when called for. Do not wait until you get up to the gate and 
then hunt for your ticket in your pocket-book and grip, and thus delay the 
other passengers. 

We notice so many people paying their fares on the train. This is a very 
bad policy, when it is possible to secure a ticket either at the city office or at 
the station before train time. Then, too, the company charges more for tick 
ets on the train. Save money by getting year ticket beforehand. 

 > 

/ 

L*d 

LI 

24 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Don't stick your head out of the window at every station and hollo at some 
body a block away, and don't talk so loud to your friends who may be on the 
platform that a person a block away may hear you. If they are not close 
enough for a conversation call them to you, and then talk to them, and not to 
everybody on the train and everybody around the waiting-room. 

In States where the separate-car law Is in operation we find the "crew" tak 
ing all kinds of liberties—converting the little apartment set aside for the 
colored passengers into a dressing-room, boot-black stand, a dump for dust 
pans, pillows, lanterns, clothing to change in at the end of the journey, and 
indeed anything. On many of the trains baggage-men, mail-clerks, conduc 
tors, brakemen, porters—all come in to arrange their toilets in the morning; 
and if there is a towel provided for the colored passengers it is so thoroughly 
used by the "gang" that it is not fit to wipe out the basin with. (Sometimes 
the fruit-venders, conductors and brakemen whistle and sing, and "cut shines" 
of all kinds in the colored-passenger cars. Always enter a respectful protest 
and don't forget to write the operating officials. 

And now a word to those travelers who never get hungry until they see 
the "butcher" with his basketful of stale candies, peanuts, crackerjack, bana 
nas, oranges, etc. There are some people who can not let the boy pass with 
out making a purchase. These boys are generally very disrespectful to col 
ored passengers. We have seen them uncork a bottle of smelling-salts and 
thrust it into the face of nearly everybody in the car. These boys have a lot 
of smart sayings and are a source of annoyance to respectable people. If 
they find that there are children on the car who will cry for fruit, or can 
dies, they proceed to tempt them in order to force the parents to purchase 
something to satisfy their little ones. Those old lanterns, and pistols, full 
of cheap stale candy, are not worth buying, and just why so many of our 
people will waste their money buying circus food from these railway venders 
is a question. 

These boys have learned that most negro passengers would rather feed 
their stomachs than their minds. They offer the white passengers newspapers 
and magazines, and offer negroes peanuts and crackerjack, candy and bana 
nas. So many negroes eat that trash, that whenever you want to read it is 
necessary to make a special request of the boy to bring you a paper or a maga 
zine. Certainly some of us have a magazine or paper at home that we could 
take along with us to read, and we would not have to patronize the frisky ig 
norant "butcher." It is certainly cheaper to purchase lunches as far from the 
train and railroad station as you possibly can, for the nearer you get to the 
station the less fruit and candy you get for your money, and these delicacies 
sell at a premium on a railroad train. 

The writer of these pages has traveled extensively and has had many ex 
periences with passengers, "the road gang," conductors and porters, ^he has 
suffered much because of unequal accommodation for colored passengers, arid 
has "begged" operating officials to give Negroes who pay first-class fare first- 
class accommodations. Many promises have been made, but no improvement. 
She has also urged her own people to be careful of their deportment, look neat 
and clean, and thus demand what they can not hope to demand if they are 
boisterous and unclean. 

Other activities include the donation of postage stamps, giving of 
Christinas boxes, the sending out of field missionaries, etc. One of the 
missionaries reports: Homes visited, 1,341; mothers' meetings held, 14; 

The Church 

25 

churches, associations, etc.,visited, 202; money collected, not including 
month of August, $944.57. 

The Baptist WTomen's Missionary Convention, which met in Har- 
rodsburg, Ky., July ^5, published a report of the work accomplished 
for the year: Pages of tracts distributed, 3,141; religious visits made, 
6,597; children induced to attend Sunday-school, 1,805; sick visited, 
4,052; poor and suffering aided, 1,047; garments distributed, 704; money 
collected, $1,931.01, of this amount $780.40 was given for local work; for 
State missions, $38.06; Foreign missions, $26.57. 

In the A. M. E. Church the WToman's Parent Mite Missionary Society 
reports these sums for the four years 1903-07: 

Members Collected 
First District 

Philadelphia. 

New Jersey . . ........... 

New York... ............ 

New England . . ........... 

Second District 

Baltimore, Md. . 

Virginia. ....... ... . 

Third District 

Pittsburgh . . 

Ohio............... . 

North Ohio... ......... 

Fourth District 

Indiana..... ............... 

Kentucky ............... 

Fifth District 

Kansas ...... ... 

Missouri .............. .... 

Twelfth District 

Michigan. ........ 

Ontario............... 

Total ...... .............. 

1,400 

946 

200 

245 

1,873 

2,8»fi 

1,100 

600 

1,800 

727 

S10 

210 

110 

200 

75 

11,697 

$8/N) 26 

1,018 48 

IIWSOO 

711 00 

6,148 66 

2,7fi4 10 

4.615 15 

1,672 03 

4,712 00 

1,509 52 

524 00 

!*7 83 

171 00 

480 00 

281 00 

k- !''',361 98 

Number of Branches, 20. 

The accompanying1 report says: 

In the early days of the start of Alien's work, God directed the hearts of 
Bishops Campbell, Payne, Shorter, Wayman and Brown to urge the women 
of the A. M. B. Conference to organize. Not because there had been no effort 
in this direction previously, for in the early century of African Methodism 
women helpers were known. We find on the records Dorcas societies, women, 
the effect of whose unselfish labors extended broadly to alleviate the suffer 
ings and wants of those in our immediate vicinity; also such societies as 
Daughters of Conference, whose interest extended over the whole of the con 
ference and for over a quarter of a century aided the traveling ministers of 
the gospel. But the honored fathers, now sainted bishops, saw the necessity 
of not only broadening the Home work, but that the sympathies should ac 
cord with the cry of the heathen in the foreign lauds and that the women 
of the A. M. E. Conference would push the cause to success, and that they 
would take great interest in the financial needs of the foreign work, and with 

 26 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

zeal and activity at heart unite forces and willingly respond to the call which 
was made. 

After being organized at Washington, D. C., the next meeting was called 
at Bethel Church, Philadelphia, Pa., at which time there was a large gath 
ering, many of which enrolled themselves as members of the Parent Mite 
Missionary Society. 

But it is not only in the streets of our cities of America that we see the need 
of this Home Missionary work, for in the streets of Cape Town, Africa, I found 
the need of the same practical Christian service. 

From August, 1874, the organization of the Parent Society, the bishops' 
wives were made vice-presidents of the organization and this gave them the 
right, wherever they were, to organize societies and push on the work 
through the whole connection. I, therefore, formed in Africa four societies— 
the Sarah Alien, Eliza Turner, Florida Grant, and the Mary A. Campbell. 
With the simplest kind of constitution these societies went to work and God 
blessed their endeavors from the very beginning. Right in the streets of 
Cape Town I found my work and they found theirs. Young; men that I spoke 
to on the streets were quite willing to go with me, and I was very glad to be 
able to take them to the schoolroom of the Institute, for the Temperance Soci 
ety was permitted to hold its meetings there. The Colored Women's Christian 
Association also held its meetings there under the fostering care of the A. 
M. E. Church. 

Therefore, we need the extended appliances of Christian Association 
rooms. We must take these young people while their lives are yet before 
them, and bring them within the protecting walls of our A. M. E. ('hristian 
Association buildings, and not wait until they have learned from bad com 
pany to become lawless and wicked, and then run after them and bring them 
into the church and try to wash them with floods of heavenly grace. 

Years ago poor mothers who had to go out to work by the day had to leave 
their children at home to fall into all kinds of danger, and even wickedness; 
but now, thank God, by the establishment of the Day Nurseries the young are 
protected from these dangers, and I think the very smile of Heaverj must rest 
upon these establishments where the innocence of the young is guarded from 
the snares of evil, and mothers' hearts are no longer tortured by anxiety as to 
what their little ones are doing while they are out striving to earn their daily 
bread. 

Now, whether it is the Association Buildings or the Day Nurseries, God 
speed the day when their numbers shall increase and their wise, practical 
sound sense mission service shall be acknowledged by the Church of Christ 
the world over. 

Missionary work is not alone confined to financial reports; we go a step or 
two farther and encourage Temperance, Mothers' Meeting, Juvenile Work, 
Deaconess Work, etc. 

The missionary spirit, as obtained in our beloved Zion, assumed definite, 
tangible shape and character when, in 1824, its first missionaries laid them 
selves upon the altar for service in the persons of Scipio Beans and —— Robin 
son, and both of them came from the Baltimore Annual Conference. 

These results have been obtained through the vim arid earnestness put 
forth by those having charge of the different departments of our work, name 
ly: the Temperance Department, the Mothers' Meeting Department, Prayer 
and Praise Department, seconded by our Field Organizer and Lecturer. In 
this connection must be mentioned the Ladies' Alliance, composed of the 
ministers' wives, organized for the purpose of cultivating closer social inter- 

The Church 

27 

course between us, amounting in reality to a Round Table Circle. 

There are many factors constantly at work in drawing large numbers of 
non-church-going laborers and their families from Georgia, Alabama and the 
Carolinas, and from Middle and West Tennessee, to Chattanooga and coal 
mines west and east therefrom. The great attraction in Chattanooga is facil 
ity with which our people obtain positions as skilled and unskilled laborers 
in the large number of furnaces, foundries, pipe works, and other factories in 
which iron, from ore to "pig," is converted into every form in which that 
mineral is commercially used. In these works the wages earned by our 
people run from $7.50 to $21.00, and in a few instances more, per week, and are 
paid weekly, with a constant demand for more labor. The raw material 
daily worked is enormous. As a result, miners for coal, hands for the coke 
ovens, quarrymen for rock, miners for ore and railroad hands for freight 
handling, find ready employment at good wages, and in great numbers. In 
consequence, the rush from lands and from congested cities is very great, and 
brings a large number of the uncultured, low moraled aud vicious with it. 
These must be met and must have the Uospel preached unto them. 

Not only do their brethren, through the ties of race, see this necessity and 
recognize its importance, but the corporations, so generally considered heart 
less, also recognize the necessity of the Gospel for these men and, therefore, gen 
erally at each mine and oven plant outside of the corporate limits of cities, the 
company has erected a church and sometimes a schoolhoiise, to accommodate 
the preacher, but provides no funds from which to pay him for his labor. He 
must subsist on capricious bounty, occasional charity and meager support 
from Mission funds, and that, too, as a rule, which has been gathered, mite by 
mite andpenny by penny, through the energetic solicitations of you ladies and 
the worthy co-laborers whom you have the honor to represent. 

In the A. M. E. Zion Church is the Woman's Home and Foreign 
Missionary Society, which was organized in Montgomery, Ala., 1880, 
during the sitting of the General Conference of that year. 

At first and for a long time we worked under the direction of the Mission 
Board of the Church. About three years ago we were set apart as one of the 
Church Departments. We are now putting forth every effort to get a society 
in every church in the congregation. "We find that those women who are 
organized are becoming more intelligent—they have Mothers' Meeting, dis 
cuss topics on the home life, do all manner of charity work and church work. 
Two-thirds of the money raised by the Society is sent to the General Treas 
urer for Foreign work; they retain one-third for their own use and do all the 
local work they wish. I have no record of the local work; that is sent to the 
Corresponding Secretary. We are increasing every year in the two-thirds 
sent to me. Several years ago we only raised seven or eight hundred dollars; 
last year we raised over .$1,200; and this year—and the year is not out until 
July—we have raised $1,500. We are helping two schools and five missions 
in Africa. One of our teachers is an African who was brought to this coun 
try and educated at Livingstone College. We have a fund in reserve to edu 
cate African girls, to return as missionaries. It is not an easy matter to get 
the girls, it seems, bnt we have almost secured one. We hope to have two 
come at once. 

Our work is divided into districts, so that we can have meetings and help 
the rural districts. 

In widely separated localities church work in Benevolence is men 
tioned, as, e. g.: 

 2$ 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

"Metropolitan Baptist Church Bureau of Information regarding respectable 
boarding houses, Twentieth and Tasker streets, Philadelphia." 

"Church League for Work amongst Colored People, Twelfth and Walnut 
streets; under Episcopal Church. Organized 18P7." 

"All the Negro churches of any importance have their auxiliary societies, 
in the form of missionary societies, Epworth leagues, B. Y. P. TJ.'s, or C. E.'s."— 
Dallas, Texas. 

"There are numerous efforts being made by Negroes in Virginia for their 
social betterment in their churches and other organizations." 

"The work of our own society here is to care for the sick and needy of the 
town, and it also contributes toward work in foreign mission fields."—Mission 
Society, Henderson, N. C. 

"In addition to these, there are connected with the Zion Baptist Church two 
boys' clubs, classified as to age; a night school with classes in gymnastics and 
physical culture, aside from the ordinary routine."—Phrebus, "Va. 

"There are also connected with nearly every church some local society 
which would mean at least twelve or thirteen more than the above named."— 
Charlotte, N. C. 

"Of course I don't mention the list of organizations that are auxiliary to the 
churches, such as 'Willing Workers,' 'Sunshine Club,' and 'The Whatsoever 
Club.' Their object generally is to raise money for the churches, though they 
often do charitable work."—Kansas City, Mo. 

We can best realize the extent of church work by considering the 
churches in one community—Atlanta, Georgia: 

Church 

Denomination 

Church 

Denomination 

Mt. Zion 
Prospect Baptist 
Providence 

St. Luke 

Salem 

Shiloh 

Springfield 

Tillman 
Trinitv Tabernacle 

Trinity 
Willow Tree 
Tabernacle 
Zion Hill 

Wheat Street 
Fair Haven Tabernacle 
Mission Church 
Marietta Street 
First Congregational 

St. Paul's 
St. Gabriel's Missions 
Butler Street Mission 
Radcliite Memorial 

Fraser Street Mission 
Antioch 
Bethlehem 
Beulah 
Central 
Ebeiiezer 
Friendship 
Horton Street Chapel 
Kelser Ta'bernacle 
Kenne^Jiw 

Love Street 
Macedonia 

Masrnolia Street 
New Hope 

Baptist 

" 

tt 

it 

" 

it 
tt 

Christian 

Congregational 

tt 

Presbyterian 
tt 

Baptist 
it 

n 

t. 

.L 

tt 

" 

McKinley Temple 
Mt. Calvary 
Mt. Moriah 

Mt. Hernion 

Frasier Street 

Mt. Olive 

Mt. Olive 

Mt, Pisgah 
Mt. Gilead 

Mt. Pleasant 
Alien Temple 
Ariel Boweii Memorial 

Bethel 
Bridgeport 
Butler Street 
Holsey's Temple 
Mt. Carmel 
Shiloh 

Central Avenue 
Cosmopolitan 
Pleasant Valley 
St. Luke's 

St. Matthew's 
St. Paul's 
West Mltchell 
St. Phillip's 
Holsev Chapel 
Fort Street 
St. James Mission 
St. Mark's 
Wanen's Chapel 

Turner's Chapel, 
Turner Monumental 
Zion 

Swedenborgian 

Baptist 

tt 

tt 

tt 

" 

Methodist 

'* 

(I 

(t 
tt 

!! 

Svvedenborgian 

The School 

29 

"I am not able to see myself (perhaps others smarter can) how we can ever 
hope to do much good for ourselves, in any way, so long as we foster so many 
different religious opinions; for doubtless you well know that nine-tenths 
of our differences come from our different religious opinions, which is bound 
to keep us divided and weak, and so long as this state of affairs continvies so 
long will we continue to be helpless in a manner and continue to howl abovit 
the white man not giving us a chance. I believe in making our own chances, 
but we'll never do it until we realize the folly of trying to ape the white man 
in everything he does. In my mind our greatest blunder is in the fostering 
of the multiplinity of churches of different faiths and ovir fraternal organiea- 
tions. We should study to have but one church, that would be adaptable 
to our circumstances, and bvit one fraternal organization likewise. Under 
such conditions our interests would become more mutual, and like our 
brother Irishman we would be united all along the line and could help our 
selves." 

Section 6. The School. Three questions arise in regard to Negro 
efforts for social betterment through schools: 1. What Negroes pay 
for their schools. 2. What benevolent efforts they make to improve 
schools. 3. What the benevolence of whites has done for Negro 
schools. Only the two last questions fall strictly within the scope 
of this report. It is, however, interesting to quote from a paper 
read before the twelfth annual Conference for Education in the 
South by a southern white man. From his tables we take the fol 
lowing figures: 

Date ... ........... . . ....... 

Total cost of schools .... ..... . . .... 

Per cent, of total cost going to Negro 

Per cent, of Negroes in population. ..... 

Amount of public school funds not con 
tributed by white tax -payers; i. e., 
contributed by Negroes, public util 
ity corporations, endowments, etc. . . 

Virginia 

1«07 

$3,:HB\086 00 

489,228 00 

14.7 

35.7 

$507,805 00 

N. Carolina 

1C08 

$2,958,160 00 

402,658 00 

18.6 

33.8 

$42M97 00 

Georgia 

1907 

$2350,211 oo 

508,170 00 

17.7 

46.7 

$617,852 54 

One correspondent writes: 

"What is true of the school funds of the three States considered 
above is probably true of all the others" (i. e., Southern States).1 

The following facts are taken mainly from B. E. Wright, Jr., "Self- 
Help in Negro Education": 

The African Methodist Episcopal Church supports twenty schools 
with 202 teachers and 5,700 pupils. The school property is valued at 

i Public Taxation and Negro Schools, by Charles L. Coon, Atlanta University 
Publications, No. 6. 

 \ 

30 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The School 

31 

$1,132,000. The annual income of these schools is $150,000, con 
tributed by 300,000 people. Since 1844 they have raised $3,000,000 for 
education. 

The A. M. E. Zion has twelve schools with 150 teachers, 3,000 students. 
Value of their school property is $300,000 and they raise $100,000. In all 
they have raised $1,100,000 for education. 

The C. M. E. Church has six schools, and the A. M. U. Protestant 
Church three. 

The Baptists have 120 schools run entirely by Negroes and worth at 
Ipast $7<NJ,000. They have 613 teachers, 8,644 students. The churches 
raise about $150,000 a year for their schools, and the total money raised 
for these schools is $343,000 a year. 

Negroes also raise $700,000 for their schools which are supported by 
white Baptist churches. During- the past forty years Negro Baptists 
have contributed $6,000,000 to their own education. Negro members 
of the M. E. Church have contributed in forty years $3,143,000 for their 
own education. Negroes own 43T^ per cent, of their schoolhouses in 
155 Southern counties. Besides this, many of those owned by the county 
were deeded to the county by Negroes. 

In Macon county, Alabama, Negro patrons of six large schools added 
207 2 months to the school term and raised $6,532.44 in 1906 and 1907. 

Negro students have paid in nine years $5,187,269 in cash and work to 
74 Negro institutions, or 44.6 per cent of the entire running expenses. 
Besides this they have raised money in other ways. For instance, the 
$100,000 which built Jubilee Hall at Fisk University. 

"The history of civilization does not show one other instance of a 
wholly illiterate race or nation reducing its illiteracy by half in a single 
generation. 

"It is probably true that the Negroes pay possibly a larger percent 
age of the cost of their schools than any other group of poor people in 
America. 

"The Negroes have paid in direct property and poll taxes more than 
$45,000,000 during the past forty years. 

"The Negroes have contributed at least $15,000,000 to education 
through their churches. 

"The Negro student possibly pays a larger percentage of the running 
expenses of the institutions which he attends than any other student in 
the land." 

A report from Virginia says: 

There is in Virginia an organization known as The Co-operative Education 
Commission. This is an organization for the white people. I want to briefly 
mention the work of this organization because of its influence in arousing a 
desire for social betterment not only among the white people but also 
among the colored people. In accordance with the suggestion coming from 
the commission, leagues were formed throughout the State known as School 
Improvement Leagues. The first business of each member of the league was 
to interest every one in the school district, both rich and poor, high and low, in 
the work. 

The general object of a league is to unite the friends of public schools, pu 
pils, teachers, school officers and other citizens in an effort to secure school 
improvements. The specific objects include the entire circle of school in 
terests as providing for the social, civic, and literary training of the chil 
dren. 

The president of this commission at that time was Dr. S. C. Mitchell, Pro 
fessor of Economics and History in Richmond College. He was also Rector 
of the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute, 
Petersburg, Va. On one occasion when addressing the student body he men 
tioned the possibilities of the School Improvement League among the colored 
people. It was at his suggestion that there was finally organized a Negro 
School Improvement League. There are now local organizations in nearly 
every school district in the State. The money that is raised by each local 
organization is used as the local league may suggest. One league may raise 
money to lengthen the school term; another to make some improvement on 
their building, grounds, etc. During the school year of 1907-08 the total 
amount raised by the local leagues throughout the State was $7,000. During 
the school year of 1908-09 new leagues were organized to the number of 320. 
Out of this number 275 raised money for local purposes. In Farmville one 
school raised $18U. The total amount raised by the local leagues throughout 
the State for 1908-09 is $15,000. 

This organization is only a few years old. Its officers are in most of the 
large schools throughout the State. The influence of this organization is 
ever spreading, and plans are now on foot to make it even more influential. 
Nearly all the graduates of the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute 
teach school, and one of the first things they are advised to do is to organize 
in the community where they locate a school improvement league. 

To me this is the strongest organization of its kind in the State. None of 
the officers receive any pay, but each local league uses the money it raises 
for school improvement. 

Mr. W. T. B. Williams, field agent of the Slater Fund, writes: 

The work which these schools are doing for their communities falls gen 
erally under four or five heads: Religions work of the Y. M. C. A.; Sunday- 
school work and preaching in the churches; social work, such as is done 
by women's clubs, the visiting of homes, almshouses, jails, etc.; educational 
work, such as making addresses, conducting teachers' institutes, organizing 
school improvement leagues, holding night schools for training working girls 
in the line of their employment; helping farmers by means of farmers' con 
ferences, demonstration farm work, monthly institutes,etc.; and contributing 
to and directing the amusements of their communities.—Southern Workman, 
Oct. and Nov., 1909. 

The following sorts of social work are reported in different schools: 

Atlanta University, Georgia.—The annual conference for the study of the 
Negro problems; fourteen reports published; University extension lectures; 
headquarters of a free kindergarten association, with five kindergartens for 
Negro children; fifty traveling libraries. 

Hampton Iustitute,Virgiuia,.—Cabin visits, jail work, poor-house •« ork, three 
night schools, two settlements, song service, home garden work, annual farm 
ers' conference, annual Negro conference, rural improvement. 

Penn School, South Carolina.—Home visits, trained nurse, monthly teach 
ers' institute, temperance work, amusements, woman's meeting, annual 
farmers' fair. 

Clark University, Georgia.—Farmers' institutes. 

Atlanta Baptist College, Georgia.—Neighborhood settlement work. 

 32 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Florida Baptist Academy, Florida.—Public song service, lectures, woman's 
improvement association. 

America* Institute., Georgia.—Sunday-school teaching, rural visiting, teach 
ers' institutes. 

Manassns industrial /ScAoot,Virginia.—Quarterly farmers' institutes, annual 
teachers' institutes, summer school. 

Kowaliga Institute, Alabama.—Industrial improvement, amusements. 

Galhoun School, Alabama.—Mothers' meetings (semi-monthly), home visit 
ing, dispensary, charity for the sick, amusements, lectures, annual agricul 
tural fair, annual teachers' institute, land buying. 

St. Paul Nor.nal and Industrial School, Brunswick county, Virginia.— 
Farmers' conference, land buying. 

St. Paul School, Lawreiiceville, Va.—Tncrease of rural schools. 

Tuskegee Institute,—Negro conferei.ee, farmers' institutes, demonstration 
farming, conference agent, Negro Business League, county fair, county news 
paper, model village, rural school extension. 

Public Schuvl, Indianapolis, Ind.—Parents' clubs, a Christmas dinner for 
poor pupils.Civics and Hygiene, lunches, school gardening, truant visitor, night 
schools and playgrounds.i 

There are many clubs like tlie following: 

Three Times Ten Club, Tuscaloosa, Ala.—"We . meet fortnightly at the 
homes of club members (alphabetically), when we attend to business and a 
literary and musical programme is had. As our club is federated with the 
Alabama Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, we of course help to sustain 
the Colored Boys' Reformatory at Mt. Meigs; and we assist charitably those 
in Tuscaloosa who are deserving. 

"Our main object (locally) is to establish what we sorely need and have 
been striving to establish—a High School. With that purpose in view we 
purchased a plot of land for $20(1, but have never been able to build. A few 
months ago a Tuscaloosa Educational Association, composed of citizens of 
the county, was formed; to which organization we have donated the plot of 
laud, with the understanding that they are to erect a High School. 

"We have about $200 in our treasury now, and as soon as a building is 
assured we will no doubt make a further donation, and shall continue to 
contribute." 

Many local alumni clubs help their colleges by scholarships, funds, 
etc. At Fisk and Atlanta the alumni are endowing a chair by annual 
gifts. Other clubs like the "Eurydice Club," of Marion, Ind., the pri 
mary purpose of which is "to assist a worthy boy or girl to obtain a 
higher education, the secondary charity." 

In some places, like Lynchburg, Va., the industrial work "in the 
public school is semi-philanthropic in that teachers do much extra 
work to make the innovations successful. Through the influence of 
our women this feature has been added, and the articles made go to the 
poor and unfortunate." 

Teachers' associations are means of help. Among these are The 
National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (founded 1903), 
E. E. Wright, president. The strongest of the State organizations are: 

Kentucky State Colored Teachers' Association. 

Tennessee State Colored Teachers' Association. 

let W. T. B. Williams in Southern Workman,Oct. and Nov., Hum. 

The School 3S 

Alabama State Colored Teachers' Association. 

Texas State Colored Teachers' Association. 

West Virginia State Colored Teachers' Association. 

Nearly all of the Southern States have some such organization. The 
preamble of the West Virginia Association states that its object is "to 
elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of 
teaching, and to promote the cause of popular education in the State 
of West Virginia." . 

That the Negroes are bearing an increasing part of the cost ot their 
own children's education is shown by the following table: 

Income of Atlanta University, together with the Amount Raised by Tuition; the Amount 
Received from the State of Georgia, and the Value of Student Labor 

N. B.—The amount of tuition Is Included In the total amount raised; the value 
of student labor is not thus Included. 

1R71 

1871 V....... .............. ----- 

1874-5. ......... ................ 

1875-6.. .............. .... 

•|Q7« 17 

1877-8. ....................... -- 

1878-9................-------.-- 

1879-80 

1881 2...... ................... 

VfS-it..... ..................... 

1888-4......................... 

1HH1 K 

1885-6. ...........-...--....--- 

1886 7. ...... ....,-........---. 

1889 90 

icon QI 

1891 2...... .......... ........ 

1892-8. .-.....--.-..-..-...-.-- 

1895-6...................... .. 

1896 7 

1897-8................-.--..--. 

1899-1900 

1900 1901........-.....---.-... 

1901-02.............. ......... 

1908-04........................ 

1904-05 ....................... 

1906-08. ............ .... ..... 

1096-07........... .- .....-.- 

1907-08 ....................... 

1908-09........................ 

. 

Total 
Money 
Raised 

$ 88,410 75 

28,977 85 

25,627 75 

24,OOJ 96 

15,162 00 

21,110 80 

19,268 40 

17,236 25 

20,186 75 

80,762 65 

21,584 95 

27,187 35 

28,950 16 

28,051 17 

29,826 71 

28,688 88 

27,210 IS 

27,772 11 

28,199 SO 

46,607 06 

49,825 80 

58,887 91 

40,495 70 

85.815 95 

82,61" 79 

40,tUO 04 

89,228 W 

85,627 88 

45,836 48 

44,269 38 

40,- 24 

42,244 49 

40,822 12 

57,131 94 

55,152 97 

57,084 97 

57,478 78 

54,862 61 

48,188 33 

$1,448,696 01 

From 
Tuition 

$ 6,lh7 95 

5,697 16 

6,968 95 

7,600 26 

7,554 75 

8,488 60 

6,--*^ 75 

6,663 70 

7,769 45 

7,619 60 

10,014 30 

9,**2 75 

11,274 85 

9,385 70 

9,n:u 96 

7,965 41 

8,572 <tO 

10,818 75 

8,709 37 

18,685 85 

16,* 6 26 

15,650 63 

18,824 99 

10,279 94 

6,669 77 

8,061 06 

8,216 55 

8,118 59 

8,140 12 

8,212 47 

8,835 30 

8,824 46 

8,974 04 

7,250 07 

9,119 91 

11,241 08 

12,187 80 

12,554 97 

18,567 20 

$378,702 70 

From 
State of 
Georgia 

$ 8,000 

8,000 

8,000 

4,000 

12^100 

8,000 

8,000 

8,000 

8,000 

8,000 

8,000 

$182,000 

From 
Labor 

497 08 

956 93 

ijloo oa 

1,474 45 

IjOlo DVJ 

1,ODU t\) 

.$24,814 84 

The total donations from colored people are unknown. The following, however, 
are the largest single Items: 

For memorial windows. ...........-.....--..-•-•••-••* 260 00 

For bell and clock... ...........--.....----•••• «" tu 

For Alumni Fund .....................-••.-•••--•••••- -2'"0' 'y 

 34 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The School 

35 

According to the Twelfth Bulletin of the Atlanta University, Negro 
students in nine years, or from 1898 to 1907, paid in cash to 74 Ne 
gro institutions $3,358,667, and in work $1,828,602, a total of $5,187,269; 
which was 44.6 per cent of the entire running expenses of these insti 
tutions. In some of them Negro students paid as much as three- 
fourths and in 24 of them they paid more than half of the total ex 
pense of operating the schools. In twelve institutions the average 
received from Negro students was more than $10,000 per year, as the 
following table will show: 

INSTITUTION 

Tuskegee Institute 
Hampton Institute. 
Flsk University. . 

Wlley University 

Shaw University 

Knoxvllle College 

Clark University 

Straight University 
Scotia Seminary 

Bishop College 

Atlanta University 

Cash Paid 
Students 

$217,798 
91,228 
261,676 

mQQQ 

168,241 

116,757 

110,702 

64,588 

82,487 

Cash Value 
of 
Students' Work 

$707,285 
540,618 

•ii.iXJU 

15,927 

7,' *-4 
4,016 

9:0, OUU 

12,587 
16,862 

Total 

.15925,088 
640,846 

284,076 

227,916 

173,402 

133,460 

123,841 
115,618 

112,888 

94,380 
98,849 

Average 
per Year 

$102,787 
71,205 

81,584 

25,824 

19,267 

14,828 

13,760 
12,846 

12,648 

10,487 
10,085 

The amount given by white people for Negro education has been 
enormous. The Freedman's Bureau made this report for the years 
1866-70: 

Expenditures for Schools 

1866. ............... 
1867...... ......... 

1868................ 

1869................ 

1870................ 

Total .......... 

Freedman^s 
Bureau 

$123,655 39 
531,345 48 

965,N>! 67 
924,182 16 

EXPENDED BY 

Benevolent 
Associations 

$ 82,200 00 

65,087 01 

700,000 00 

865,000 00 

The 

Freedmen 

$ 18,500 00 

360,000 00 

200,000 00 

$785,700 00 

Total 

$ 224,359 39 

618,632 49 

2,025,896 67 

1,479,182 16 

1,536,853 29 

$5,879,924 00 

Dr. A. G. Haygood made this estimate in 1890: 

Freedmen's Aid, M. E. Church.............................$ 2,225,000 

Baptist Home Missionary................................... 2,000,000 

Presbyterian Home Mission................................ 1,642,746 

A. M. Association, Congregational ........................ 6,000,000 

The different Wo men's Societies........................ . 500,000 

John F. Slater Fund.......... ............... .............. 1,000,000 

Daniel Hand Fund........................................... 1,000.000 

Individual gifts.............................................. 1,000,000 

Quakers and other religious bodies........................ 500,000 

Total gifts.............................................. .$15,767,746 

The larger funds are: 

1. The Peabody Fund of $2,000,000 given in 1867 and 1869. The income of this 
fund has gone principally to the education of the whites, but a small part has 
provided teachers' institutes and schools for Negroes. 

2. The John F. Slater Fund of $1,000,000 given in 1882. The income of this 
fund has been given exclusively to Negro schools and more especially to 
Industrial schools. 

3. The Daniel Hand Fund of $1,500,894.25 given to the American Missionary 
Association in 1888 for educating needy Negro students. 

4. The Negro Rural School Fund, Anna T. Jeanes Foundation, is a fund of 
$1,000,000 given by Miss Anna T. Jeanes, of Philadelphia. The interest is to he 
used to help rural education among Negroes. 

To this must be added the recent Stokes Fund, which is partly for 

Negroes. 

The American Baptist Home Mission Society has spent four millions in 
forty years. In thirty-nine years the M. E. Church has spent $7,819,397.46, 
mostly from whites. 

The Bureau of Education reports these receipts of Negro schools. Of 
the figures in the second column it is said: "Presumably the greater 
part of this amount should have been included under benefactions." 
Probably Negro schools have received over $12,000,000 from whites in 
the twelve years 1896 to 1908: 

Negro Schools 

YEAR 

1896........ ..... 

1807. ............. 

1808.... ......... 

1809.............. 

1901.............. 

1902 

1003 ............. 

1905. ............. 

1906.. ........... 

1007 

1908.............. 

Benefactions 

$323,718 

805,050 

399,802 

483,014 

661,486 

505,244 

440,253 

446,477 

183,2114 

8W,1"-!' 

804,610 

470.;!!M 

555,856 

$6,376,677 

" Receipts 
from 
Other Sources " 

$610,946 

540,097 

476,560 

625,066 

677,077 

599,602 

662,258 

814,044 

840,305 

962,127 

784,479 

1,046,872 

1,129,263 

$9,620,496 

Section 7. Miscellaneous General Efforts.—Under this head may be 
mentioned various national organizations: 

The Niagara Movement.—Founded 1905. Organized for political rights, 
legal defense, publication tracts, annual chautauqua, etc. 

The Negro Business League.—Founded 1900. Organized to encourage busi 
ness enterprise. 

National Political League.—Founded 1907. Organized for political rights. 

The Committee of Twelve.—Founded in 1904. Published pamphlets and 
tracts. 

American Negro Academy.—Founded 1897, to promote literature, science 
and art. 

 36 

\ 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

These are general organizations, the survivors of a long line of simi 
lar societies, like the Afro-American League, the Afro-American Coun 
cil, and a score of general conventions and local associations. To these 
must be added two organizations of whites and Negroes: 

The Constitution League.—Founded in ——, to agitate the enforcement of 
the Constitution of the United States and particularly the 13th, 14th and loth 
amendments. 

The National Negro Conference.—Founded in 1909; designed to unite all 
efforts in a general movement toward securing for the Negroes all their 
rights as American citizens. 

Beside these there are a number of conferences.: 

The Atlanta Negro Conference, to study the Negro problems. Founded in 
1896. Has published fourteen annual reports. 

The Tuskegee Negro Conference.—Founded in 1891. Devoted to farmers and 
teachers. 

The Hampton Negro Conference.—Founded in 1896. Devoted to general 
discussion and study of the Negro. 

To these must be added the work of the chief Negro secret and in 
surance societies, like the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, 
etc. These are more than social and business organizations. A few 
quotations from local reports illustrate their benevolent work: 

Our city, as you may know, is small. "We have about seven or eight hun 
dred colored families, Two secret societies: Masons and K. of P., with 
women auxiliaries. These organizations are a wonderful help to our city. 
They have done and are still doing much good work, socially and finan 
cially, for the betterment of our people. We also have three women's clubs 
that are engaged in a good work. They have proven themselves to be phil 
anthropic to the letter. We have no charitable institutions as yet, to boast 
of, but are planning for something of that nature. The Negro Masons here 
are preparing a building to be used by our organizations in the near future.— 
South Bend, Ind. 

. . . We have a K. of P. Lodge. All of these organizations have done much 
for the social betterment of this small city.—Johnstown, Pa. 

Aside from the secret organizations here in Texarkana among Negroes, all 
of which care for their members in sickness and death, paying sick benefits 
and a small death claim, there are no organizations here doing a strictly phil 
anthropic work. These secret organizations, however, are very much in 
evidence and -withal quite popular.—Texarkana, Tex. 

The Woman's Burial Association is conducted entirely by Negroes. We 
have as many men in our association as women. But its name originated 
from a woman being the founder of it. We were organized the last Friday 
in August, 1902, with six societies and about 300 members. Now we number 
forty-one societies with 1,900 members. We pay out death-claim per member 
$90. We hope to pay, after our annual sitting the third week in August, $100. 
Our last associational year we paid out for death claims $1,876.56. This year 
up to the present time we have paid out $1,378, and we have four more to pay 
next month. It has been said by members of the other race that it is among 
the best steps the colored people have ever taken in this community.—En- 
field, N. C. 

We have any number of insurance organizations which give sick bene 
fits, run wholly by the colored people, at least five or six operating here in 

Negro Philanthropists 

37 

the city. All of the above mentioned, in some way, do a little charity and 
social work for the uplift of our people.—Charlotte, N. C. 

The following societies in Washington, D. C., united to celebrate the 
centenary of .Lincoln's birth: 

Crispus Attucks Relief Association. 

Young Men's Protective League. 

Young Men's Immediate Relief. 

District Lodge No. in, G. U. O. of O. F. 

Waiters' and Ex-Waiters' Mutual Relief Association. 

Bannaker Relief Association. 

United Aid No. 1. 

Elder Men's Relief Association. 

Douglass Relief Association. 

Section 8. Negro Philanthropists. Few races are more instinctively 
philanthropic than the Negro. It is shown in everyday life and in their 
group history. Some few of their larger philanthropies in America in 
early days have been recorded.1 

Jasmin Thoumazeau 

Was born in Africa in 1714, brought to St. Domingo and sold for a slave 
when he was twenty-two years of age, but afterwards, obtaining his freedom 
he married, and in the year 1756 established a hospital at the Cape for poor 
Negroes and mulattoes. 

More than forty years were devoted by him and his wife to this benevolent 
institution, and his fortune was subservient to their wants. The only regret 
they felt, while their time and substance was devoted to these destitute ob 
jects, arose from a fear that after they were gone the hospital might be 
abandoned. 

The Philadelphian Society at the Cape and the Agricultural Society at Paris 
decreed medals to Jasmin, who died near the close of the century. 

Joseph Rachel 

Joseph Rachel, a respectable Negro, resided in the island of Barbadoes. He 
was a trader, and dealt chiefly in the retail way. In his business he con 
ducted himself so fairly and comp'aisantly that, in a town filled with little 
peddling shops, his doors were thronged with customers. Almost all dealt 
with him, and ever found him remarkably honest and obliging. 

The philanthropists of England take pleasure in speaking of him: "Having 
become rich by commerce, he consecrated all his fortune to acts of benevo 
lence. The unfortunate, without distinction of color, had a claim on his affec 
tions. He gave to the indigent, lent to those who could not make a return; 
visited prisoners, gave them good advice; and endeavored to bring back the 
guilty to virtue. He died at Bridgetown, on that island, in 1758, equally 
lamented by blacks and whites, for he was a friend to all." 

John Mosely 

Died—In this city, John Mosely, an aged colored man, well known from his 
industry, prudence, and integrity. Having no relations, he devoted his prop 
erty to charitable objects. By his will he gave to the Hartford Beneficent 

1 From Mott's Biographical Sketches. 

 \£> 

38 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Society, one hundred dollars; to the American Colonization Society, two hun 
dred dollars; to the Connecticut Bible Society, one hundred dollars; to the 
American Education Society, one hundred dollars; and after other legacies, 
the residue of his estate to the Domestic Missionary feociety of Connecticut.— 
Hartford Courant. 

Nancy Pitchford 

A woman of color, died in 1824 at Hartford, Connecticut, aged 67 years. For 
the first forty years of her life she was a slave. She sustained an excellent 
character, was for many years a professor of religion, and gave satisfactory 
evidence of sincere and lively piety. At the time of her death she had ac 
quired, by her industry and care, more than four hundred dollars; the whole 
of which, after paying the expenses of her last sickness and funeral, she left 
by will to charitable purposes. 

The chief Negro philanthropists of onr time may be noted as fol 
lows : 

Primus Parsons Mason 

Mr. Mason founded the Springfield (Mass.) Home for Aged Men. The first 
annual report says: 

That the foundation for a charity like this has been laid by one man, de 
mands that some notice of his life be placed among our records. According 
to the family Bible, Primus Parsons was born February 5,1817, the youngest 
of seven children. His parents at that time resided in a remote part of Mon- 
son. They died when he was quite young, so that he was early thrown upon 
his own resources. He worked for farmers in Suffleld and Monson until he 
had nearly attained his majority, and then came to Springfield while yet a 
minor. On April 21, 1837, he purchased a house on the north side of the 
Boston road, borrowing fifty dollars on a mortgage to the seller, Daniel Char 
ter. Engaging in very menial occupations, he accumulated some money and 
started to try his fortune in California in the decade before the Civil War. 
This was an unprofitable venture, and he soon returned to Springfield, with 
out money but with a decided experience in favor of consecutive enter 
prises, and his business life thenceforward illustrated what can be achieved 
by industry, prudence, foresight, and judicious investment in real estate. As 
a trader he was shrewd but honest, and bought where he expected a rise in 
values. Until the end of his life he continued to improve hi.« estate by the 
construction of new houses, as his means enabled him. In these days of thrift 
he felt himself alone among most of his companions, and on his death-bed 
lamented the improvidence that, in his opinion, characterized most of his 
race. Not till mature life did he learn to write his name, and this was the 
limit of his skill in chirography; but he supplied many deficiencies of educa 
tion by a well-trained memory and a keen observation. He was thrice mar 
ried, and the loss of all his family, including his daughter, perhaps turned 
his thoughts to the charity which he has founded. Upon this he had pon 
dered long before he embodied the plan in his will, and had advised with 
several practical men upon its wisdom. Throughout his life, without race 
prejudice of any kind, the only limitations upon the charity suggested by 
him to the writer are contained in the phrase that he wanted to provide " a 
place where old men that are worthy may feel at home." He died January 
12,1892, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. 
His bequest was: 

Negro Philanthropists 

Keal estate valued ar . . . . ................................... J23,400 00 

First mortgage, P. H. Potter... ............................ 3,800 00 

Second mortgage, P. H. Potter ........................... 3,100 no 

Cash ............................................................ 1,151 95 

Total ....................................................... $81,451 85 

Deduct from this, mortgage on house, 830 State street. . 2,000 00 

39 

Net value . 

Colonel John McKee 

Mr. McKee, of Philadelphia, left an estate in 1896 of upwards of one 
million dollars in real estate, under the following conditions : 

(1) None of his real estate is to be sold, nor any of his personalty disposed 
of, but whole estate is to be kept intact. (2) After making provision for small 
annuities for children, and grand-children being children of his deceased chil 
dren, all to be paid out of income, the rest of income is to accumulate until 
enough has been provided to (a) change certain city properties from dwell 
ings into stores and dwellings, and otherwise to improve certain city prop 
erties; (6) to construct houses on a certain large plat of city ground and 
improve same. Then (3) all the net income of his estate is to accumulate 
until after the death of all his children and grand-children, when the residue 
is disposed of under the following clause and in manner following: 

In order that such a number of poor colored male orphan children and 
poor white male orphan children born in Philadelphia County as can be 
trained in one institution, may receive a better education, as well as more 
comfortable maintenance than they usually receive from application of 
public funds, I order and direct that after the death of all my children and 
grand-children, my Trustees to devote my entire residuary estate to the 
erection of a college with other necessary buildings, ample and complete, to 
accommodate at least 200 children, to cost not over $1,000, > • , on a tract of my 
land in Bucks County, to be called "The Colonel John McKee College," which 
name shall be inscribed on a large marble slab in front of the building, and in 
front of the building there shall be a statue of myself ; all buildings and grounds 
to be surrounded by a stone wall. The college to supply all pupils with books 
and appliances. All pupils to be given a thorough naval education, similar to 
that given at Annapolis, my desire being that the pupils shall be equipped for 
service in war on sea. 

In further detail, school is to have a band and the whole school turn out on 
the 30th of May and march to Lebanon and the Catholic Cemeteries and deco 
rate the graves of the colored and white soldiers and sailors. All pupils to 
wear uniform, and the whole, in short, to be supported and carried on out of 
the income from his estate. Children to be between the ages of 12 and 21. The 
whole management is left in hands of the Archbishop of Catholic Church 
of Philadelphia, until after the death of children, etc. (he mentions his attor 
ney as co-trustee), after which the school and all its affairs, being all the 
affairs of his estate, are to be managed by ten trustees to be appointed or 
elected from among the Catholic pastors in Philadelphia. 

George Washington 

The George Washington Educational Fund is a fund held in trust by six 
trustees appointed by the Circuit Court of Jersey County, Illinois, under a 
decree of conrt which established in chancery the nuncupative will of George 
Washington, a Negro slave who died at Otterville, a small village in Jersey 
county, in 1868. 

c 

v; 

 40 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Negro Philanthropists 

41 

This fund, after peculations of white trustees and endless litigation, now 
amounts to about $22,000, and under the terms of the decree above mentioned 
the trustees are required to use the interest arising from this fund for the 
purpose of educating young colored men and women of the State of Illinois. 
The trustees of this fund hold examinations from time to time in the city 
of Jerseyville. At these examinations the applicants are required to fur 
nish satisfactory evidence to the trustees that they are residents of the State 
of Illinois, are of good moral character, and that they seek higher education 
for the purpose of fitting themselves for teachers of their race. 

Another requirement is, that they shall have proceeded in their studies as 
far as possible in their home town. 

This fund is now maintaining five students in Pisk University in Nash 
ville, Tenn., and has educated twenty young men and women. 

Thorny Lafon 

The baptismal records in the archives of the Catholic Cathedral of New 
Orleans, at that time written in Spanish, attest that the late Mr. Thorny Lafon 
was born in this city on December 28th, 1810. He died at his home, corner 
Ursulines and Robertson streets, on December 23d, 1893, at the ripe age of 
eighty-three years. His body rests in the St. Louis Cemetery, on Esplanade 
avenue. He was a man of dignified appearance and affable manners. In 
early life he taught school; later he operated a small dry goods store in 
Orleans street, until near 1850. He was never married. Some time be 
fore the War of Secession he had started his vast fortune by loaning money 
at advantageous rates of interest and by the accumulating of his savings. 
Toward the close of his career he became attached to the lamented Arch 
bishop Jansens, and began his philanthropies. By the terms of his will, dated 
April 3, 1890, he provided amply for his aged sister and some friends, and 
wisely distributed the bulk of his estate among charitable institutions of 
New Orleans. His estate was appraised at |413,000, divided in securities and 
realty. 

In recognition of his charity the City of New Orleans named after him one 
of its public schools. 

Before his death he had established an asylum for orphan boys called the 
Lafon Asylum, situated in St. Peter street, between Claiborne avenue and 
North Darblgny street. To this asylum he bequeathed the sum of $2,000, and 
the revenues, amounting to $275 per month, of a large property situated cor 
ner Royal and Iberville streets. 
Other legacies were to the: 

Charity Hospital of New Orleans... .......................$10,000 00 

Charity Hospital, Ambulance Department. ............. 8,000 00 

Lafon's Old Folks Home ..................................... 5,000 oo 

Little Sisters of the Poor................................... 5,000 00 

Shakespeare Alms House............................. ...... 3,000 00 

Catholic Institution for Indigent Orphans................ 2,000 00 

And the following properties: 

1st. St. Claude street, between St. Philip and Ursulines 

streets, valued at........................................ $1,500 00 

2nd. Robertson street, between St. Philip and Ursulines 

streets, valued at........................................ 2,000 00 

3rd. Burgundy street, between Hospital and Barrack, 

valued at................................................. 2,000 00 

4th. Union street, between Royal and Dauphine streets, 

valued at................................................. 2,000 00 

St. John Berchman Asylum for Girls under the care of 

the Holy Family........................................ $2,000 00 

THOMV LAFON 

Negro Philanthropist of New Orleans 
1810-1893 

And the following property: 

1st. Burgundy street, No. 528, worth about................. $1,600 TO 

2nd. Dumaine street, Nos. 2129-81, worth about... ....... 2,600 00 

3rd. Galvez street, No. 828, worth about........... -... ... 1,800 00 

4th. Toulouse street,Nos.726-28,worth about.... ... .. 2,60000 

5th. Tulane avenue, No. 1402, worth about .... ............ 4,000 00 

Asylum for Old Indlgents, cor.Tonti and Hospital streets 15,000 00 

And the following property: 

1st. St. Andrewstreet, Nos. 1536-88, valued at............... $6,000 00 

2nd. Baronne street, No. 722, valued at ........ .... 4,000 00 

3rd. Baronne street, Nos. 782-86, valued at ................. 8,000 00 

4th. Canal and Vlllere streets, valued at................... 80,000 00 

And another cash gift...... . ..... ...................... 2,00000 

Society of the Holy Family, Orleans street........... .. 10,000 00 

Straight University, ol New Orleans, La................... 8,000 00 

Southern University, of New Orleans, La.................. 8,000 00 

New Orleans University, of New Orleans, La..... 8,000 00 

Society of Jeunes Amis, of New Orleans.. .. 8,000 00 

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital............. . 8,000 00 

Mother St. Clair of the Convent of the Good Shepherd... 20,000 00 

Mr. Lafon, in his will, underestimated the value of his estate, and 
after an appraisement was made it was found that his estate was worth 
twice as much as he valued it, and consequent^7 all his bequests were 
doubled by his executors. * 

IJ 

I L '» 

iThese data were collected and furnished by Mr. J. F. Guillaume, of Straight Uni 
versity, New Orleans, La. 

 \ 

J 

,/ 

I 

42 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Stephen Smith 

Stephen Smith (1795-1873) was a Negro lumber merchant of Phila 
delphia, who left nearly $100,000 to found the Home for Aged and In- 
flrm Colored Persons. 

A few other Negro donors follow:l 

D. A. Payne to Wilberforce University................ (?)$10,000 00 

W. Gant to Wilberforce University............. .......... 5,000 00 

J. P. Campbell to Wilberforce University............ .... 1,000 00 

J. A. Shorter to Wilberforce University....... ........... 2,000 00 

H. 8. Gordon to Wilberforce University................... 2,100 00 

F. Grey to Dooley N.&I. School........................... 2,000 00 

I. Lane to Lane College.................................... 1,000 00 

G.A. and M. Walker to Straight University ......... 1,000 00 

L. Bedford to Fisk University.............................. 1,000 00 

S. B. Morse to Atlanta University..... .................... 5,000 00 

R. F. Baptiste to Tuskegee ...... .......................... 1,00000 

Mary Shaw to Tuskegee...................................... 88,000 00 

A. Mary to Orphans' Institute, New Orleans .... ...... 8,000 00 

Mrs. B. Convent to Orphans' Institute, New Orleans, "bequest.1' 
Dr. Augustus to Oblate Sisters, Baltimore...... ."large bequest." 

Nancy Addison to Oblate Sisters, Baltimore..... ....... .$15,000 00 

Louis Bode to Oblate Sisters, Baltimore...... ........... 80,000 00 

J. Parker to State College, Delaware ........... ....... 6,000 00 

Section 9. Types of Benevolence.—Charity. Coming now to the more 
strictly benevolent work of Negroes we may distinguish the following 
types: 

(a) General Charity. 

This is the most usual form of help, and being largely unorganized 
is difficult to measure. It is carried on by churches, clubs and indi 
viduals. 

(b) Women's Clubs. 

There are thousands of these for all purposes—social and benevolent. 

(c) Old Folk's Homes, and Orphanages. 

These represent the first and best institutional work. 

(d) Hospitals. 

These are never philanthropies, and are usually supported by whites 
and Negroes and often receive State aid. 

(e) Young Men's Christian Association. 

The colored branch has been developed recently, and Negroes have 
been refused admission to the white branches, even in many Northern 
cities. 

(f) Social Literary and Art Clubs. 

These include philanthropy as a by-product, or encourage directly 
literature and art. 

(g) Libraries. 

Public and private Negro libraries are beginning to be started, and 
traveling libraries. 

(h) Day Nurseries, Settlements, Kindergartens, Civic Work, etc. 

i Taken in part from Wright: Self-Help in Negro Education. 

Charity 

43 

These forms of specialized and scientific philanthropy are just begin 
ning to appear among colored people. 

Let us now consider a series of local reports on each of these types. 

First we select at random local reports on charity: 

There have been other bodies organized about in the city to supply the 
public schools with such needs as have been omitted by the Board of Educa 
tion. Very often small bodies organize temporarily to do charitable work.— 
Mobile, Ala. 

There is a society called the Young Women's Christian Club which make it 
their business to look after the poor and needy in the way of clothes.—Los 
Angeles, Cal. 

We have two charity clubs which work independently of any church. 
They are doing a great deal toward caring for the sick and relieving the wants 
of the destitute.—Dallas, Tex. 

Preparing to do substantial work.—Galveston, Texas. 

The Galveston Relief Association, an incorporated body, has for its object 
the building of a Home for Aged Colored People, at a cost of $15,000. Looking 
to this end the association purchased and paid for ten acres of land, and has 
to its credit a small bank account. 

The location is on the main land thirteen miles from Galveston, hard by 
the little town of Lamarque, a quarter of a mile from the station of the Gal 
veston, Houston & Henderson Railroad, and in the county of Galveston. The 
altitude of this plot of land is much higher than that of Galveston. This 
gives to it a beautiful view of several miles; the climate is genial and health 
ful, the soil is rich enough, by proper management, to make the Home almost 
self-supporting. The neighbors are generous and kind; in all, it is one of the 
best locations in Texas for an institution of this kind. 

We believe there are three sources of moral elevation, absolutely neces 
sary, yet to be opened to the Negro, without which we must still have the 
very bed of crime among us; viz.: 1. Home for the aged. 2. Industrial homes 
for the orphans. 3. Reform school for the incorrigible. For the aged there 
have been no home provisions made through private means, through denomi 
nations, or by county infirmaries, hence thepe people are a burden to them 
selves and to those who feel deeply lor them.—Galveston, Tex. 

One missionary or home improvement club, whose work is largely devoted 
to local charity.—Phoebus, Va. 

One sewing-circle composed of ladies who sell their products and apply the 
returns to the relief of the destitute, mainly the aged.—Phoebus, Va. 
Social Helpers' Club to benefit the indigent sick—Phoebus, Va. 
This mission was organized by some women and men who desired to help 
the unfortunate. Its work is as follows: 

1. Making garments for the poor and unfortunate. 

2. Making garments and other articles for sale to the general public, the 
proceeds to go to buy articles for the support of the mission and the purchase 
of material. 

3. Instruction is given to such children, youth and older persons as can at 
tend and give time to study. 

It is purely an effort for social betterment, and no profits accrue to indi 
viduals from any of these ventures. Many of the most prominent people in 
the city are members.—Lynchburg, Va. 

 44 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Charity 

45 

When our members are sick we donate them fifty cents and go and tidy np 
their room. To-day we have in the sick treasury $25. We have in the bank $200. 
Since we have organized we have banked $1,579.69. We have a Christian 
president. She is a woman that has her race at heart, and is always ready to 
help those that need help. Sometimes we are called on to go to the homes of 
the poor and sick. We take sheets and pillow-cases and tidy np their room. 

Prudence Crandall Society provides poor children with shoes, that they may 
attend school.—Washington, D. C. 

In the early part of 1900, noticing the destitute condition of some of our 
people and especially among the children, the question arose in my mind, what 
could be done to help them to better their condition ? In looking through 
Harper's Bazaar I saw an account of the needle-work guild of America con 
ducted by our white sisters, and being impressed with the work I opened 
correspondence with them. In the meantime I called some of our women 
together to confer with them. One day my bell rang; on answering it I 
found myself face to face with the president of one of the branches of the 
needle-work guild of America. Asking her in she inquired if this was 
Mrs. ———. I said it was. She said she was glad to know that I had become 
interested in the work, as it was "so much needed among your people," as she 
termed it. She said we could not have a Branch president, but might have 
a Section president under a white Branch. Of course you know that was 
not very pleasant to me. She informed me that the national president would 
be in Washington in a few days, and I would get all the necessary informa 
tion from her. In the meantime there were about twenty-five of us meeting 
and planning an organization. A few weeks passed, and to my surprise 
who should call but the National President, a lady of refinement and cul 
ture; she expressed herself as being pleased at my efforts "to help your 
people," and also informed me that we could not have a Branch president 
of our women. After her visit we concluded to form an organization of 
our own. 

April 20,1900, we organized the First Branch of the National Sewing Coun 
cil of the United States of America (incorporated). The first object of which 
is to collect new plain garments and to distribute them to men, women and 
children (who are needy). Men, women and children may become members 
by contributing two new plain garments each year or a donation of money. 

We also have a Board of Directors engaged in Sabbath work, who seek and 
interest children in the attendance of Sabbath-schools of their denomination, 
in which they have been very successful. An auxiliary board was set apart 
April 20,1908, to raise a fund for the establishment of a non-sectarian Old 
Folk's Home, which is so much needed in the District of Columbia for our 
people. The Council have found it very helping in distributing provisions 
and fuel when needed. We also organized a sewing-school for small girls.— 
Washington, D. C. 

The Dorcas Home Missionary Society, which is connected with the Concord 
Baptist Church of Christ, at Brooklyn, is one of the oldest and probably the 
most widely known charitable organizations conducted by the women of 
any church among Afro-Americans in the North. During the year 1908 the 
society gave: 

To benevolent objects......................................... .$102 00 

For the use of the Baptist Temple ........ . .... .... ...... BO 00 

For hall rent and bills.... ............... ..... ............... 4350 

For groceries for the poor....... ............. ...... ........ 2500 

For silverware ........ ........... ....................... .....$3800 

For printing, etc.... ....................... . ........... ...... 1050 

For delegates'fare to convention ................ ........ 2000 

For foreign mission work ... ....... .......................... 45 00 

Donated to Concord Baptist Church of Christ............... 100 00 

For entertaining the National Association of Colored 

Women's Clubs............ ................................. 43985 

For miscellaneous items.............. . .............. 8284 

Amount In bank and on hand..................... ........ 498 50 

Four years ago the Dorcas Society began the observance of Woman's Day 
on the second Sunday in March. On such occasions, by consent of the 
church, all the services are conducted by women. These special days have 
been a great blessing to the church, as well as to the women that conduct 
them. The collections are given to the church and have amounted to nearly 

.—Brooklyn, N.Y. 

The Benevolent Society was organized in 1879. Its present aim is the 
care for the sick and to assist in burying its dead. Also those who may 
need help. Organized with ten members to aid in caring for strangers who 
were sick and dying. At one time there was an enrollment of one hundred 
and twenty-five. The present enrollment is fifty. Supported a student at 
Wayland Seminary. Has a bank deposit, but does not own any personal prop 
erty or real estate. It is the oldest society of colored women in the State.— 
Detroit, Mich. 

The Willing Workers Society of Detroit was organized twenty-one years 
ago, and is the oldest organization for charitable work among colored people 
in the State. The membership is limited and consists of fifty active mem 
bers. The meetings are held weekly at the homes of the members, com 
mencing on the first Thursday in October and continuing until the first 
Thursday in April. Although organized for work among colored people no 
line has been drawn, and in some instances relief has been given to worthy 
white people. The work of the society is carried on by various committees, 
who visit the sick, investigate calls for assistance, and give relief whenever 
possible. Food, fuel, clothing and money are distributed to persons seeking 
temporary relief, and regular weekly contributions are given to four persons 
who are worthy. 

The dues consist of five cents weekly with an annual contribution of one 
dollar per member. Other funds are raised by making and selling quilts and 
other small articles which are contributed by members. 
The society celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year.—Detroit, Mich. 
Cornell Charity Club was organized eight years ago and had twelve mem 
bers who lived in the same neighborhood, but later on this club branched out 
and now has sixty members living in all parts of the city. We have limited 
our membership to sixty. We meet every Friday and do all kinds of good 
work, visiting the hospitals, jails, and institutions. Also doing charity work. 
We assist the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People, also Amanda Smith 
Home.—Chicago, 111. 

The Willing Workers Club was organized in the year 1901 for the purpose 
of doing philanthrophical work. The membership of the club is about 
twenty-five -women. It has done s'ome very good work since its organiza 
tion. It has given over two thousand dollars to needy causes, including 
churches, out-door poor, and other purposes, until 1907, when the club decided 
to work up a Rescue Home for girls and a day nursery, which we hope to open 
in the fall.—Stamford, Conn. 

 46 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

We do charity work. We have sent a barrel of clothing to Sanford, N. C. 
One last year to New Port station. Had a rummage sale to help the Fnion 
Baptist Church of Maiden, and this year we are donating fruit to the sick. 
Sending Easter likes to the shut-in. Our club is over ten years old, but like 
all clubs, they are very apt to lose interest if they do not get an active head. 
I have done the work for the club very faithfully, and am now acting on the 
sick committee. We are getting ready now to meet the necessary funds for 
our yearly convention which meets in Springfield.—Maiden, Mass. 

I suppose you understand that we are in the federation of clubs. We, of 
course, take care of our own sick and help bury the dead. In fact, we try to 
help all humanity that comes within our reach.—Boston, Mass. 

The club has stood for missionary work ever since its beginning. Many 
families in reduced circumstances have realized the goodness of the Lucy 
Stone Club. One of the most important committees connected with the club 
is the Flower Committee. If any member hears of any of our race who is 
sick at one of the hospitals, or at home, they report it to the society, and then 
the Flower Committee goes and carries flowers or fruit to them at the hospital 
or home. Not only flowers and fruit, but money and provisions are often car 
ried to the sick. At the present time the club is working hard to get enough 
money together to start a Home for Working (jirls. It is our intention, as 
soon as able, to rent a house and hire a matron, and let rooms out to the 
young women in our city who have no home except where they work.—Wor 
cester, Mass. 

The Cambridge Charity Club is purely philanthropic and the only organiza 
tion of which I know that is not in some way beneficiary. 

This club originated from a Mothers' Club with a small membership. About 
three years ago it was reorganized and renamed, and admitted into the Fed 
eration. The work is divided between a committee of four, who look up 
needy cases in a quiet way, in the locality in which each lives, and report to 
the club. I think it unique among colored clubs, in that the work is done so 
unostentatiously. Names are not necessarily given in any public way to 
offend or humiliate, and yet many needy and worthy people are temporarily 
relieved. Another splendid thing they have been doing, and are still doing, is 
aiding a young girl to get her education at Wellesley College. 

Their membership is now over a hundred. Entrance fee is fifty cents and 
monthly dues ten cents. It has already expended between $150 and $200 in its 
three years of practical helpfulness.—Cambridge, Mass. 

Some general criticism is as follows: 

I can say for the people out here they are trying in every possible way to 
help our people better their condition.—Los Angeles, CaL 

There are five Federation clubs in our city which do limited charity work; 
this being a small city and a thrifty people, there is little demand ordinarily 
of charity; however, as a secondary purpose, when needed they all work— 
Marion, Ind. 

Richmond, as might be naturally expected, takes the lead in the nnmber of 
institutions for social betterment among the Negroes. But as was said by 
one of her leading citizens, "The people are not doing what they should do. I 
fear they are so engrossed in money-making that they have forgotten that 
there are some things better than money-making."—Richmond, Va. 

As a rule the Negroes of this community accept charity with reluctance. 
A large number may be improvident, but by some means they manage to 

Women's Clubs 

47 

make both ends meet and only accept assistance in this connection in the last 
extremity.—Louisville, Ky. 

In such charity Southern white people are especially willing and 
prominent: 

There are a number of institutions of this nature in Louisville supported 
largely by Negroes, but not one that I know of supported entirely by them. 
The white people in this community are very friendly, and give very gener 
ously to charity, regardless of race or creed.—Louisville, Ky. 

These organizations are doing much good, and while maintained and man 
aged by colored people are largely and generously supported by white people. 
—Louisville, Ky. 

Section 10. Women's Clubs. Mrs. Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, of 
Boston, and Mrs. John T. Cook, of Washington, D. C., were the pio 
neers in the club movpment among colored women, although single 
clubs had long existed here and there. Mrs. Josephine S. Mates, 
Honorary President of the National Association of Colored Women's 
Clubs, writes: 

That organization is the first step in nation-making, and that a nation can 
rise in the scale no higher than its womanhood, are principles which have 
come to be looked upon by the sociologist and all students of the development 
of humanity as self-evident truth; hence it seems quite natural to speak of one 
in connection with the other, i. e., organization and woman. 

An inquiry into existing organizations among our women reveals the fact 
that most of these are auxiliary societies founded and controlled by men, or 
by the combined efforts of men and women; also, that usually they are secret 
orders, or connected with various church denominations; and, furthermore, 
that in their respective fields much work of high order has been accom 
plished. 

There is, however, one notable exception to the rule stated in the previous 
paragraph relative to organizations of women, and this is to be found in the 
"National Association of Colored Women," an organization founded and con 
trolled entirely by women; and, within the scope of an article as limited as 
this must be, we shall confine ourselves to a synopsis of the work of this 
organization, composed exclusively of women, believing it to be the oldest, 
most completely organized, etc.; hence, affording the best test of the effective 
ness of organization among our women. 

The National Association of Colored Women was founded in 1896. 
The object, as well stated in Article II of its constitution, is, "To 
secure harmony of action and no-operation among all women in 
rising to the highest plane." 

The organization has been well systematized and now contains at least 
fovirteen well-developed departments, each under the supervision of a care 
fully selected superintendent. Among these departments one finds social 
science, domestic science, temperance, juvenile court, music, literature,Yoving 
Women's Christian Association, etc. Affiliated clubs may be found in forty or 
more of the States, and such clubs are rapidly increasing, as also the number 
of State and city federations. 

The value and extent of the local work speaks for itself in the number of 
hospitals, homes for orphans and the aged, reformatories, kindergartens, day 

 48 Efforts for Social Betterment 

nurseries, and other much-needed institutions, which, through the heroic 
efforts of the noble and self-sacrificing women that constitute these clubs, have 
been established. 

Illustrations of these institutions, in good working order, may be found in 
New Bedford, New York, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, 
Washington, Charleston, New Orleans, and probably in many other cities 
and towns of which we have not positive knowledge at this moment; but 
a glance at the work in the cities mentioned serves to demonstrate what 
organization in the hands of the Afro-American woman is doing, not by 
fine-spun theories, but by actual work; and, if matters do not miscarry, the 
National Association—incorporated in 1904—financially speaking, eventually 
will be in position to purchase land sufficient to carry out certain plans that 
originated with its founders and that by no means have been cast aside. 

Every well-organized body has its period of growth and development, as 
well as of fruitage; and, with State work well under way, we may confidently 
look forward to the time when the National body will be "bringing in its 
sheaves;" meanwhile, through its State and city federations and individual 
clubs, it furnishes a most forcible demonstration of the value of organization 
among women, in the development of self-reliance, self-help and other ele 
ments so necessary to the advancement of a primitive people. 

The preamble of the Association's constitution says: 

We, the colored women of the United States of America, feeling the need 
of united and systematic effort, and hoping to furnish evidence of moral, men 
tal and material progress made by our people, do hereby unite in a National 
Association. 

The National Association has met as follows: 
Washington, D. C., 18 ' —Founding. 
Nashville, Tenn., 1897—First convention. 
Chicago, 111, I*n9—Second convention. 
Buffalo, N. Y., 1901—Third convention. 
St. Louis, Mo, II!T Fourth convention. 
Detroit,, Mich, 1906—Fifth convention. 
Brooklyn, N. Y., I —Sixth convention. 

The attendance at tbese conventions has been as follows: 

St. Louis..... 
Brooklyn .... 

States 
represented 

22 

Clubs 

represented 
167 

128 

Delegates 
represented 

SOI 
176 

Of the Chicago meeting the Daily News said editorially: 
Of all the conventions that have met in the country this summer there is 
none that has taken hold of the business in hand with more good sense and 
judgment than the National Association of Colored Women, now assembled 
in this city. The subjects brought up, the manner of their treatment and the 
decisions reached exhibit wide and appreciative knowledge of conditions 
confronting the colored people. 

The present departments of the Association are: 

Social Science, 
Parliamentary 
Procedure, 
Domestic Science, 
Business, 
Art, 
Church Clubs, 

Rescue Work, 

Music, 

Kindergarten, 

Woman's Suffrage, 

Forestry, 

Mothers' Clubs, 

Suffrage. 

Literature, 

Young Women's Work, 
Evangelistic Work, 
Juvenile Court, 
Humane Work, 
Religious Work. 

Women's Clubs 

49 

Kentucky, 

Maryland, 

Michigan, 

Missouri, 

Tennessee, 

Ohio, 

Colorado, 

Mississippi. 

California, 

Indiana, 

Florida, 

Virginia, 

Alabama, 

Georgia, 

Illinois. 

There is a Southern Federation and a North-East Federation and the 
twenty State federations: 

Texas, 

West Virginia, 
Iowa, 
Minnesota, 
Pennsylvania, 

Most of tbe large cities like Cincinnati (twelve clubs), Kansas City, 
St. Louis, etc., bave city federations. 
A report of the clubs of Missouri is as follows: 
Clubs in the Missouri Federation: 
Kansas City Federation. 
St. Louis Federation. 

Kensington Art Club, Kansas City, Mo.—Art work and discussion, rules 
on parliamentary usages and household hints. 
Phyllis Wheatley Club, Kansas City, Mo. 
Harper's W. C. T. U. Club, St. Louis, Mo. 

The Woman's Musical and Literary Club, Springfield, Mo.—Raising money 
tor a hospital. 

Josephine Silone Yates Art Club, Sedalia, Mo.—Art work, charity work 
and raising money for a hospital. 

Woman's Club, Jefferson City, Mo.—Charity, literary and civic improve 
ment. 

Kansas City Art Club.—China painting, embroidery and charity work. 
Josephine Silone Yates Club, Clayton, Mo.—Charity and missionary work. 
Central Missionary Band, St. Louis, Mo.—Home, foreign and educational 
work. 

Art Lovers' Club, St. Joseph, Mo. 
Ladies' Art Club Club, Armstrong, Mo.—Art work. 
Modern Prescilla, Glasgow, Mo.—Art work. 
Fulton, Mo., Club.—Charity, and lifting up the fallen. 
Phyllis Wheatley, Ironton, Mo.—Literary and art work 
St. Paul Missionary.—Missionary \vork, St. Louis, Mo. 
Olive Branch, Lincoln Institute, Jefferson City, Mo.—Literary work. 
Young Married Women's Thimble Club, St. Louis, Mo.—Intellectual im 
provement and charity work. 

Reading Circle, Lincoln Institute, Jefferson City, Mo. 
Washington Club, Fulton, Mo.—Charity and literary work. 
Colored Woman's League, Kansas City, Mo. 
Booklovers' Club, Kansas City, Mo. 
Home Mission Society, Sedalia, Mo. 
Yates Literary and Art Club, Louisiana, Mo. 
The Minnesota Clubs send tbis report: 

The Afro-Amerisan Women's State Federation of Minnesota is composed 
L of eighteen clubs from Duluth, Minneapolis and St. Paul, namely: 
^ f Adelphai Club, St. Paul. 
•^B Arbutus Club, Minneapolis. 
^^1 Book Club, Duluth. 

^^H Dorcas Society, Bethesda Baptist Church, Minneapolis. 
^^^^^^ Florida Grant Mite Missionary Society, Minneapolis. 
^^^^B Inter-state Club, Duluth. 

f prc 

 50 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Literary and Social, St. Paul. 
Monday Art, St. Paul. 
M. T. C. Art, Minneapolis. 
Palm Leaf, Minneapolis. 
Pastor's Aid, Minneapolis. 
Social Improvement, St. Paul. 
Tuesday Industrial, Minneapolis. 
Grant Mite Missionary Society, Minneapolis. 
Sun Beam Club, Minneapolis. 
Missionary Society, Minneapolis. 
King's Daughters' Charity Club, St. Paul. 
Zenith City Art, Dulutb. 

The Adelphai Club is a literary and philanthropic club. Books of poems 
and prose of all the leading authors are read in this club, especially those of 
colored authors, or anything of interest to the race is read and discussed. Quo 
tations are given at every meeting. This club helps to care for two old ladies, 
giving a sum of money every month for this purpose. It has a committee to 
visit the city hospital every month, taking fruit and magazines for the sick. 
It sends one dollar a month to the Mary Miller Earl Kindergarten, at Ander- 
son, S. C.; also sends aprons. It meets annually at Jean Brown Martin Baby 
Home and Attacks Home, taking clothing, etc. It gives baskets of food at 
Thanksgiving and Easter time. Has started a literary society, It is through 
this club that the room was most beautifully furnished at the Jean Brown 
Home by the colored citizens of St. Paul. 

The Arbutus Club is a philanthropic club. Each Christmas a needy family 
is looked after. At different times baskets of food are given to the poor. Last 
summer this club took the children of the Attacks' Home to a Sunday-school 
picnic. All of their time and money is spent for charity. 

The members of the Book Club devote some of their time to social and 
domestic work, although it is a literary and philanthropic club. Papers are 
prepared by members, and quotations are given at every meeting. The 
greater part of the money raised by entertainments and donations is given to 
St. Mark's A. M. E. Church, to aid them in erecting a new church, which will 
soon be finished. 

The Dorcas Society is a church club. Its object is to pay the insurance money 
on the church property. They also assist in paying the pastor, sexton, or any 
thing else that may come up. They aid the poor of the church, giving cloth 
ing, food and fuel. Annually they hold a sale or fair. 
The Florida Grant Missionary Society works along missionary lines. 
The Inter-state is a literary and philanthropic club. Papers on all the 
leading questions of the day are read. Quotations are given at every meet 
ing. Some time is given to music and household economy. Each year a 
book of historical facts is read in the club. Most all the money they raise is 
given to assist in building St. Mark's Church. 

The Literary and Social is a church club. Gives weekly socials, with liter 
ary and musical program, selling refreshments. They papered the basement 
of the church and put in new gas-lights, and have aided the church in many 
ways. 

The Monday Art Club does all kinds of needle-work. Classes in dressmak 
ing, china-pain ting and millinery were formed. Anything pertaining to home 
life was discussed and demonstrated, such as cooking, table-setting, etc. Have 
lield art exhibits, entertained many noted Afro-Americans, and have given a 
little time to literary work. 

Women's Clubs 

51 

The W. T. C. Art Club does all kinds of needle-work. Have an annual art 
exhibit; give many successful entertainments, give aid to the needy, and do a 
great deal of literary work. This club presented to the Jean Brown Martin 
Home a portrait of Booker T. Washington, the work of a Mr. Stepp (colored). 
They make annual visits to the Attacks Home and Jean Brown Home. 
The Palm Leaf Club does literary and philanthropic work. 
The Pastor's Aid is a church club of St. Peter's Church. They assist the 
officers of the church in any way they can, financially and otherwise. 

The Bethesday Church contributes to Home and Foreign mission work. It 
has paid an apportionment to American Baptist Home Mission Society and 
National Training School, at Washington, and made a monthly payment 
toward the salary of one native African teacher. Have contributed to a fund 
to educate a native African doctor studying in this country: Visit the sick 
and help needy in their home town. 

The King's Daughters' Charity Club visit the sick, help the needy, and do 
all the good they can to up-build God's cause. 

The Zenith City Art Club does needle-work and assist in raising money to 
build St. Mark's Church. 
The Virginia report says: 

We have connected with the State Federation of Colored Women of Vir 
ginia, clubs whose members are actively engaged in home, school, church, vil 
lage improvement, rescue work, and social settlement, and they are doing 
good work. These clubs had been organized and working long before the State 
Federation was organized, so that explains how we can do so much work in 
so short a time. 

At our Second Annual Meeting, held in Richmond June 17 and 18,1909, forty- 
seven clubs, representing 1,200 women, were reported. 

We have succeeded in establishing a permanent organization and hope, by 
united and systematic effort, to give substantial evidences of the moral, men 
tal and material progress made by our people. 

The Illinois Federation has thirty-one clubs. The president's ad 
dress of 1908 said: 

Our clubs are indispensable factors in our elevation. As women, we must 
stand united for God, ourselves and our race. Some opposition has developed 
toward club work, someone having said that we were a set of butterflies on 
dress parade, but in my opinion the statement is false, for the most of our 
club women are the best housekeepers, the best wives and the best cooks; the 
most self-sacrificing women, ever on the alert to relieve suffering humanity, 
to the support of which they give a part of their small pittance of pin money. 
Our visits to the jails and juvenile courts show that many of our women are 
doing good work along these lines. Through organized effort, homes for 
working-girls, day nurseries and kindergartens are being established. Is not 
this progress ? All this the work of our noble women. We would like here 
in this connection to mention: The Cairo hospital, fostered and under the 
supervision of the Yates Club of Cairo; the Anna Field Home for Girls, Peo- 
ria; Lincoln Old Folks and Orphans' Home, founded by Mrs. Eva Monroe and 
assisted by the Women's Club of Springfield; the Home for Aged and Infirm 
Colored People, Chicago, founded by Mrs. Gabrella Smith and others; the 
Amanda Smith Orphans' Home, Harvey. The last of which we mention is 
the Phillis Wheatley Home for Wage-Earning Girls, of Chicago. 

The Colorado Federation reports: 

 52 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Women's Clubs 

53 

At the last annual convention there were twenty-six clubs represented. 
They are charity, art and study clubs. All help to support the colored or 
phanage at Pueblo. One is raising means to build a home for girls and 
another to huild a club house. Neither of these buildings is a certainty. The 
list is as follows: 

Denver: 

Life Line Club. 

Sunshine Club. 

Self-improvement and Social Club. 

Pond-Lily Art Club. 

Taka Art Club. 

Coleridge Taylor Study Club, 

Lucy Thurman W. C. T. U. 

City Federation. 

The League. 
Colorado Springs: 

DuBois Reading Club. 

Twentieth Century Reading Club. 

Silver Leaf Art Club. 

Libby C. Anthony Club. 

Harper W. C. T. U. 

City Federation. 

Dahalia Art Club. 

Pond-Lily Club. 

Treble Clef Music Club. 
Pueblo: 

Modeste Art Club. 

Carnation Art Club. 

Loyal Temperance Legion. 

The Mothers' Olub. 

Dorcas Watson W. C. T. U. 

City Federation. 
La Junta: 

N. U. G. Club. 
Cheyenne, Wyo.: 

Searchlight Ulub. 

The Women's Clubs of Arkansas report: 

The first woman's club was organized February 11, 1897; first city federa 
tion June 7, 1905. The State was federated through the activities of Mrs. 
B. T. Washington and Mrs. Hun ton, now national organizer; two State 
meetings since 1905, one in June, 1908, the other in June, 191)9. In 1909 the 
clubs reported twenty-five clubs with a membership of five hundred, repre 
sented by forty-four delegates at State meeting. 

The city federations at Little Rock and Hot Springs are flourishing. At 
Hot Springs there is an Old Ladies' Home of seven rooms costing $1,500. At 
Little Rock there is an Old Ladies' Home of ten rooms costing $2,500, and 
at Port Smith one costing $1,400. There is now being planned at Little 
Rock a Working Girls' Home under the auspices of the city federation. A 
Reform School for < olored Youth under the auspices of the State federa 
tion has been planned, and is now being prosecuted to arouse sentiment, 
influence State legislature and State officers, collect money, etc. There 
are School Improvement Associations throughout the State. These assist 
teachers and scholars in beautifying the grounds and school rooms, and in 

systems of rewards and incentives for better school work. These clubs do 
philanthropic and literary work. 

Some thirty clubs belong to the Ohio Federation. 

Ten of them report $500 raised during the year 1908-09. They also report the 
following statistics: 

165 

125 

Number of members......... ............................... 

Number married........... ................................. 

Number who assist In support of family........................ 45 

Graduates from college... ................... .................... 7 

Graduates from Normal or High School........................ 39 

Finished Filth Grade ...... ....................................... 42 

Can not read......................... .......................... 0 

Aggregate nunaber of children................................... 180 

Menibers' children graduated from college.. .... ... 

Members' children finished Normal or High School........ Si 

Mernbers' children still in school........................ .... 74 

Nnniber ol children under school age........................ 18 

Pianos... ................ .......................................... 67 

Organs ..................... ............. ........................... 18 

Aggregate amount of real estate ........................... 4282,000 

Aggregate value ot libraries.................. .............. 6,875 

Life Insurance carried ... ...................... ............ 86,049 

8 

^™^ One of the most successful State Federations is that of Alabama. It 
has forty-five clubs. Of its last session it was reported: 

The State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, which began its ninth 
annual session in this city last Monday, came to a close yesterday afternoon. 
The Federation has established and is supporting a reformatory at Mt. Meigs 
for Negro boys. The organization is composed of representatives from the 
various Negro women's clubs throughout the State, and the Negro women 
are very enthusiastic over the work they are doing to reform wayward Negro 
boys. The meeting in 1907 was held in Selma. 

Since that meeting the clubs have raised and reported to the officers $2,283.72 
and expended |2,236.97. At the meeting that has just closed the Federation 
raised cash to the amount of $1,068.92. After paying up all debts, they have 
now on hand $593.39. 

The State Federation of Mississippi has seventeen clubs. 
We have done much work toward elevating the home life among the 
masses by paying especial attention to plantation club work and establish 
ing community clubs where possible. 

One particular club—the Woman's Progressive Club of Alcorn College—the 
oldest club in the State, and the one with which I was connected for eleven 
years, has done much along this line, holding club meetings right in the 
plantation homes, showing the women of these homes how to improve them 
selves and their homes. We have seen many evidences of good results from 
this kind of work. 

The Woman's Christian Union of Vicksburg and the State Federation have 
adopted this work as State work, and now all of the clubs are bending their 
energies toward its support. 

The Phillis Wheatley Club of this town—a club of forty-six members—has 
furnished a reading-room known as the Phillis Wheatley Reading-Room. 

Many clubs do literary work, studying both literature and art. At the last 
State Fair several pieces of work from club women took first premiums. All 

 54 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

of our clubs do some charity work. We hold our next annual meeting at 
Mound Bayou—the Negro town. 

Some reports from typical women's clubs throughout the country fol 
low: 

The Women's Home Progressive Club was organized October 19,1902, with 
a membership of seventeen. Club work in this locality was a new feature 
and therefore met with considerable criticism, but, nevertheless, we went on. 
During the year 1903 we gave twelve dollars on a piano for the city schools 
besides helping a number of sick and destitute ones during the winter mouths. 
In 1905 the Cluh donated ten dollars to F. I. S. College. The following depart 
ments were organized: Educational, Business, Charity, and Industrial. Al 
though our club is composed mainly of teachers or those capable of teaching, 
only the last three have claimed our attention so far. In our Educational 
Department we have only had a literary program once a month but planned 
to take up a regular reading course later. In the Business Department we 
have a saving department where each one deposits at each meeting any 
amount she may see fit, usually twenty-five cents. Last year our savings ran 
up to nearly fifty dollars. 

In the Charitable Department for this year we helped to put fountains in 
the public schools. 

Our Industrial work for this year was basketry. We made a number of 
beautiful baskets and hand-bags with raffia.—Paris, Tex. 

E. W. Bailey, Principal of the school, in a brief talk stated that the colored 
women's clubs had been working for a year in order to raise $125 with which 
to aid the city in putting water fountains on the campus of the colored school 
ground. As a result of their efforts, the representatives of the federation then 
present had in their hands more than $100 to present to the board of education 
for the laudable cause. The presentation speech was made by Mrs. Hannah 
Simms, president of the City Federation of Colored Women. In her talk she 
assured the superintendent and all present that the colored women have it in 
their hearts to do something themselves to aid in educating the children of 
their race while the white people are taking such deep interest in providing 
the necessary facilities for their education. She further stated that the 
superintendent of city schools had asked for $'125 and that they were ready to 
place with him $126. Prof. Wooten in pointed remarks accepted the contribu 
tion and he gave assurance that the amount given would be highly appreciated 
and that he is ever ready to help those who struggle to do something for 
themselves.—Paris, Tex. 

There are at least ten women's clubs that are devoted to social betterment. 
One of these the oldest, "The Women's League" is purely charitable. They 
are buying a home for working girls, strangers who come to town, etc. They 
have paid about $700 on it so far. One club is purely literary, "The Booklov- 
er's." The others are: 

Progressive Study Club. 

Kensington Art Club. 

Phyllis Wheatley Club. 

The Hiawatha Club. 

The Crescent Club. 

The Carrie Steele Club. 

The Clioniau Club. 

The Arena Club. 

The last eight named do several kinds of work: some charitable, some lit 
erary, some art needlework, china painting, etc. All do some charitable work. 

I 

Women's Clubs 

55 

Nine of the ten are in an organization called the City Federation of Clubs 
which meets monthly, and is a sort of club clearing-house. There are over 
three hundred women in these clubs.—Kansas City, Mo. 
Woman's Twentieth Century League—main object to support Reformatory. 
Captain W. D. Hargwood, superintendent of the Boys' Reformatory at Mount 
Meigs, Ala., was in the city Tuesday, and returned the same night with a 
youthful criminal that had been turned over by the court to the custody of 
the reform school. 

The transportation expenses of the superintendent and boy were paid by 
the Woman's Twentieth Century League. 

When it was learned that the little unfortunate was very scantily clad, and 
had neither shoes nor stockings on, a christiau-hearted mother donated a 
complete outfit of good clothing and underwear, besides shoes and stockings. 
—Mobile, Ala. 

Our Woman's Club of this city is not yet able to give full support to any 
particular work. We care for a few old and sick people. Our plan is to have 
a reading-room and to look after the young children of the laboring class of 
women during the day while they are away from home at work.—Gaiues- 
ville, Fla. 

The City Federation of Colored Women care for the sick and needy and are 
trying to raise funds 10 build an Orphans' Home and an Old Folk's Home.— 
Peusacola, Fla. 

Sojouruer Truth Club aims to build a Home for Working Women and Girls. 
They have succeeded in raising money enough to purchase a lot upon which 
to erect a building.—Los Angeles, Cal. 

The Woman's Loyal Union owes its formation to an unusually large meet 
ing held in New York city, in aid of Miss Ida B. Wells, now Mrs. Barnett, at 
that time editor and publisher of a paper in Memphis, Tenn., whose press on 
account of her fearless utterances had been destroyed and her life threat 
ened. At this gathering a generous purse was secured for Miss Wells. The 
meeting proved such a success, and the enthusiasm aroused among the peo 
ple was so great, that it was considered wise and fitting to found a permanent 
organization embodying the sentiments elicited by the meeting. 

The Woman's Loyal Vnion was therefore organized December 5,1892. The 
motto of the club is, "Vigilant, Patriotic, Steadfast." This association, whose 
initial effort was the defense of the oppressed, continued to work along race 
lines. In accordance with the clause of the constitution, "The ohject of this 
Union shall be the diffusion of accurate and extensive information relative 
to the civil and social status of that class of American citizens of African 
descent—i. e., Afro-Americans—that they may be led to an intelligent asser 
tion of their fights," etc., a circular letter containing questions for informa 
tion respecting the condition of the people was widely distributed throughout 
the South. Toward the dissemination of race literature Congressman White's 
speech delivered in the House of Representatives was sent to the celebrated 
Union League of Manhattan, to the Christian League, and to other prominent 
parties; and leaflets issued by the Afro-American Council were also sent to 
white clubs and to liberal-minded people. 

Also when the mentioned Council was soliciting funds to try a test case in 
the courts of the South, the sum of $10 was given by the club to assist this 
worthy cause, and a like amount to the Citizens' League to protect the suf 
ferers in the race riots which took place in New York city in 1900. An ac 
count of these riots, issued in pamphlet form, was circulated in the convention 

 56 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Women's Clubs 

57 

of the Northeastern Federation of Women's Clubs, held In Brooklyn in the 
summer of 1902. 

When refugees from Oklahoma, the unfortunate victims of a Siberian 
scheme, In a destitute and helpless condition, were stranded in cars in Jersey 
City, the Women's Loyal Union came to their relief, placing the matter in the 
hands of theWays and Means Committee of the association. The amount of 
$1») was furnished this cause and the needy ones were supplied with temporary 
homes and otherwise succored in the hour of their great distress. 

In relation to further financial assistance rendered by this club, a sum of 
money was given to the school at Manassas managed by Miss Deans, and 
$10 to the Waller Fund created by the New York Press toward the relief 
of Ex-Consul Waller, then confined in a French prison on the island of Mau 
ritius. 

From a feeling of reverence and affection for the memory of John Brown, 
money was also, at one time, sent to his daughter, then in dire need. The 
club gave a substantial amount toward the purchase of the Northfield Home, 
a building at Northfield, Mass., which the Northeastern Federation had 
agreed to secure as a center of rest and recreation for club members during 
the summer. 

In the line of educational work two children were supported for several 
years in a kindergarten in Florida, and money contributed toward the main 
tenance of a school in Georgia. 

Emphasizing the desire to keep in memory the heroes of the race, the death 
of Frederick Douglass was observed by appropriate exercises, including a 
memorial poem written by the recording secretary. 

Under the third section of article two of the constitution of the Union, in 
the autumn of 1905, a Protective and Industrial Home for Working Girls was 
established hy the club, and continued for nearly two years with a reason 
able degree of success; its object was to shelter and protect girls who coine 
North to secure employment, and to aid them in the accomplishment of their 
plans. The Home was suitably equipped, provided with a competent matron, 
and managed by an efficient House Committee; and effective work was ac 
complished during the period of its activity; but it has been temporarily 
suspended on account of changes made by the owner in the premises where 
it was located. The aim of the association, however, is to re-open the Home 
as soon as sufficient funds can be obtained and proper accommodations se 
cured, when the work can be developed on a larger scale and with greater 
facilities for usefulness. 

The membership of the Woman's Loyal Union is not as large as it has been 
on account of various changes made in the community where the club has 
worked since its organization. The present enrollment is twenty-rive.— 
New York. 

The Semper Fidelis is a club composed of twenty-five married ladies. II 
was organized about ten years ago, mainly as a literary club, but added the 
charitable feature at once. Some years it has given scholarships to deserving 
pupils in the Negro High School. It has also made large donations to the 
Industrial Department of the High School. Each year it makes donations 
of money, clothing, and other necessities to the Old Folks and Orphans' 
Home of this city, besides helping other needy persons in the city. Since 
the beginning of the State Reformatory for Negro Boys, several years ago— 
and which does not receive any State aid as yet—it has taken a very active 
part in helping to-establish and maintain the same.—Biiminghain, Ala. 

The Anna M. Duncan Club was organized in September, 1898. The first 

work they did was to issue a call for the organization of a State Federation 
of clubs, which was effected December 26,1898. After this organization was 
perfected, the clubs seeing the need of a city federation, they organized 
one. They took as their work the building of a State Keformatory. Each 
Sunday afternoon different members would visit the jail, and seeing how our 
young men and boys were being sent to the chain-gang and farms for the 
least offense, they determined if possible to save our boys from being placed 
in prison cells with hardened criminals, and hy this means coming from 
prison much worse than when put in; in fact, becoming full-fledged crimi 
nals. They worked at this for two years, until they finally interested the 
State Federation to adopt the work. Of this State Federation Miss Anna M. 
Duncan was the first president. She was also president of the club until her 
death. Her undying devotion to the work of saving the boys, and her un 
timely death, caused the club in honor of her memory to adopt the name 
of the Anna M. Duncan Club. At first the number of members was unlim 
ited and the club met from church to church; then the number was limited. 
We have now thirty active members. Our special work is the Reformatory 
that has been established in this city by the State. We have one building, a 
cottage of about eight rooms, and a farm of twenty acres that has all been 
paid for by the Federation. The cottage cost something over twelve hundred 
dollars. This club is an important factor in the running of the Keforma 
tory, the president of the club being chairman of the Board of Managers and 
its corresponding secretary being a member of the Committee, 

These women are untiring in their efforts to make the Keformatory work 
a success. While the Reformatory is their chief work, other objects of 
charity have not been neglected. A child has been kept in the kinder 
garten, another in the Normal School of this city by the paying of tuition 
and furnishing books; another has been sent to and from Talladega College, 
she having a scholarship but unable to pay the railroad fare to and from 

school. 

In this city is the Hale Infirmary, a large and commodious building built 
by Mrs. Ann Hale in memory of her husband and children. While Mrs. Hale 
gave the building, the running of the house depends upon the donations given 
it. To this object the clubs give thirty dollars a year. Clothing, food and 
fuel have been given to the needy poor during the year to the amount of 
thirty or forty dollars. 

During last year the Club collected three hundred and sixty dollars. Of this 
amount two hundred and fifty was given to the Reformatory. The Club hopes 
to be able to double this amount during the present year. 

We study different authors for our own improvement. Papers are read and 
events of interest to the race are discussed. At different times we have had 
men of note to lecture for us, and the money so raised has gone into our Re 
formatory Fund.—Montgomery, Ala. 

The Woman's Club of Marietta was organized in September, 1900, with 
eleven members. One of the objects of the club is to help the needy in and 
about Marietta. For several years the charity of this club was shown by 
donations of raw food, wood, bed-clothing, garments and medicine to the poor 
and needy. In very rare instances money was given, with which to buy a 
needed article. Many yards of cloth have been bought and made into gar 
ments by the ladies for orphans and sick people. Once we gave a Christmas 
tree for orphan children. About twenty-five children received two and three 
presents each. A neat little program was rendered by the children and 
added much interest to the occasion. But we have stopped this promiscuous 

 £ 

58 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

giving. We help an individual now, only when he is in extreme need and 
applies to us. We are keeping our pennies together for the purpose of estab 
lishing a "Home." At first we thought an Orphanage, but now we think a 
Home for the Friendless, orphans included. 

We have in the bank about eighty dollars and it is drawing interest. We 
have just decided to buy a two-acre tract of woodland in a good Negro set 
tlement three miles from the center of town: Before thirty days I think it 
will be in our possession. Then we shall go to work to build on it. 

Our membership is small, never having been more than twenty at any one 
time. Being purely philanthropic, women are not very anxious to join.—Ma 
rietta, Ga. 

The Woman's Club was organized with ten members. The number has 
grown to thirty. There are various departments: the Child Culture Depart 
ment, the Juvenile Department, the Domestic Science Department, the Prison 
Department, the Sick and Aged Committee and the Orphan Committee. All 
of the departments and committees are active except the Domestic Science 
Department which has been closed for some time on account of lack of funds. 
Through these various committees we are brought in touch with all classes. 
Mothers' Meetings are held from time to time in the different churches some 
time during the week, also sometimes on Sunday afternoons. They are held 
to suit the convenience of the people. 

Many are the needy ones who have been relieved at the hands of the 
Woman's Club. 

To help us in our charitable work twenty members have taken stock in a 
millinery project. The value of each share is five dollars. Some have taken 
half of a share. Ten per cent of the undivided profits will be given to the 
club to further its work of charity. The little millinery store was opened last 
month and we are praying for success.—Athens, Ga, 

The St. Pierre Ruffin Club, the oldest club here, is composed of twenty-five 
married ladies, who are engaged in the work of social and benevolent uplift. 
We feel that the social side of life has been greatly improved through this 
agency.—South Bend, Ind. 

The Daisy D.Walker Club is composed of twelve young ladies. They make 
a specialty of supplying the sick with milk and fruit and giving of flowers to 
the dead. They are also engaged in literary work.—South Bend, Ind. 

The Mothers' Society studies and discusses home-making, the rearing of 
children, etc. They have in hand the building of a hospital for Negroes, and 
have collected a considerable amount. They are receiving generous support 
from the race.—Frankfort, Ky. 

The Francis E. W. Harper Club of Portland, Me., was organized in 1902 as a 
literary club. It has fourteen active members and one honorary member. 

Since its organization the club has been engaged in philanthropic work. 
Our object is to build a home for women—a place where the aged may pass 
their last days in comfort and where young women may find a home for small 
compensation. 

Although the field here is very small we find plenty of work at hand, and 
in many cases co-operate with one of the ladies connected with the Associated 
Charities of this city. 

We have a small hank account which is increasing gradually. I am also 
pleased to add that this year the club has been unusually prosperous.—Port 
land, Me. 

Women's Clubs 

59 

The New Bedford Mothers' Club is carrying on work for neglected and home 
less children. This work was started in 1904. We are doing a good work 
which is limited only by our means. We have a sum of money in the bank 
which is known as the Children's Home Fund, and will be used when the work 
warrants it in building a home for these waifs. This work appeals especially 
to a mother's heart.—New Bedford, Mass. 

The Ann Arbor Women's Club was organized in 1898 with ten members. 
From the first we have felt that there was need of an organization to help 
over the rough places, and we ten went to work. We have given nearly $700 
to aid the needy, possibly not all in ready cash—although much of it has been 
cash—but we have given clothes, food, fuel, bedding and flowers to the poor 
of our own city, to say nothing of having sent quilts, rugs, food (including 
canned goods, fruit, vegetables, sugar, etc.), clothing and money to the Phil- 
lis Wheatley Home in Detroit. We also placed an inmate at the Home for 
which we paid $ •". Each year we give to each of the two churches, besides 
when we have our annual sermon preached in October we give a special col 
lection to every church. Our club now numbers twenty active and two hon 
orary members, and as we are making up our report for the State Convention 
we feel proud of the work done this year, as it has been the most successful 
one during our existence. We are contemplating having a flag day. We have 
not purchased any real estate yet, but that is the point that we are aiming 
for, and hope before long to make the first payment on a piece of property. We 
also contribute toward the support of a district nurse in our city. At the 
Christmas Tide we send dinners to the poor that we know of and fruit to the 
sick.—Ann Arbor, Mich. 

The women of Vickshurg, after several attempts, succeeded in 1905 in effect 
ing a permanent organization. These club women were banded together to 
do charity work, but for a long time could not decide what work was most 
necessary. They finally concluded that some provision for caring for the old 
folks and orphans should be made. This work was immediately undertaken 
by them. They began at once to solicit funds from the people of this imme 
diate vicinity for the purpose. They had to overcome the difficulties common 
to all incipient work. Many felt that nothing would ever come of the move 
ment and refrained from taking a part. 

Notwithstanding this, they selected a suitable lot about a mile from Vicks- 
burg, containing a large ante bellum residence, and contracted to buy the 
same for $1,200. 

They have now paid for the place. They have bought also two smaller lots 
in the same locality, and are now collecting funds to repair the Home, after 
which they intend to open it for the reception of the aged poor. 

They have no permanent source of support. Their collections have been 
made solely in this community.—Vicksburg, Miss. 

In January, 1903, having for some time seen the necessity for a club in our 
city whose object would be the help and uplift of the women and girls of our 
race along many lines of usefulness, I asked a number of women to meet at 
my residence to organize such a club. Nine responded and we formed what 
ifi known as the Afro-American Woman's Industrial Club. We decided to 
meet twice a month, the first meeting being a strictly business meeting and 
the second a social meeting to which our friends are invited; the meetings 
being held at the different members' homes. 

During the first year of our organization we joined the Northeastern Fed 
eration of Women's Clubs. Last year we were incorporated under the laws 

 \ 

.of 

\ 

~m 

60 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

of New Jersey and in May, 1908, we purchased a small house situated at 104 
Harrison avenue, the lot being 25 feet by 108 feet. Our very efficient treas 
urer, who is a widow with her aged mother to care for, was installed as house 
keeper. The house is a modest one, having only six rooms; these have been 
occupied ever since we opened. We hope to be able to enlarge the building 
soon, as we desire to be able to care for all or at least a large part of the girls 
and women who come to our city from various parts of the country seeking 
employment and often, unfortunately, falling into bad hands. 

From a membership of nine we have steadily grown until we number forty 
earnest workes.—Jersey City, JST. J. 

We have the E. L. Davis Club, which is a part of the Pennsylvania State 
Federation of Negro Women's Clubs. We have raised over two hundred dol 
lars in the last two years, for the Home for Destitute Negro Children, located 
at New Castle. We have assisted in paying the funeral expenses of a poor 
woman, given clothes to the poor, flowers to the hospital. We send three 
dollars each month to the home at New Castle towards the maintenance of 
the Home.—Johnstown, Pa. 

The Mothers' Club was organized September, 1903, for the purpose of aiding 
struggling mothers. In May, 1904, we opened a day nursery—a email place of 
four rooms, for we were poor and few in number. We saw the great need for 
such a place for mothers—those who must go out to work—to leave their little 
ones to.be cared for, instead of having them roam the streets uncared for. We 
have struggled hard to carry on the work. The meetings are very helpful to 
all. We have very often a program, and topics for discussion which are usu 
ally Child Training, Housekeeping, Village Improvement, or some race sub 
ject, or temperance.—Providence, R. I. 

We have been organized four years. During this time we have made dona 
tions to any and every needy person, regardless of denomination. We are 
laboring now to raise means to establish an Old Folk's Home, which we hope 
to be able to do in the near future. Our membership is fifty-nine, with seven 
ofiicers. We meet twice during the month. Our treasury is maintained by 
the monthly dues paid by each member, together with donations given at the 
different mass meetings held by the club. 
The preamble of the constitution is as follows: 

"Whereas, a nation's standard is measured by that of its women, and seeing 
great need of improvement in the race in general: we the women of Jack 
son, State of Tennessee, being sensible of the great responsibility resting 
upon us as women, have organized ourselves under the name of a Woman's 
Club. 

"We believe that in union or friendly co-operation in the work of ' lifting as 
we climb,' we can best elevate our homes and the race by developing our 
selves along various lines, we do hereby adopt the following Constitution and 
By-Laws for the Woman's Club of Jackson, Tennessee."—Jackson, Tenn. 

Different men, lawyers, doctors, ministers, also visiting men of note, address 
the club at each meeting; dues and other moneys are turned over to the church; 
we have sent barrels to different industrial schools in the South, and also make 
up baskets and boxes for one or two orphan asylums and Old Folk's Homes.— 
St. Paul, Minn. 

The first summer or vacation school to be maintained by any Woman's 
Club in the State was organized by the Koffee Klatsch in 1906. The children 
received instruction in sewing, picture-framing and cooking. The smaller 
ones were kept interested in blackboard work, story telling, etc. These 

Women's Clubs 

61 

classes, with an average attendance of eighteen and twenty, were main 
tained for two years. 

Aside from the general relief work, specific attention is given twice yearly 
to the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People. During the early autumn 
a special day is given over to the club, at which a good program is 
arranged at one of the churches and a collection is lifted solely for the pur 
pose of buying fuel for the Home. This is known as "Coal-fund day." 

When the fruit season is at its best a day is set apart and known as "Can 
ning day." The members of the club take the fruit and sugar out to the insti 
tution and put the fruit up for the winter. Over one hundred and fifty quarts 
have been put up by their exertions at different times. At various times 
money has been raised to assist in placing an inmate in the Home. 

Miscellaneous relief work has included cases like the following: the pur 
chase of fuel, groceries, and miscellaneous provisions; the distribution of 
clothing and shoes and medicine, also services of a physician; helping to pur 
chase an invalid chair, and occasionally a special church donation. 

We feel that we have been wonderfully blessed in our endeavors, as no case 
reported to us during our existence has been passed over on account of lack 

of funds. 

A committee of four ladies are delegated to visit the sick and bring reports 
of cases to be looked after.—Chicago, 111. 

The College Aid Society of Wilberforce, Ohio, have to their credit thirty 
years' support of aiding needy students. The Twentieth Century Club of 
Xenia, Ohio, has pursued a course of study of American and English litera 
ture, and fostered the kindergartens for colored children in Xenia, Ohio. 

The women of St. Louis, Missouri, under the leadership of Mrs. M. L. Har 
rison, have completed seven years of successful work in caring for the 
St. Louis Colored Orphans' Home, which they founded May 19,1901, at a cost 
of $6,700. Mrs. Susan Paul Vashon, of St. Louis, has been successful in arousing 
the interest of a large number of mothers iu forming mothers'clubs aud hold 
ing mothers' meetings. 

The colored women in Indianapolis have a club which has been interesting 
itself to secure opportunity for colored women to get work. Arrangements 
have now been made by which more than 150 colored women have secured 
work iu one of the canning factories of that city, the managers having agreed 
to take only women and girls recommended by clubs. 

The Harriet Tubmau Club, of Boston, Mass., has been successfully conduct 
ing a Home for Working Girls on Holyoke street. This property is in a good 
part of the city and has sheltered a large number of women, giving them a 
good comfortable Christian home. Ruth Circle of King's Daughters of Bos 
ton has done much to assist in the charitable work of the city. The Woman's 
Era Club of the city of Boston has covered a wide field of work along liter 
ary, musical, and other lines. The Woman's Loyal Union, New Bedford, is 
engaged in the work of a Home for the Aged, irrespective of race or relig 
ion (see souvenir program aud historical sketch). The Woman's Progressive 
Club of Worcester, Mass., is also the founder of a Home for Aged People in 
that city. 

Through the efforts of Judge Feagin and the work of an organization com 
posed of the better class of Negro women in Birmingham, Ala., an industrial 
school has been started and to this eighteen little waifs have already been 
sent. During the past year these women have raised $2,000, with which they 
purchased twenty-five acres of land near Montgomery, Ala. Upon this they 
have built a six-room cottage which now serves as a home for these eighteen 

 62 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

£ 

little waifs. The superintendent chosen for this school is W. B. Tyrrell, a 
Negro of unusual ability and peculiar history. After being educated in the 
schools of his native State, Virginia, he was sent by a priest to a classical 
school in England to be trained for the Catholic priesthood. He was seven 
years in England, then was graduated from Bonn University in Germany 
and went as a missionary to Abyssinia. Failing health compelled him to re 
turn to this country. He has taken up the work for colored youth with great 
zeal. 

The Yates Woman's Club of Cairo, 111., recently purchased land on which 
to build a hospital. Within three years the club has raised more than $2,100, 
paying in cash $900 for their land and $1,200 on a two-story brick building. 

The Phyllip Wheatley Club, Chicago, 111., has a Home for Working Girls 
and has been very successful in securing funds for the land and for buiding 
and maintaining the work; in fact, all of the clubs in Chicago, as well as in 
the State of Illinois, are all well organized and working along many lines for 
the uplifting of humanity. 

The State of Texas is well organized. At the recent meeting of the State 
Federation, "The Mother's Part in Preventing Diseases" was discussed; 
also many pertinent ideas concerning the responsibility which rests upon 
mothers to train their children in hygienic living; "What the wash 
women have done for us as a race," was another subject presented. 
Special mention was made of the great work and influence of those great 
workers who have humbled themselves that their children might rise to 
higher plains of usefulness. In fact, the women of Texas are alive to the 
demands which the spirit of the times has placed upon colored woman 
hood. 

The Woman's Industrial Club of Louisville, Kentucky, is a business, char 
itable and industrial club, quartered in a well-equipped twenty-room build 
ing on one of the most popular thoroughfares of the city. Various industries 
are carried on under its roof, and it has given impetus to the business life of 
the city of Louisville. 

From the millinery department have gone out scores of young women who 
are doing high-class work. Louisville has a large number of clubs, and the 
next biennial of the National Association of Colored Women is to be in the 
city, the guest of forty clubs of that city. 

The White Rose Mission of New York city, organized about twelve years ago 
byMrs. Victoria Earle Matthews, has done much good work in that city. A 
large number of needy ones have found shelter within its doors and have been 
able to secure work of all kinds. This club has a committee to meet the in 
coming steamers from the South and see that young women entering the city 
as strangers are directed to proper homes. Mrs. Frances Keyser, who has 
charge of the work, is the right woman in the right place. 

The Dorcas Home Mission Society of Brooklyn, N. Y., which numbers two 
hundred good earnest working women under the leadership of Mrs. Alice 
Wiley, has done much to relieve the sick and distressed in that city. 

Last year the clubs of Minnesota issued a State Federation calendar, which 
was a most beautiful calendar of all the clubs, with the date of their organiza 
tion, federation days, hours of meetings, their presidents and those in the 
National Association of Colored Women. It was a beautiful design and re 
flected much credit on the women of Minnesota. 

A Mothers' Reception was held hy the clubs of Colorado, fifty invitations on 
postal cards having been issued for the same. "Ventilation and Sanitation," 
also "The Mother's Influence in the Home," were the subjects discussed, each 

Women's Clubs 

63 

telling of some of her experiences in her own home. The key note sounded 
by the mothers was, pure mothers for pure children; they advocated patience 
for the children, reasoning, and less whipping, thereby gaining their confidence 
and making them companionable. 

The W. C. T. U. used to be strong among colored women and is still 
influential; it is, for instance, "a strong influence for good" in Dallas, 
Texas. 

The King's Daughters and Sons have many colored circles: 
In New York city there is a Circle which has done very earnest work, and 
also the Gould Circle, the Rest-Room Circle, the Aunt Jane Circle, Home for 
Aged Colored People, St. John's Place, Brooklyn, also do splendid work. 

In Toledo and in other Ohio cities the colored people have done some very 
fine work. In Michigan, also, the colored people have accomplished a great 
deaL There is a Circle of colored people in Frankfort, Kentucky. 

There are, of course, other Circles, but, as I say, we cannot give you a com 
plete list and can only indicate here and there some of the better known 
workers. 

Other reports follow: 

Our club, the Faithful Few Circle of the King's Daughters, belongs to the 
International Order of the King's Daughters. While we operate under their 
constitution and laws and labor for the same cause, we belong to the Missis 
sippi State Federation of Women's Clubs. 

We have a membership of twenty-five persons, with about twelve active 
workers. Our work is confined to the unfortunate, "In His name." We use 
the Silver Cross Journal and keep in touch with the great Order throughout 
the world. 

We are now attempting to build an "Old Folk's Home," with a nursery and 
a kind of headquarters for working girls, somewhat on the order of a rescue 
home.—Natch ez, Miss. 

We have the King's Daughters Society, which has been organized seven 
teen years. We have a membership of fity-two, and our work is to care for 
old people who can not help themselves. During the past year we gave as 
much as $68 in money, and each week we make up baskets of food and cloth 
ing and seud to the needy. We have also helped to bury a number of poor 
persons.—Austin, Tex 

The following are the kinds of program rendered by these Women's 
Clubs: 

Ohio State Federation, Dayton, O. 
Subject: Light on the Work of the Ohio State Federation. 

Program 

The Local Clubs. 

The Model Club. 

The Ohio Federation, Its Weak Points and How to Overcome Them. 

Helpful Echoes from the World's Fair and Club Life In Missouri. 

Hints on Club Literature. 

Our Children, shall the Ohio Federation form Clubs among Its Children? 

Race Pride as Manifested In Club Life. 

The Entertaining Hostess, and Appropriate Decorations and Souvenirs or 

Favors. 
To What Extent Should our Federation be Public-Spirited ? Have we a Voice 

In the School, the Republic, the Nation? 

 f 

64 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The Wheel of Progress, Cincinnati, O. 

Philanthropies! and Economical Department 

SECOND TUESDAY 

November 14: Original poem, "The Forest." Music. Discussion, "Misplaced 
Pharlty." 

December 12: "What is the Greatest Evil that Retards the Commercial Prog 
ress of the Negro? " Music. Industrial Work. 

January 
trial Work. 

Discussion, "The Best Education for our Girls." Music. Indus- 

February 13: Paper, "Should Social Games be Encouraged In the Home, and 
to What Extent? " Music. Industrial Work. 

March 13: Discussion, "What Can the Club Woman Do to Raise the Intellectual 
Status of our Young Men?" Music. Industrial Work. 

April 10: "Influence of Aesthetic Decoration In the Home." Music. Indus 
trial Work. 

May 8: "Reverence for Holy Things." Music. Industrial Work. 

June 12: "The Attitude of the Olub Woman Toward Her Less Fortunate Sis 
ters." Music. Industrial Work. 

July 10: "Development of Domestic Economy." Music. Industrial Work. 
August 14: -'Checks to Evil influences of Environment." Music. Industrial 
Work. "Duties of a Good House-wife." Music. Industrial Work. 

September 11: "Economy and Taste in Dress." Music, industrial Work. 
October 9: Annual Reports. Election of Officers. 

Literary and Musical Department 

POTJETH TTJESDAY 

November 28: Queries and Current Events. Instrumental Music. Lecture, "A 
Trip to Sicily." Song. 

December 26: Queries and Current Events. Paper, "Negro Writers and Their 
Best Productions." Music. 

January 23: Queries and Current Events. Lecture, "Development of Political 
Economy." Vocal Music. 

February 27: Queries and Current Events. Paper, "Anti-Slavery Heroes of the 
Nineteenth Century." Instrumental Music. 

March 27: Discussion, "How Oan We Dignify the 'Jim Crow' Oar?" Paper, "The 
Most Potent Influences Tending Toward the Eradication of Color Prejudice." Song. 

April 24: Queries and Current Events. Instrumental Music. Paper— Prose Fic 
tion, "Ramona." Music. 

May 22: Queries and Current Events. Paper, "Characteristics of the Poetical 
Triad.' Instrumental Music. 

June 26: Queries and Current Events. Paper, "The Story of Toussaint L'Ouver- 
ture." Music. 

July 24: Queries and Current Events. Paper, "Harriet Beecher Stowe and Her 
Writings." Music. 

August 28: Queries and Current Events. Paper, "Natural Curiosities of Our 
Country." Music. 

September 25: Culllngs from Vacation Experiences. Lecture, "The Great Re 
ligions of the World." Music. 

October'28: Greetings from Distant Members. "The Club Outlook." Song. 

Old Folk's Homes 

65 

Section 11. Old Folk's Homes. The most characteristic Negro 
charity is the Home for Old People. Nothing appealed from the 
earliest days more strongly to the freedmen than the care for the old 

people. 

In slavery days the old were, in many cases, carefully taken care of 
by the masters, especially in cities and towns and on the home planta 
tions, but in numberless other cases, particularly on the great absentee 
plantations of the Black Belt, the old and decrepit were shamefully 
treated and neglected. The breaking up of families in slavery by sale 
and during the war and Reconstruction times, greatly aggravated the 
sufferings of the old, while the loosened family ties, due to the slave 
system, left in post-bellum times numbers of neglected old folk. Even 
loose family ties, however, were not able to overcome the native Afri 
can reverence for parents, and before the war began Old Folk's Homes 
for Negroes had begun to be established, some by Negroes themselves, 
others by their friends. 

The chief Homes now existing are noted below: 

The Women's Twentieth Century Club of New Haven, Conn., was organized 
March 18,1900, at the residence of Mrs. J.W. Stewart,65 Edgewood, with a mem 
bership of nineteen. 

At first we met for the study of race literature and to become better ac 
quainted with the history and life-work of our celebrated men and women. 
The idea of charitable work was an after consideration. 

Some of our members, in making sick calls, had visited the Hannah Gray 
Home and our attention had been called to the condition of the same. 

Right here it would be well to state that this property, located at 158 Dix- 
well avenue, was formerly the home of a colored woman by the name of Miss 
Hannah Gray. She died in the early sixties and left the property in the hands 
of white trustees for the use of aged colored females. Prom what we have 
been able to learn, it was the first piece of trust property left for a home in 
the city. Unfortunately, Miss Gray had little or no money to leave as an 
income, to care for the home, and the inmates paid a small sum for the Use of 
the rooms. 

The club in 1903 appointed a committee to wait on Lawyer Henry White, the 
only living trustee, and found that the hack taxes amounted to two hundred 
dollars, and the property would soon be disposed of to pay the same. We 
informed Mr. White of our willingness to try to save the property. At our 
request three colored trustees were appointed. The back taxes were abated 
and by appeals we have been successful in having them abated each year. 
Since the club took control we have had the house painted inside and out, 
walls and ceilings scraped, wood and coal put in each year, and in many ways 
we have been the mainstay of the old ladies. 

Since 1903 four of our old friends have died, and the club assumed all respon 
sibility for burial expenses. 

At the present time we have five in the home; two being dependent upon 
us. At the holiday season they have been given regular holiday dinners, and 
the public schools h ave at Thanksgiving sent money and vegetables. Through 
the kindness of a white friend last year the five enjoyed a Christmas tree and 
each received a small gift of money. 

For nearly two years we have employed a woman to go to the home daily 
and look after things. 

 f 

V 

« 'J 

1 

66 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The club annually elects a board of directors to look after the affairs of the 
home and report same to club. Our other officers look after the program, club 
business, finances, etc. 

We have now a membership of over fifty. We meet weekly and have a 
program every Wednesday, except the last in the mouth ; this we devote to 
business. 

We are now making an appeal for funds for a new building, and have al 
ready in hand money for a new fence; circulars are out for donation day and 
two days' fair, June 2nd and 3rd.—New Haven, Conn. 

St. Monica's Home is an old and well-known charity of Boston, Mass., sup 
ported in part by Negroes. 

Home for Aged Men, Springfield, Mass., founded by Primus Mason for all 
races (cf. p. 38). 

Home of the Aged, New Bedford, Mass. 

The idea of having the New Bedford Home for the Aged was planned nearly 
twelve years ago by Miss Elizabeth C. Carter, who had been accustomed to 
making friendly visits to several aged people in this city, and who was pre 
viously interested in the Home for Aged People in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

In this way she knew many aged ones; knew their needs, sufferings and 
joys. Here and there many were being provided for by private bounty. Miss 
Carter came in contact with several cases of this kind, and it caused her to 
study how something could be done to let the old people really get the benefit 
of the money that was being paid regularly for them, yet some of them too 
feeble to care for themselves properly. 

So, after studying the question from every point of view, she planned the 
\vork, relying upon the co-operation of the persons supporting the old people 
to secure a pleasant house, furnish it invitingly, and gather the old people 
into it, with the hope of making it in the truest and sweetest sense a home 
for them. 

The Woman's LoyalTJniou indorsed the idea and voted to unite their efforts 
for the maintenance of the Home. After trying to secure several houses for 
the work, the house at the corner of Cedar and Mill streets was secured by 
Miss Carter paying one hundred and five dollars of her personal money for 
six months' rent in advance, the society at this time having no money in its 
treasury. 

The members of the union took books and solicited money, furniture and 
groceries, with the result that everything in the house was donated. 

The Home was opened to the public March 25,1897, and, like all other char 
itable work, it has had its "toils and conflicts," but by generous contributions 
it has continued. In 1898 a building fund committee was formed. After 
remaining in the house at the coiner of Mill and Cedar streets nearly two 
years the work was moved to 121 Cedar street, which the society has rented 
until moving into its present building. January 14, 1902, the organization 
was incorporated under the general laws of the State of Massachusetts. In 
December of the same year the first large gift—$500, which was continued 
until last year—was received from a friend for the current expenses. 

In 1904 one thousand dollars was received from the estate of Robert C. Bil 
lings, of Boston, and the same year land at the corner of Chancery and West 
Middle streets purchased. In 1904, by the terms of the will of the late Sarah 
E. Potter, ten thousand dollars and a part of the residue of the estate of 
Mrs. Potter was left to the Home. It is by this beneficent gift that the pres 
ent building has been erected. Ground was broken in August, 1907, during 

Old Folk's Homes 

67 

Old Home Week. The estimated cost of the building was $8,625, but with some 
necessary additions the building has cost $9,000. It contains twenty-one 
rooms. The furnishing cost between one and two thousand dollars, all of 
which is paid for at present. They have invested in stock $11,780, in bonds 
$12,951.68, cash $8,895.06; total amount, $33,626.74. 

The future efforts of the management will be to secure funds for the current 
expenses; also an endowment fund, so that the work may become self-sup 
porting. 

During the work of eleven years nearly all of the charitable organizations 
of the city, also several churches as well as individuals, have assisted in some 
way. 

Home for Aged Colored Women, Providence, E. I. 

The Lincoln Hospital and Home, New York, N. Y., is an old charity sup 
ported by whites mainly. Cares for old people. 
Home for the Aged, Brooklyn, N.Y. 
Home for Aged and Incurable, Atlantic City, N. J. 

Dr. Fayerman, seeing the need of such an institution occasioned by the 

peculiar conditions of Atlantic City, some years ago worked very hard for 

the establishment of it. As most of the cottagers there fill their houses with 

lodgers, a sick person, or aged one, would necessarily receive scant attention. 

Colored Aged Home Association, Irvington, N. J.: 

This Home was opened in 1895 at Coe's Place, Newark, where we paid rent 
for ten years. The association then thought it time for them to buy a place, 
so we moved to Ivington in 1905. We have a nice place which cost $4,500. We 
paid down $2,000, and are now in the building and loan association and pay 
$32 a mouth and we are doing the best we can. Since we opened we have had 
about 42 inmates, and would have had more if we could have taken them for 
nothing, but you know it takes money to run a place of this kind. In such a 
work the laborers are few, still we are doing the best we can and at the last 
meeting twenty-five names were enrolled, which means something. We have 
very little income. There are fifteen inmates now. 

Annual Report for Year ending December 31,19O8 

RECEIPTS 

Agents ............... ..........................$ 76070 

Churches........................................ 104 60 

Donations....................................... 83 75 

Admission fees................................. 400 00 

Societies . 

40 00 
Entertainments....................... ........ 121 49 

Received by the Matron......... ............. 48 94 

Joining fees. ................................... 1500 

Total...... ......................... Jaffa 48 

Drawn from Bank........................... 284 00 

$1,759 48 

 68 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Old Folk's Homes 

69 

DISBTTESBMEKTS 

Matrons.........................................? 824 00 

Insurance .......................... ........... 60 00 

Butcher............................. ........... 24000 

Gas ......................................... 

Water .......................................... 

Telephone. . ..................................... 5 

Coal................................. .......... ... 

Extra help..................... ................ 2] 00 

Plumber ....................................... 3703 

Building and Loan Association .......... 884 00 

Dry Goods . . ................................... 8 25 

Furniture..... ................................. 1500 

Groceries. .............. .................... 

Incidentals .......... ........ ................. 

Percentage to agents. ......................... 167 25 

Stationery and printing . ..................... 8 00 

Doctors..................................... ... 8000 

7 82 

21 27 

14760 

211 00 

66 16 

Total.................. .. ......... .$1,768 90 

Balance In hand......... ...... ...... ..... 550 

Balance In Bank to date .................. 234 00 

Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons, Philadelphia, Pa., was founded 
by Stephen Smith and organized September 14,1864. The Home has sheltered 
seven hundred and seventy inmates and had, in IIHIS, one hundred and forty 
inmates. The income from the estate of Smith amounts to about $3,760 an 
nually, representing a capital of nearly $100,000. The total income is $21,000 
and the property is worth $400,000. The home is controlled by twenty-eight 
trustees, of whom five are colored. 

Home for Aged Colored Men and Women, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Colored Masonic Home and Orphanage, Linglestown, Pa. 
The Grand Lodge of Colored Free and Accepted Masons of this State has 
recently formed a corporation known as the "Trustees of the Colored Masonic 
Home and Orphanage of Pennsylvania," and has purchased near Lingles 
town, nine miles from Harrisburg, a farm of some sixty or more acres for 
which they paid $4,500. 

The purpose of this corporation and the farm which they have purchased, is 
to maintain a home for aged and indigent Masons, their widows and orphans. 
Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Women, Pittsburgh, Pa., is "said to be 
the best in the country conducted entirely by our people." 
The Sarah Ann White Home, Wilmington, Del. 
The will of Sarah Ann White said: 

"I give, devise and bequeath to the Eev. Edward H. Chippey in trust for a 
home for the colored aged women, all of my property of whatever kind, real, 
or personal, or mixed, wherever it may be found, and that as soon as an insti 
tution is incorporated that he may make over said property to the incorpo 
ration to be theirs and their successors so long as they shall continue to carry 
out this, my last will and testament. 

"It is my desire that the Eev. Edward H. Chippey shall organize an associa 
tion to be known by the name and title of the Sarah A.White Association, com 
posed of male members and female members, with a Board of not less than 
five Trustees nor more than seven male members of African descent, said 
members shall compose the incorporation (corporators)." 

The faithful adherence by the executor and the Association to the program 
laid down by this public-spirited woman was the occasion of constant remark 
on the day the Annex was dedicated. The failure on the part of the heirs 
after a long contest to break the will left the executor and his associates free 
to develop the provisions of the "trust." 

May 4th, 1896, found the institution incorporated under the name of the 
Sarah Ann White Home for the Aged and Infirm Colored Persons, and con 
ducting a Home in the old homestead house, which soon became crowded and 
necessitated the building of the annex at a cost of four thousand dollars com 
pleted with modern improvements. 

The corporation is absolutely without endowment, and receiving no aid 
from the State; these facts are eloquent evidence of the magnitude of the 
struggle which has maintained this institution, housing, feeding, clothing, 
nursing, and providing for the many wants of as many as twenty old people 
at a time, with recourse to nothing but public charity. It is this condition 
of things which impels us to new endeavor to pay off the mortgage and lay 
the basis of permanent endowment. 

Aged Men and Women's Home (Lee street), Baltimore, Md. Property $3,000. 
Inmates, 16. State aid, $250. 

Bethel Old Folk's Home, Baltimore, Md. Property, $10,000. Inmates, 16. 

The Stoddard Baptist Home, District of Columbia. 

Some ten or twelve years ago Mrs. Maria Stoddard, a white woman, saw fit 
to set apart a small portion of ground in a very fashionable part of Washing 
ton, D. C., for a Baptist Home. But the gift was accompanied with conditions 
and limitatious, which caused it to be of little service for a long while. Then 
the city cut off a portion of the lot to widen and improve a public street. This 
so reduced the size of the place that it was too small for such a home as the 
Baptists of the District of Columbia desired to have. Moreover, the heirs of 
Mrs. Stoddard came forward at this juncture and claimed both the money, 
which the District was about to pay for \\ hat it had taken for public use, and 
the remainder of the property. Consequently, the matter was thrown into 
court, and the heirs agreed with the trustees of the property, the court con 
senting, to sell the property, then divide all money coming from the disposi 
tion of any and all parts of the gift as follows, after deducting all legal and 
court expenses: to the heirs of Mrs. Stoddard 40%, to trustees of the Home 60%. 
It was further provided, that the trustees of the Home should invest their 
portion of the money in property elsewhere, for a Baptist Home, and so carry 
out the desire and intention of Mrs. Maria Stoddard in making the gift. Ac 
cordingly a tract of land, consisting of four and a half acres with a ten-room 
house on the same, was purchased about May 20,1901, and a few months later 
put in proper condition and opened to Baptist ministers, their widows and 
orphans, and such other persons as the trustees see fit to admit. June 15,1901, 
five and a half acres more were purchased by the trustees of the Baptist 
Home, giving them in all a total of ten acres. For this addition the sum of 
$2,750 was paid. 

The Home is the property of the Baptist Ministers' Union of the District of 
Columbia, and is held in trust for the purpose and persons to which it is set 
apart by fifteen trustees who are appointed by the Baptist Ministers' Union 
of the District of Columbia. 

The institution is situated on Hamilton Road, in the southeastern section of 
District of Columbia. At present there are ten inmates in the Home, four men 
and six women. 

 f 

$ 

70 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The management of the Home is in the hands of a body of women, consist 
ing of ten delegates from each Baptist church in the District of Columbia and 
vicinity. 

The property of the Home is free of debt, but the struggle to maintain the 
Home in a becoming manner and pay the expenses of every kind arising 
from its care, gives the management daily concern. It requires about one 
hundred and ten dollars monthly to meet all the requirements of the Home 
and its management. 

I am not in a position to give you any exact statement as to the amount of 
money which has been raised for the Home since it began. The truth is we 
are mere learners in the conduct of work of this kind. The churches have 
their special work of many kinds, and are slow to take hold of this, but the 
future is sure, under God. 

Old Folk's Home, Richmond, Va. Conducted by the Afro-American Eman 
cipation Association. 

Negro Baptists' Old Folk's Home, Richmond, Va. 

The Negro Baptist Old Folk's Home, West Baker street, is the property of 
the Negro Baptist churches of Richmond and vicinity, and supported by the 
same with the aid of white and colored friends. Rev. R. V. Peyton is president 
and his church does much for its support. 

Old Folk's Home, Westham, Va. 

At Westham, Va., the True Reformers support not only a home for the aged 
but also one for the orphans. This institution is in excellent condition and 
the inmates, old and young, are being taken from all parts of the country. 

Old Folk's Home, Portsmouth, Va. 

The Old Folk's Home at Portsmouth is about four years old. It is supported 
entirely by Negroes. It was their first intention to locate the home in the 
suburbs of the city, where they purchased two acres of land. Since then they 
purchased a plot in the city at a cost of $4,000. At present there are no in 
mates, as the promoters want to get the home paid for before they admit any. 

Old Folk's Home, Hampton, Va. 

The Old Folk's Home at Hampton is a very interesting institution. It was 
organized in May, 1897, under the auspices of a society of women called 
"Tents." The head of the Order was the first to suggest that the Order have 
a home where the orphan children and the disabled sisters of the Tents might 
be cared for. She gave the ground and the sisters gave what they could to 
build and furnish the home. 

This home is supported by contributions from the sisters, and no sister of 
the Order is allowed to solicit aid from the public. Last year it cost a fraction 
over $500 to care for the home. Since its organization in 1897 at no time has 
anything been bought on credit. This society not only supports its home but 
aids in other philanthropic work. 

The home is controlled by a board of directors consisting of nine sisters of 
the Order. At present there are seven inmates. 
Old Folk's Home, Norfolk, Va. 

At Norfolk there is an Old Folk's Home, which was organized in 1894. Up 
to the present time it has cared for forty-two persons. Last year the expenses 
were $388, one-half of which was contributed by Negroes. At present the 
home has but three inmates. 
Old Folk's Home, Gloucester, Va. 
There is in Gloucester, Va., an Old Folk's Home, which was established in 

Old Folk's Homes 

71 

1907. It has twenty acres of land. The main building is not yet completed, but 
on June 3,1909, there was a special rally to raise money for its completion. So 
far, the home has cost $890, all of which was raised by the Negro women of 
Gloucester county. 

Old Folk's Home, Alexandria, Va.—Non-sectarian and supported by volun 
tary contributions, with some city aid. There are from six to twelve inmates. 
It owns no real estate. 

Tent Sisters' Old Folk's Home, Raleigh, N. C. 

This is, perhaps, the;most interesting experiment in the country. The 
secretary writes: 

A few years ago I opened a school, of a business nature, but soon realized 
the class who really needed aid did not reach that standard. This school 1 
closed, and a work has been quietly going on that I know God is well pleased 
with, for we daily see His blessings. 

By becoming a member of four secret orders—you know the masses like 
such—I am in sympathetic touch with a great number, and can visit them 
in numbers. Through some of the women's earnest work, about two years 
ago we began to fix and fit a home for old people who are in a suffering con 
dition. Since that time we have had nine inmates. Some of these came from 
neighboring towns. We have also had one death. None of these inmates have 
given us five cents for expenses. 

This work is done through our club known as Tent Sisters in North Carolina. 
Two hundred and fifty working women pledge one pound of food a month 
and at the least twenty-five cents per year in cash and more when dire neces 
sity demands. 

We borrowed from the building and loan association $200. The donations 
to this work are as follows: 

Raleigh,N.C.—Furniture,bedding,crockery,clothes,and twenty-five dollars. 
Cary, N. C.—Food, clothing, and ten dollars. 
Apex, N. C.—Food, clothing, and seven dollars. 
Holly Spring, N. C.—Food, clothing, and eight dollars. 
Willow Spring, N. C.—Food and five dollars. 
Durham, N. C.—Nine dollars. 
Johnson, N. C.—Three dollars. 
Wake Forest, N. C.—Two dollars. 

Individuals, thirteen dollars and seventy-five cents; also, we have enter 
tainments to meet many expenses. 

DISBURSEMENTS 
Repairs of home................................ $300 00 

Furniture, etc..... .............................. 7000 

Wood for the two years........ ................ 96 BO 

Heaters............. .. ... --- ................ 450 

Cook stove.... ............... . ................ 400 

Water, per month............................... 1 25 

For work In garden............................. 1 00 

To motherless children......................... 15 00 

For medicine and burial .... .................. 8100 

Paid on debt of $200. ............................ 118 00 

Paid to matron during two years............. 18 BO 

Paidfor washing.. ............... ............ 600 

Paid for nursing sick.... ....................... 4 00 

Paid for lights, etc.. ... . .................. 960 

PRESENT INDEBTEDNESS 

On borrowed money...... .................. $8700 

For medicine and burial .... ........,,, ,... . 20 75 

 72 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Old Folk's Homes 

73 

The matron has no stated salary, but we are obligated to pay her more for 
past services. 

Mrs. Lucy Fikes has given her life to this work without a penny from us. 
She is a woman who has to earn her bread daily. I, the secretary, being busy 
in different working quarters, have no itemized account of everything done 
but this will give you an insight of the work. 

About one hundred of the two hundred and fifty persons helping are more 
than sixty years of age. Some are feeble, yet they help carry on this work 
with their means. 

One who knows the work hut is unconnected with it says: 
They are all Negroes. It is run by the poor working class of Negroes; has 
no endowment, and the inmates come though they have not a penny to help 
them. People make bed clothes for them. They need money to help pay 
someone to care for them. They have one wooden building which was once 
known as Business School and is owned by Miss Sallie A. TJpperman. She 
has kindly given it to the people for the purpose of charitable work. She is 
trying to help the boys and girls, the women and men, who walk the street 
because they do not know'how to do what is required of them to make an 
honest living. I believe that God will help her. I shall do all I can in this 
noble work. She needs encouragement. 

The Centenary Church Home of Charleston, S. C., is suppored by a 
Negro church. 

Ashley River Asylum. Charleston, S. C.: 

Is an institution entirely supported hy the city government for aged colored 
people, male and female. The institution is excellently conducted by very 
competent officers (colored) and the inmates receive the best treatment in 
food, clothing, and the ordinary comforts of life. 

Masonic Home, Columbus, Ga. 

Carter's Old Folk's Home, Atlanta., Ga. 

OW Folk's Home, Augusta, Ga. 

Evergreen Old Folk's Home, Savannah, Ga.: 

The Evergreen Old Folk's Home was organized April 7, 1908. I am very 
sorry that I am not able to speak of it as I would like, but I am thankful to 
the Lord for what He has done and is still doing. It was incorporated May 
2, 1909. 

We have nine inmates and could have had one hundred and nine, but on 
account of the way in which we had to provide for them we decided we would 
go slowly until we could do better. 

Rescue Home for Orphans and Old Folks, Jacksonville, Fla. 

The Colored Old Polks and Orphans' Home, of Mobile, Ala., was organized 
in 1871. One piece of property was bought and lost, and a second piece bought 
for $4,000 oash. It contains two acres of land, with fourteen pecan trees. The 
college has nine rooms, running water, and $120 a year is earned from pecans 
and pears. They have a cow and chickens, and own other real estate. 

The Priscilla Brown Mercy Home, Sehria, Ala.: 

A charitable organization of the city of Selina was organized October 
9, 1002, irrespective of denomination. They were at first a committee auxil 
iary to the U. A. Charity Association which after a few meetings drifted into 
obscurity, and the Daughters of Mercy, seeing the good work to be done and 

having already begun, became an incorporated body. The first donation 
given was two lots of land nearly paid for by Sister Priscilla Brown, a woman 
well known for her good deeds and charitable works, and her devout Chris 
tian spirit, and for whom our home is named. This band begun by seven 
women afterward grew to nine and now to forty-five, all mostly volunteers. 

Our meeting days are the second and fourth Thursdays in each month, at 
the home of the president. We have now an honorary board of trustees com 
posed of all of the ministers of the different denominations, and their suc 
cessors, with Principal R. B. Hudson as chairman. We have not space to 
place before the public the many needy poor we have relieved with cloth 
ing, food, medicine, coal, shoes, books and tuition for orphans, during our 
organization. Each year at Thanksgiving the city school children give to us a 
great amount of food to be distributed among the poor. 

The Priscilla Brown Mercy Home was opened and dedicated last October. 
We now have a matron and four inmates in the home. We are, however, pre 
pared to accommodate comfortably about twelve. Our means are limited, and 
one of our rules for entrance is that all persons coming to us must be recom 
mended by the pastor and officers of some church or officers of some soci 
ety. Those organizations sending to us inmates partially support them. Our 
standard age for receiving persons is sixty years of age and upward. 

The house is furnished throughout with single iron beds. The sanitary 
conditions are good. The property is valued at $2,500. 
Old Folk's Home, Birmingham, Ala. 

The Lafou's Home of the Holy Family, New Orleans, La. 
The Lafon's Home of the Holy Family, corner Tonti and Hospital streets, 
is largely the gift of the late Thorny Laf on, who left over $100,000 for this insti 
tution. Before he died he also gave them their chapel. This home has 71 
inmates and is the home for the old indigents. The city contributes $30 per 
month to this home. 

The Lafou's Old Folk's Home, New Orleans, La. 

The Lafon's Old Folk's Home is operated by the Protestant people. The 
late Thorny Lafon left $11,000 and Aristide Marie left $1,000 for this home. The 
city contributes $120 towards the support of this institution. For maintenance 
the institution depends almost wholly upon the colored Methodist and Con 
gregational churches of this city. It has on an average about 25 to 80 inmates, 
both male and female, old indigent*,. 

The Widow's Faith Home for Colored Destitutes, New Orleans, La. 
The Faith Home, corner Kobert and Pitt streets, is maintained and oper 
ated by the colored Baptist churches of this city, and is also aided to a small 
extent by the city. It is now taking care of 18 colored women, some of whom 
are over a hundred years old. 
The Liner's Harvest Home, New Orleans, La. 

The Liner's Harvest Home is for men, women and children. It was estab 
lished over twenty years ago by the late Edward Liner, who gave the lots 
and building. The institution is in charge of Mrs. Fanny Taylor, who is aided 
by an organization of charitably disposed colored persons. There are now 16 
inmates, five of whom are men, six women and five children. It depends 
entirely upon subscriptions for its maintenance and support The property is 
valued at $6,000. 

Woman's Home Mission Society Home, Baton Rouge, La. Con 
ducted by Baptist women. 

 STI 

\ 

74 Efforts for Social Betterment 

M. W. Gibbs Colored Old Ladies' Home, Little Bock, Ark. 
Our work at present is the furnishing of one room at the Old Ladies' Home. 
A new building is being erected by the citizens of our city, and the different 
clubs are furnishing it. The site for the building was given by Judge M. W. 
(iibbs, and the home is named for him. 
St. James Old Folk's Home, Louisville, Ky. 

The St James Old Folk's Home was founded in 1887, or thereabouts; flour 
ished a few years, got on the toboggan and went to the bottom in 1893. A 
younger set, together with two or three of the old managers, reorganized the 
.Society of St James and under the leadership of Miss N. L. Frye undertook 
the purchase of the present $10,000 property at a set-up price of $3,500 on a five 
years' basis at six per cent. By paying in advance and saving, or discounting 
the interest, we bought it for a little more than $J,!«HL The lot is 200 feet by 
•200 feet, with a seven-room frame dwelling. We have erected a handsome 
little chapel seating about 150 comfortably. There are all necessary out 
buildings—stables, chicken-houses, etc. 

The institution is owned and controlled exclusively by colored people, and 
we owe not a cent on it. 11 is the only institution of its kind in the city that 
is strictly and unconditionally owned by colored people. 

Widows and Orphans' Home, Jackson, Miss. 

Old Ladies and Orphans' Home, Memphis, Tenn. 

Old Folks and Orphans' Home, Memphis, Tenn. Property, $15,000. 

Masonic Widows and Orphans' Home, Nashville, Tenn.; property, 

$7,000. 

Old Folks and Orphans' Home, Kansas City, Mo. 

About fifteen years ago a colored man, Samuel Eason, undertook to care for 
a number of aged people in a frame dwelling at 1308 Vine street. This was 
the beginning of what is now known as the Old Folks and Orphans' Home in 
Kansas City, Mo. 

Mr. Eason was soon assisted by some good women from the different 
churches, a number joining them after a charter was obtained in IM'ti 

As time went on Mr. Eason withdrew from the association, which was com 
posed of women assisted by seven trustees. 

A building with a lot of fifty feet was purchased at 2446 Michigan avenue 
where the present home is yet located. The cost, which was $'2,50o, was paid 
by the efforts of the association and the Codaya Circle (a literary club). 

A building permit has just been granted to the association to erect a $4,000 
home on the present site. The association has been enabled to do this by the 
generosity of Mr. T. Benoist, who left to the Old Folk's Home Association 
$4,"UO in bis will. 

The old building will be pushed to the rear of the lot and the new home of 
brick will be erected in front. 

The Home is supported entirely by voluntary subscriptions. During the 
past two years over forty old people and children have been cared for. Good 
homes are obtained for the children as fast as possible. Over one thousand 
dollars were given to maintain the Home during the past year. 

The association is composed of fifty influential women and seven men 
trustees. 

The erection of the new Home will double the capacity of the present quar 
ters. 

Old Folk's Homes 

75 

Old Folk's Home, St. Louis, Mo. Maintained by the Central Baptist 
Church. 

Old Folk's Home, St. Louis, Mo. Maintained by the Wednesday Af 
ternoon Serving Club. 

Taborian Home for Aged and Indigent Members, Topeka, Kan. For 
members of the Knights of Tabor, a secret organization. 

Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People, Chicago, 111. 

Probably no institution in Chicago is more entitled to the consideration of 
the charitably inclined than is the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Peo 
ple, now located at No. 610 Garfield Boulevard (West Fifty-Fifth street). 

These old people, from no fault of their own, were forced to spend the best 
years of their lives in the service of others, deprived of the right to make a 
home for themselves, or to provide for the coming of old age and infirmities. 
Bred in ignorance and reared in oppression, it is but a common act of human 
ity that they be allowed to spend their declining years in an atmosphere more 
hospitable and congenial than is usually accorded in a county alms-house. 

Several years ago the present superintendent, Mrs. Gabriella Smith, gath 
ered together several of these homeless old people and, at great personal sac 
rifice, cared for them as best she could. She succeeded in interesting a number 
of her race in the work to the end that on the second day of April, 1898, an 
association bearing the name as above was incorporated and the home per 
manently established. 

The first to come to the assistance of the Home in a substantial way was 
Mrs. Bena Morrison, to whose splendid philanthropy the organization is 
indebted for the gift of the property now occupied as a home, together with 
its furnishings; also the piece of property known as No. 620 Fifty-seventh 
street, as the nucleus of an endowment fund. She has also made donations 
of cash which more fully appear in the treasurer's report. This gracious act 
on the part of Mrs. Morrison has made it possible to comfortably house and 
provide for fifteen old men and women during the past pear. 

The secretary's report gives a list of other donations received by the home 
for which the board of directors desire to make acknowledgement. 

Too much can not be said concerning the economical management of the 
Home during the recent year. The report of the treasurer shows that $1,147.95 
passed through his hands and that the deficit for the year amounts to $61.52. 
While this does not include donations of food, etc., yet it is remarkable that 
so much could be done for so little money. 

The superintendent, Mrs. Gabriella Smith, served the year without any 
compensation whatever; such heroic self-sacrifice is rare, and while the 
board of directors make grateful acknowledgement, they can but feel humil 
iated ; such sacrifices should not be demanded of her, nor is it fair to accept 
them. She is a working-woman, with no means other than what she daily 
earns. 

The Volunteer Workers for this home were organized in 1904 and give 
an annual bazaar. They have installed a steam-heating plant, and 
raised $1,000 in 1909. 

Lincoln Old Folks and Orphans' Home, Springfield, 111. 
Green Memorial Home for the Aged and Infirm, Evansville, Ind. 
It is yet in its infancy, but promises to be of much benefit to those whom it 
is intended to help. 

p&ii 

 76 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Alpha Home Association, Indianapolis, Ind. For aged colored people. 

Phillis Wheatley Home, Detroit, Mich. 

The Labor of Love Circle was organized on February 26,1907, and confirmed 
March 5, 1907. Its main work is in the interests of a charity and maintenance 
of the inmates of The Phillis Wheatley Home, an organization for old and 
infirm colored ladies. 

The value of real estate on which the Phillis Wheatley Home is loaated is 
estimated at $7,000, and accommodates twelve inmates, and is always taxed to 
its capacity. 

Home for Aged Colored People, Cleveland, O. 

Mrs. Eliza Bryant, one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens 
(now deceased), was impressed with the thought of establishing a home for 
worthy aged colored people of this city. In July, 1893, Mrs. Bryant expressed 
the thought to a few friends, and this led to a call through the colored churches 
to women to meet for the purpose of forming an organization to devise plans 
for the accomplishment of the work. At a preliminary meeting nothing 
more was done than to get the work before the people. After a few meetings 
the women formed themselves into a permanent organization, the condition 
of membership being the payment of one dollar each year. 

The work moved on encouragingly the first year, and at the expiration of 
two years, by means of membership fees, socials and entertainments the 
faithful few in the organization had in the bank $407.85. A constitution 
and by-laws were adopted and the home was incorporated under the name 
of "The Cleveland Home for Aged Colored People," September 1,1896. 

After these two years of earnest work and much sacrifice on the part of the 
few that faithfully stood by the work of establishing the home, a small but 
comfortable structure was opened for inspection and reception September 2, 
1897, at 284 Giddings avenue. The attendance was large and the daily papers 
commented favorably upon the project. The original cost of the Giddings 
avenue home was $2,000. September 9, 1896, the first payment of $400 was 
made, leaving a balance of $1,600 to be paid in five notes. 

Through the efforts of Mr. Welcome T. Blue, the property at 186 Osborn 
street, containing eleven rooms and all improvements, was purchased. One 
thousand dollars was paid on this property as a down payment and the house 
thoroughly renovated in hope that the inmates might eat their Thanksgiving 
dinner at their new home. But this was not to be, for on Monday morning, 
November 25,1901, the house was burned by an incendiary. This was a dread 
ful blow, hut the earnest workers had the Home rebuilt and in such a manner 
as to make it more suitable for an institution of its kind, and the inmates were 
moved into it the first week of March, 1902. 

Mrs. Mina Harris, present secretary of the Home, gives the following 
statement of the year ending 1907. Total money received from the Men's 
Auxiliary, Board of Lady Managers, donation, entertainments and dues 
$759.11, from Admission Committee $450.00, making a total of $1,209.44. Total 
expenditures $844.57, leaving a balance at the beginning of 1908, $364.87. The 
report for 1908 up to September 1st, is as follows: Received from .all sources 
$768.74, total amount on hand $1,133.61; total expenditures $969.92, leaving a 
balance in treasury September 1,1908, of $163.69. 
Old Folk's Home, Columbus, O. 

Crawford's Old Folk's Home, Cincinnati, O. Property, $25,000. 
Home for Aged Colored Women, Cincinnati, O. 

Orphanages 

77 

Iowa Home for Aged and Orphans, Des Moines, la. 

Home for Destitute Children and Aged Persons, San Antonio, Texas. 

Beside the 61 homes mentioned above there are many others, while 
numbers are being started, as, e. g., in Anniston, Ala. : 

The colored women have started a fund to build a home for old women and 
orphaned children. Quite a good deal has been collected. They hope to start 
this home very soon. 

These efforts are of all degrees of efficiency and betterment, and 
receive considerable contribution from whites. 

Section 12. Orphanages. Next to homes for the aged the Negroes 
have felt the need of orphanages and refuges for children. Of the 
homes mentioned above many also receive children, notably those 
at New Orleans, La., Kansas City, Mo., Springfield, 111., Des Moines, la.. 
San Antonio, Tex., Jackson, Miss., Memphis, Tenn.. Jacksonville, Fla., 
and Linglestown, Pa. 

The care of destitute children of freedmen and refugees especially 
appeals to the white friends of the Negroes. In cities like New York 
and Philadelphia there were, before the war, many such charities. 
Numbers of these still survive, especially in Philadelphia. 

The Home for Destitute Colored Children, 541 Berks street, was 
founded in 1855 and has forty young children. 

The Shelter for Colored Orphans, Forty-fourth and Wallace streets, 
was founded about 1836 and has eighty-four children. 

Each institution appears very cold and business-like, and seems to 
regard their chief function to be the training of servants. One report 
says: 

Besides our usual visiting we have full written reports during the winter 
from the families in which our children are placed and thus keep in touch 
at all times with their welfare. It is always interesting to watch the devel 
opment of the children, and we are often surprised to see how useful and 
dependable they become. There is an old saying: "Good mistress—good 
maid," and it is often so with these children, when they have conscien 
tious, painstaking caretakers the children grow naturally into good 
habits. 

Other institutions, like the House of the Holy Child, seem a little 
more human: 

The object of this House is to provide a happy Christian home, permanent 
or temporary, for Colored Children of any age, who have been deprived by 
death, sickness or other adversity of a home with their relations. The House 
has the sanction of the Bishop of the Diocese, but has no connection with 
any parish, no endowment, no wealthy patron, and therefore asks for gifts, 
large or small, from any one who pities little children suffering for want 
of care. 

Next come a class of orphanages supported by the devotion of single 
individuals who conduct them and solicit funds. One such institution 
is the Leonard Street Home, Atlanta, Ga., conducted by one frail 

 78 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

English woman, and conducted not like a charity but like a loving- 
human home. 

The Home was founded in April, 1890, and chartered September, 1890. 

Our three buildings were once used as barracks for soldiers, later for dor 
mitories at Spelman Seminary. For the last nineteen years they have served 
as a home for needy children. 

As our work is undenominational and without the help of any organiza 
tion, we are dependent on donations from Christian people. Last year $1,596.18 
was received in this way, the rest of the support coming from the relatives 
of the children who, when it is possible, pay four and a half dollars per month 
for board, but of our present family of fifty-five (55), ten (10) are paying this 
full amount. Fifteen are paying half, and twenty-four (24) are entirely 
dependent on the home, while six. (6) large girls are working full time for 
board and tuition. We are very anxious to increase the spirit of "self-help," 
and therefore do not wish to relieve any relative of responsibility by having 
them legally bind their children to the Home, though the Home does have 
legal claim to deserted children. 

Colored workers took up such homes first as agents of philanthro 
pists, as are these two cases: 

Laing Orphans' Home for Colored Children is located at Mt. Pleasant, S. C. 
(a suburban town of Charleston). This institution is under the charge of 
Miss A. Munes, who also has charge of the public school of the town. This 
institution is supported largely by a Society of Friends in the North. 

In Eichmond, Va.: 

The Friends' Orphan Asylum was a gift of the Friends to the colored 
people. Some money was left to it by a white friend and it is in very good 
condition. It is supported by the colored churches here, aided by the gen 
erous gifts of white merchants and friends. 

Gradually there has arisen with the Negro race the call and work 
of this sort. The woman who founded the Tent Sisters' Home in 
Raleigh, N. C., writes: 

A place is needed to protect the children. Oh, that you could see the con 
dition of social affairs here in the State. 

I am in close touch with four little girls, ages from ten to thirteen, from 
homes where the helping hand is necessary. I have them interested in 
music, so they gladly come within my reach, and I have been repaid for my 
effort. 

Another girl about eighteen is living in our home as one of our family, and 
her interest is now aroused for an education. 

Somebody must do this great work. The respect and confidence of the 
street urchins and of individuals of the different classes have been gained, but 
some place to gather them in and with interesting work lead them to be true 
and honest men and women should be provided. 

I have not yet been permitted to personally speak with those who can and 
will do great things for us financially, "But think on me when it shall be well 
with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me and make mention of me 
unto Pharaoh [your wealthy and generous friends] and bring me out of this 
house." 

Some of the promoters entering the field to do this work have been 
doubtful characters. In one Western city, for instance, is "another 

Orphanages 

79 

It is small- 

small orphans' home, managed by a man named — 
has about a dozen children—is supported by ' prayers and subscrip 
tions.' Through the efforts of this man (many have no confidence in 
his honesty) the condition of the little waifs that he finds is improved, 
even if he does get his own living by the subscriptions." 

Other men succeed in getting State aid, and develop great executive 
ability. For instance, in Charleston: 

The Orphan Aid Society was organized by Rev. D. J. Jenkins, December 
16,1891, for the purpose of establishing an orphan house for colored orphan 
children. However, this was the first step in the great philanthropic work 
to be organized and operated by individual efforts of the African race. The 
object is to maintain and educate the orphan and destitute children of the 
coloied race. This work began with four children. From January 4,1892, to 
May 1,1896, we had on the roll five hundred and thirty-six children, eight 
teachers and two laborers. A farm of one hundred acres of land was given 
to the society by Deacon Joseph Wild, of the Greenwood Baptist Church,Brook- 
lyn,N.Y., for the purpose of training the children in the industrial line as well 
as educational. 

The gift brought to the mind of the Orphanage Man the idea of establishing 
a reformatory for little orphan and destitute boys who are convicted in the 
Police Court for menial offences. The work has grown rapidly. The Judge 
of the Recorder's Court has been very favorably impressed with the work 
and has been a very staunch friend to it from its incipiency. The City Council 
has been very much impressed with the work of the Jenkins' Orphanage and 
Industrial School for Colored Children; their interest is manifested by what 
they appropriate annually. They appropriated $200 in 1897; $250 in 1898; .$300 
in 1899; $300 in 1900; $300 in 1901; $500 in 1902; $500 in 1903; $500 in 1904; $1,000 in 
1905; $1,000 in 1906; $1,000 in 1907. 

A similar case is that of Amanda Smith, a notable character. 

The Amanda Smith Industrial Orphan Home. 

The above named industrial home has been founded by Mrs. Amada Smith 
for the purpose of caring for colored children who, by death of parents, or 
otherwise, have been left without homes or natural protectors. 

Her plan is to keep the children in this Home only until they can be suit 
ably provided for in permanent homes elsewhere. 

There are at the present time thirty-one boys and girls in the Home, and 
since it was opened in 1",f • sixty have been received and cared for. Several 
of those who have been trained here are now employed in household work. 

The Home is located at Harvey, about twenty miles south of Chicago, on the 
line of the Illinois Central Railroad. 

The property consists of eight lots of ground, 25 by 100 feet each, in Har 
vey, on which the buildings stand, leaving sufficient space for playground, 
garden, etc. 

The founder, Mrs. Amanda Smith, is a widely-known colored evangelist 
whose history is, in several respects, remarkable. 

She was born in slavery but, while she was yet a young girl, her father by 
hard work and self-denying economy was able to purchase his own freedom 
and that of his wife and children. Amanda's educational advantages were 
very meager, consisting of only three months' schooling. She was converted 
in 1856, and some twelve years later she began work as an evangelist. Her 
success from the beginning was marvelous. Everywhere crowds attended 

 80 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Orphanages 

81 

\ 

her services, sinners were converted and believers were led into a deeper 
experience of the things of God. 

Her labors were not confined to America, but extended to England, India 
and Africa. Wherever she went God signally blessed her work, as thousands 
of witnesses can testify. 

She is now sixty-six years of age and can not reasonably expect to continue 
many years more in active service. This Home is the object to which she is 
devoting the closing years of her unselfish life. It is her ambition and earnest 
desire to place it on a permanent basis of support before she dies. 

Financial Statement 

ENDOWMENT FUND 

Amount received to May 1, 1908.... .$8,140 77 

Lot, gift of MoFadden................ 400 00 

Rent of house on Desplalnes street. 72 00 

$3,612 11 

EXPENDITURES 

Cost of lots 17,18.1!) and 2-1. ...........$ 698 63 

Cost of two Homes.................. . 1,800 00 

Assessments, Insurance, etc......... 825 10 

Total expenditures.. .... ... $2,824 73 

Balance on hand . ........ $ 788 04 

RECEIPTS 

Cash donations from July, 
to June, 1903.............. 

From the "Helper" to June, 
" Children's board.. 
" Saleof book.. . 

Total cash receipts....... $4,878 66 

Deficit 

Current Expense Account 

EXPENSES 

1801, Printing to June, 1903............. 

..... $2,W9S 92 Postage (domestic and foreign) 

no. 1,29850 Publishing book .................. 

..... 454 75 Repairs on property.............. 

.... 13289 Furnace, etc.... .......... .... 

House exp., fuel, laundry, etc.... 

Shoes and dry goods.. . ........ 

Incidentals—express, frelght,etc. 

$ 66412 Total expenses... ......... 

134 05 

378 39 

1,608 84 
82 75 

1,624 ' 

68 <i4 

657 38 

.$5,548 68 

Another case is the Louise Juvenile Home of Chicago. Its founder 
and manager, Elizabeth McDonald, writes: 

For fifteen years I have been engaged in the rescue work, in this State and 
in other States. In the North as far as Minnesota, west as far as Omaha, 
Neb., and east as far as New York, and to the southern extremity of Illinois. 

Seeing that in the prisons the larger majority were colored according to 
population; knowing that we have always had prisons and dungeons, and 
people have been burned at the stake and have been hanged by the neck and 
nothing seemingly to have done any good in regards to reforming one that 
has fallen, experience in my rescue work has taught me that it would be 
easier to prevent crime than it is to reform hardened criminals. So after 
serious and prayerful study to Almighty God I was convinced that a Chris 
tian Home for the training, both spiritually and temporally, was needed. So 
on October 3, 1907, we established the Louise Juvenile Home for dependent 
and neglected children in my own private home, in which we care for fifty-six 
children and two mothers, through the assistance of a very grand young 
woman by the name of Miss Elizabeth Scott, a student of Waldeu Univer 
sity, giving her entire assistance as matron free. She has really been the 

only help that we have had. She also taught school in the common schools 
of Kentucky and is worthy of support, but our institution being a charitable 
one we are unable to give her any salary. 

Our first anniversary was held last October, and then we were able to show 
to our friends what we had accomplished in one year's time. This is what we 
had done: purchased an eleven-room house costing $2,400, and by renting the 
upper fiat we were able to occupy the lower fiat and furnish it up nicely for 

our work. 

Our Home is industrial. The children are taught washing, ironing, cook 
ing, sewing (such as plain sewing), embroidering, hemstitching, etc. 
The children attend the public school, which is two blocks from the Home. 
We hope to have very soon all the material that it takes to train the chil 
dren. We have girls and boys. The boys are not over twelve years of age. 

I am a member of the Institutional Church, and have been a probation 
officer of the Juvenile Court ten years; giving my time and labor free of 
charge among my people; also Evangelist of the A. M. E. Church and of the 
Iowa Conference for the past eleven years. 

Our work was supposed to be supported by charitable donations, but we 
have failed absolutely along that line, and the most support we have is my 
lecturing and evangelistic work, with a few exceptions; the parents pay $1.00 
to $1.50 and $2.00 for their children, sometimes. 

The North Georgia Industrial Orphanage has this story; the 
founder says: 

1 came here from Atlanta as pastor of the B Street Baptist Church June 
1,1907, and being insisted on by some of our members who had tried, we set 
to work, and on September 19,1',«i7, effected an organization in an old two- 
room house which the city had used for a schoolhouse which we secured free 
of charge. We soon found a larger house of nine rooms at 303 Blossom Hill. 
Here we had a fire which did us thirty or forty dollars damage. Finding that 
we did not have room enough we bought two acres out near the Calhoun 
road, and are now erecting a cottage where we hope the Lord will help us to 
finish our work. The best colored people are with us, and our property will 
aggregate when finished about eight hundred dollars. Our work is strictly 

industrial. 

We moved into the new home on the 22d of March, 1909, and although we 
have had some very rough nights the Lord has helped us. We depend abso 
lutely on charity. We are still in need, but believe and trust help will come 

to us. 

Mrs. ——— gave us a goat, and we have a pig and some chickens. 

We hope to teach cooking, sewing, and other things that will be necessary 
for life, that they may be the people sought after, and we anticipate a splen 
did future. 

The Weaver Orphan Home for Colored Children, at Hampton,Va.: 

Was opened for the reception of children in June, 1904. It is managed and 
controlled by Mr. W. B. Weaver, his wife and another helper. At present 
there are thirty-nine children in the home. It costs $1,500 a year to support 
the home, including clothing. The colored people give two-thirds of the 
money and about nine-tenths of the donated groceries. 

 82 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Cash receipts for 1SI05....... ................ $ 94750 

Donations for 1006.. ..... ...................$ 643 14 

Received from parents..................... 267 00 

Sales of articles.............................. 14 12 

Miscellaneous .......... ................ 2860 95276 

Total. 

$1,800 26 

Perhaps the most interesting of all this class of orphanages is the 
Reed Home and School, Covington, Ga.: 

I was among the tirstpupils at Knox Institute. As soon aslwas old enough 
to know aud understand what slavery meant to my people it was a great 
grievance to me. The non-freedom of speech was one of the first awakenings 
of my mind to the fetters of bondage. My mother and her sister were owned 
by different masters, and when they visited each other I noticed they con 
versed in whispered tones; and even after the war-whoop was hushed, "the 
river crossed" (meaning freedom in their unwritten language), the sunlight 
of liberty shone in our home, arouud onr own fireside, the two devoted sisters 
still whispered; the habit had become so fixed that it was as unbreakable as 
a cable, and I often wept when I heard them, for I knew that freedom in its 
true sense could never be realized by them. In 1868 we moved to Atlanta, Ga. 
I attended Storr's School. From there I went to Atlanta University and 
graduated from the normal course in 1883. While a student at Atlanta Uni 
versity I taught school during my vacation, in the rural districts, and there 
got an insight of the general needs of my people. These experiences I re 
ceived while teaching helped much in fixing my purpose in life. I grew more 
anxious to finish my course in school that I might go out and be of some serv 
ice to my people. The thing that most inclined my heart and made me more 
determined than ever before was something that I saw while a student at 
Atlanta University. I could not, if I should try to, explain this scene, for 
there are no words to express my sad feeling that day. 

There is a street cut through the campus of the Atlanta University and a 
bridge across this street was being dug out by chain-gang hands. One cold, icy 
morning I was crossing the bridge and heard a pitiful scream below. I looked 
down and there stood a poor little boy of about nine or ten years old, with the 
lash being applied to his back. There was r.o one to say a word of comfort to 
this dear little fellow. It pressed my heart and caused me to weep bitterly 
in classroom. When school was dismissed I hastened to my room, for I didn't 
want to see any one. I at once pleaded with the Lord and asked him for 
strength to complete my course, that I might go put to save at least one boy 
from the chain-gang. I soon felt the comforter and went about my school 
duties as before. 

In July, 1883,1 began teaching school in Covington, Ga. The school term 
at that time was only three months, from July to October. I closed school 
the last week in September, as most of the children had to help pick cotton. 
The first of November I opened private school and tanght through the win 
ter. In June, 1 i,I set up housekeeping for the purpose of caring for one 
little girl. I made most of my furniture of dry goods boxes, and now and 
then a friend gave me a plate, a cup and saucer or some little piece necessary 
for housekeeping, and we did our cooking in ovens and frying-pans on the 
fireplace, as we had no stove. I set up housekeeping in one room, and lived 
in this room until there were five little ones in the family. I then moved 
where we could have two rooms and lived there until there were eleven in 
the family. I then bought a place in 1887 on which stood an old log cabin of 

The Reed Home and School 

83 

 84 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

three rooms. In 1SSI the family numbered fifteen and a friend, Mrs. H. C. 
Reed, from whom comes the name of the Home, gave a thousand dollars. 
This, with the aid of others, enabled ns to have a building of ten rooms. This 
building is now so crowded that we haven't a spare room for the sick when 
snch is our lot. My salary for teaching was not sufficient to support the 
work, so I had a farmer to teach me how to hoe cotton, so that I could have 
something for the children to do to help themselves, and at the same time 
have them do the kind of work so that I could be with them while at work. 
In the spring we all went put to work in the field and earned all we could 
toward our own support; in the fall we picked cotton. This, with the aid of 
friends, helped much. Three years ago we finished paying for a hundred 
acres of land. On this place we hope to permanently settle the home. 

At the beginning I only took girls, but now I have a large numher of boys 
as well as girls. It makes the work doubly hard, but the boys must be cared 
for. We need men in the race, and it is very necessary that we take greater 
interest in the boys than we have before, so that there shall be better homes 
and better citizens. When I took the first boy into the family 1 felt now I had 
kept my agreement with the Lord. The hoys are a great help, too, for they 
do all of the farm work. 

Our school is not kept up by the county. State, or arty educational fund, and 
we have to depend on our farm for our main support. We also help other 
planters gather in their crops, and during the months of September and Octo 
ber we are more than busy in this way, picking cotton and doing other things 
every day except Saturday, when we work for ourselves. The children seem 
to realize that this outside work is teaching them how to do for themselves 
hence they are very diligent little workers. 

Since 1905, however, we have purchased 75 acres of land, four mules, two 
oxen, a brick machine, and we are buying a sawmill, paying for it with money 
we earn by sawing timber. We make brick, saw lumber from our land, and 
farm. 

The Home owns at present: 

J6.125 00 
47n CO 
RO 00 

175acres of land............ ,..,.......,. 

Four mules.. . .................. ..... 

Two oxen............................. .... 

Three wagons..... ........................ .. 115 CO 

Farming implements ......................... 75 00 

House and lot In town..... ............ 2,00000 

Library......... .. ...... 

Household furniture.... ........ 

500 CO 
5i • i 00 

Total 

$»,870 00 

At present there are forty children in the Home. 

In case a strong character like this dies the work is apt to suffer, as 
in the case of the Garred Orphanage, Columbia, S. C. 

The Orphanage is a poor, struggling institution. During the life of ite 
founder it did very well; but since her death it has been in very bad shape. 

Out of these which we might call personal homes have grown the 
institutional orphanages conducted by boards, trustees, etc. One of 
the best is in Lexington, Ky. This institution is sixteen.years old and 
shelters thirty to forty inmates. The children attend school and are 
taught sewing1, cooking, blacksmithing, shoemaking, laundering, chair- 
bottoming, etc. Their income in 1908 was $7,826. 

Orphanages 

85 

In New Castle, Pa., is a Home for Destitute Negro Children supported 
by the State Federation of Colored Women's Clnbs. 

The Colored Orphan Home of Western North Carolina has thirty-five 
children, and is controlled by eight colored directors. 

The Dickson Colored Orphanage of Gilmer, Texas, is partly a State 
institution and partly supported by colored people. It is said to be 
doing an "admirable work." 

In New Orleans are several Shelters, mostly due to the munificence 
of the Negro philanthropist, Lafon. 

The Waifs' Home.—The Waifs' Home is located on City Park avenue and 
Conti street. It has been in operation for about seven years. It is under the 
general supervision of the Louisiana Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Chil 
dren; and the City of Kew Orleans, through the above-named organization, 
maintains it. This Home is for boys only, who are sent here by the Juvenile 
Court for petty offenses. The institution is in charge of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. 
Jones, two very estimable Christian persons, who are doing their best to 
reform the boys in their charge. The City of New Orleans also provides the 
Home with a competent teacher, and Sunday-school instruction is given by 
the Catholics as well as the Protestants. At the time I visited the Home there 
were 63 boys who were committed therein. 

House of <iood flhepher- •'.—The House of Good Shepherd Convent, located 
at corner of Bienville and Broad, has 78 girls, nearly two-thirds of whom are 
colored. This is a Catholic institution and is in charge of Catholic sisters. The 
main buildings were provided for by the Catholic church of this city. How 
ever, the late Thorny Lafon in his will lefl $20,000 which was used for the 
erection of the Lafon Memorial Building, at a cost of $37,000. The City of New 
Orleans contributes $400 a month towards the current expenses. Two hours 
are devoted each day to class instruction, and quite a good deal of industrial 
work is given. The convent gets its inmates from the Juvenile Court, which 
sends the girls here for reformation. 

The Frances Joseph Gauclet Home.—The Frances Joseph Gaudet Home is 
located out on Gentilly Road, a few miles out in the suburbs of the city. This 
reformatory is the result of the self-sacrificing efforts of Mrs. Frances Joseph 
Gaudet, our most notable social worker. The property and buildings are the 
gifts of philanthropic white citizens of this city. It has a farm and derives 
quite a good deal of support in this way. The inmates are both boys and 
girls, quite a number of whom are sent here by the Juvenile Court of this 
city. 

The Lafon's Boys' Asylum.—The Lafon's Boys' Asylum was founded by the 
late Thorny Lafon, who made several gifts to it during his life. In his will 
he left $10,000,which later was increased approximately to$20,000 byMr.Lafon's 
executor. It is located on Gentilly Road on the outskirts of the city, and has 
quite a number of inmates, both boys and girls, a large number of whom are 
mere babies. It, too, is aided by the city, to a small amount. 

St. John Berchmann Asylum for Girls.—The St. John Berchmann Asylum 
for Girls is under the care of the Holy Family. It is maintained and operated 
by the Catholic Church. The late Thorny Lafon gave over $25,000 to this 
asylum. It is located at 717 Orleans street. 
Other Negro Orphanages are: 
Colored Orphan Asylum, Oxford, N. C. 
Masonic Orphans' Home, Bennettsville, N. C. 

 /IS 

O .]i| 

y ill:, 

86 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

St. Francis Orphan Asylum, Baltimore, Md. Property, $60,000; inmates, 94. 
Friends' Orphan Asylum, Richmond, Va. 

Georgia Colored Industrial and Orphans' Home, Macou, Ga. Inmates, 35; 
income, $4,350; property, $10,000. New building nearly ready. 
General State Reformatory, Macon, Ga.: 

RECEIPTS, 1806 

Balance . .............. .......... ....... 

Cash donations from the public....... 

Other donations, value............. ......... 

Amount of produce raised on farm by In 
mates. ..... ............ 

$ f.H 60 

8,425 70 

399 SO 

416 00 

Total.. 

60 

The State has been pay- 

Masonic Home, Rock Island, 111. Income, $060. 

Orphans' Home, Huutington, W. Va. Inmates, 65. 
ing two teachers. Ten years. 

Jenkins Orphanage, Courtland, Va. Seven years. 

Shiloh Orphanage, Augusta, i -a. 

Orphanage, Austin, Tex. 

Colored Orphans' Asylum, Cincinnati, Ohio. Property, $100,000; endowment 
fund, $25,000; income, $2,010; inmates, 72; receipts, $3,123.45. 

INMATES 

Males Females Total 

19 

19 

83 

16 
IS 
IS 
2 
84 
19 

85 

87 

18 

2 

72 

62 

Number remaining May 1,1906...... 

Admitted........ .... 

Placed In homes.... 

Died........ . ...... 

Oared for during year. 
Remaining. ............. 

Total income from Negroes about! 

Universal Progressive School for Orphans, Baltimore, Md. Property,$1,950; 
inmates, 35. 

Children's Orphans' Home, Kansas City, Mo. Inmates, 100; expenditures, 
$'65 per month. 

Rescue Home, Kansas City, Mo. 

Baptist Orphanage, Baltimore, Md. Inmates, 25. 

Orphanage, Richmond, Va. 

Gad. !>. Johnson's Orphanage, Maeon, Ga. Inmates, 25; income, $1,500. 

Home for Parentless Children, Petersburg, Va. 

Maryland Home for Friendless Children, Baltimore, Md. Property, $2,000: 
inmates, 52; State aid, .f-TiH. 

RECEIPTS 

Brought forward from the year 1005 ...... ..,.....$ 269 47 

Loans..... ........ .... . ................ 88000 

Mortgage ........... . ......................... 1,950 oo 

City aid . .... ..... ...... .... 

State aid . ... .... ............ 

Bale of property... ... .... 

Legacy .......................... 

Genera] contributions,etc.... 

Total.. .... .............. 

St. Louis Colored Orphans' Home, St. Louis, Mo. 
Carrie Steele Orphanage,Atlanta,Ga. Inmates,.,, , iuu 
Negroes directly; the balance from taxes on both races). 

826 20 
500 00 

.. 1,000 00 
W 50 

. 648 7) 

.$6,141 88 

-- -..j.. ——-^ ^..^j^, lou. -LJUU1B, iVIO. 

Carrie Steele Orphanage, A tlanta, Ga. Inmates, 97; income, $2,200 ($100 from 

Hospitals 

87 

Bridges Orphanage, Macon, Ga. 

State Protective Home and Mitchell Hospital, Leavenworth, Kansas. In 
come, $2,320.60 during 1883. 

Home for Destitute Children and Aged Persons, San Antonio, Texas. 
Inmates, 18. 

TWO TEARS' INCOME 

Total amount collected by subscription............ .....$ 11445 

Total amount of special donations ........................ 120 82 

Total amount collected for building purposes.......... . 68 55 

Total amount from Bexar county and Board of Children. 784 20 

Total amount from tables and entertainments....... .... 173 16 

Total amount collected from railway employees ......... 85 65 

Total amount collected from churches ..................... 1 18 

Total collected for two years..... ........................$1,564 22 

There are other orphanages In Peusacola, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla., 
Bellevue, Fla., Topeka, Kan., St. Louis, Mo. (two), Baltimore, Md. 
(three), Louisville, Ky., beside other places. 

Section 13. Hospitals. The old folk's homes are mainly and the 
orphanages are largely supported by Negroes themselves. The hos 
pitals, on the other hand, being newer enterprises and appealing to 
the educated few, are usually promoted and conducted by Negroes, but 
get their main support from the State or from whites. 

The hospitals are the result of two impulses: the philanthropic 
desire to help the sick, which arose especially after the Civil War, and 
the scientific efforts of the new Negro physiciaus,who found themselves 
cut off from all clinical advantages. 

The older type of hospital is represented by the Freedmen's Hospital 
of Washington, D. C. This is supported by the United States Govern 
ment, but is otherwise a Negro institution. The Lincoln Hospital and 
Home, of New York, an old and well-endowed institution, takes Negro 
patients and trains Negro nurses, but admits no Negro physicians. 
Another type of hospital has arisen out of the colored wards of South 
ern city institutions. Colored associations are often formed to help 
these wards: 

The Charity Organization is engaged in helping the colored department of 
the hospitals.—Frankfort, Ky. 

The Colored Women's Hospital Aid Society was organized in last January. 
We have thirty active members. The object of the society is to assist in the 
maintenance of the colored ward of the John Sealy Hospital. At each monthly 
meeting of the society the small sum of ten cents is collected from each mem 
ber. It is the custom to disband in June for the summer, beginning work 
again in October. During this interval dues are paid as if in session. Since 
our organization we have supplied the hospital with six sanitary beds at 
twelve dollars apiece; and the women with nineteen garments. The interest 
has never lagged, and as the society grows older we hope to accomplish much 
more.-Galvestou, Tex. 

 88 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Hospitals 

8P 

In Jersey City, N. J.: 

The Charity Club is composed of fifty ladies. The club was organized three 
years ago for the purpose of assisting Christ Hospital, a charitable institution 
which admits colored patients without any discrimination. Since our organ 
ization three years ago we have given the hospital $850. This money is raised 
by an annual charity entertainment which is heartily supported by all our 
people. 

In the Galveston Colored High School are two hospital clubs. 

Often such wards are erected into separate hospitals and given city 
aid or subscriptions. In some cases such hospitals have been endowed. 
Specimens of such hospitals are: 

Good Samaritan Hospital, Charlotte, N. C. 

The Roper Hospital, supported partly by the Roper Fund and an annual 
appropriation from the city government, has ample accommodations for the 
colored pauper patients but has no accommodations for colored people who 
wish a private room.—Charleston, S. C. 

JLincoln Hospital, Durham, N. C. 

Larnar Hospital, Augusta, Ga. 

The most interesting hospitals have come from the efforts of pt>5r- 
sic.ians and nurses: 

Dr. Matilda A. Evans, of Columbia, S. C., has the distinction of being the 
first licensed woman physician in that State. She is a Negro and the founder 
of a hospital and nurses' training school for colored people in Columbia. She 
was graduated from the Woman's medical college in Philadelphia. 

The undersigned physicians respectfully announce that on and after Sep 
tember 20,1909, Pair Haven Infirmary, 197 West Mitchell street, Atlanta, Ga.' 
will be open for the reception of medical and surgical patients. We sincerely 
solicit your patronage. Drg. A. T>. Jones, H. R. Butler, 

W. F. Penn, T. H. Slater, 
L. P. Walton, L. B. Palmer. 

McKane's Hospital, Savannah, Ga., is supported by Negro physicians. 

The Richmond Hospital is a child of a number of the colored physicians. It 
is located at 409 E. Baker street. It gets some help ($150 a year) from the city. 
The other support comes from charity. Dr. M. B. Jones is chief surgeon and 
Dr. D. A. Perguson is secretary of the Board.—Richmond, Va. 

The Woman's Central League Hospital is run at 414 N. Third street by Dr. 
R. E. Jones. For its support it depends largely upon the colored churches and 
societies.—Richmond, Va. 

Such hospitals have a hard struggle to live, but on the whole are 
succeeding and multiplying. 

The Red Cross Sanatarium operates a nurse training department which 
might be called strictly charitable, as it is not operated for private gain. The 
Red Cross Sanitarium owed one thousand dollars several mo.nths ago on the 
purchase debt, but the leading white women of the city (representing its cul 
ture and aristocracy) came together, and a public appeal to the citizens with 
their signatures attached quickly raised the amount and settled the incum- 
brance.—Louisville, Ky. 

Charity Hospital of Savannah, Ga., was organized by several practicing 
physicians, and chartered June 1, 1896, by a few hard-working, energetic 
women anxious to take up and learn nurse training, that they might assist 
others of the less fortunate with whom they come in contact to better living 
and conditions of health. 

Assisted by their friends in soliciting donations by personal appeal to the 
public, and through entertainments, sufficient funds were raised by Decem 
ber, 1896, to make the first payment on the purchase price of a two-story 
dwelling of five rooms in the southwest portion of the city. About five years 
later, through means from the same sources and the free services of Negro 
mechanics, an annex was made to the building, giving two large wards accom 
modating about twelve patients each. A year later we sought and were suc 
cessful in getting a monthly appropriation from the city of $25 per month for 
taking care of their pauper patients, which amount was increased some years 
later to $75, but not before a thorough inspection and investigation of our 
work. 

The county a year later, after an investigation, made an appropriation of 
$25 per month by our taking care of their pauper patients. 

In 1 'iiHI one of our founders and charter members donated a two-story build 
ing, which we rolled up to and joined to our building, forming an "L." This 
we repaired, and fitted up for five private rooms and four nurses' rooms. We 
have accommodations for eight nurses for the training school, governed and 
controlled by a head nurse who is also matron. 

\\ e have graduated through a two years' course some twenty-five well- 
trained nurses, who are sought by white families and physicians as well as 
by those of their own color. 
A regular course of lectures is given by our physicians, who compose the 

medical staff. 

For the past two or three years our people, who have always had a horror 
for hospitals, are waking up to the fact that it is the best place for them when 
sick, and the demand for applications for admittance to private as well as 
ward room is more than we have accommodation for. 

It has also come directly under our notice that the time spent in the hos 
pital has taught them that fresh air and sunshine instead of keeping them 
sick with colds, etc., helps and benefits them in every way, and they return 
home with some ideas of simple sanitary measures which should be in all 

homes. 

While soliciting donations for this work from our own people is in itself 
uphill work, we have found it much harder to get them to give any amount 
promised with any degree of system and regularity. 

As our building is not so well constructed, a certain temperature can be 
maintained in the wards only at a very large cost for fuel, and we need more 
room for private as well as pauper patients. Several lots adjoining us have 
been secured at the cost of $2,000, and we are now planning a campaign for 
soliciting this from our churches and organizations, as we wish to get the 
ground paid for, at least, before starting the building. 

Our own people, generally very superstitious and especially so of hospitals 
and what they call the '-Black Bottle" used there, are becoming more and 
more enthused over their hospital and the work it is doing, and have no 
hesitancy as heretofore in coming, and in fact request it of their attending 
physician. 

Below is our report to the city for the year 1908. 

 •I 

90 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

January........ 

February ...... 

March .......... 

April ........... 

May ............ 

June ........... 

July ............ 

August......... 

September..... 

October ........ 

November..... 

December...... 

Total. 

CHARITY PATIENTS 

Number 

12 

16 

22 

22 

82 

19 

17 

17 

22 

24 

18 

22 

Hospital days 

284 

836 
308 
192 
215 
SfS 
262 
199 
303 

3187 

PATIENTS 

Number 

7 
10 
25 
20 
15 
Ifl 
13 

8 
21 
20 
18 

2M 

Hospital days 

73 

1-.M 
175 
169 
158 
149 
151 
52 
157 
163 
239 
234 

1825 

19 

26 
47 
42 
47 
38 
SO 
25 

43 

44 

36 

50 

447 

281 

404 

463 

457 
343 
267 
490 
425 
428 
63T 

5022 

Patients In hospital January 1,1908 .......................... 9 

Number of patients admitted during year 1908............. 447 

Number of patients discharged during year 1908........... 402 

Number of patients died during year 1908................... 54 

Number of patients remaining January 1,1H09 ............ 17 

Number of births....................................... ...... 6 

Total number of days, charity patients................. 3187 

Total number of days, pay patients ..................... 1825 

Total number of days, all patients.... .................. 5022 

Total expenses ...................................... ..... $2,960.91 

RECEIPTS 

Appropriation from the city ...... ..........$ 900 00 

Appropriation from the county............... 800 00 

From pay patients .............................. 1,563 96 

Donations—Churches, societies, Individuals 472 09 

————— $3,236 05 

EXPENSES 

Salaries.......................... ................$ 64900 

Groceries......................................... 495 61 

Meats, vegetables, milk, etc.................... 294 87 

House supplies .................................. 408 70 

Medical and surgical supplies ................. 740 06 

Undertakers ..................................... 47 96 

Fuel...... ........................................ 15805 

Insurance, telephone, and printing .......... 65 85 

Repairs and improvements.................... 200 72 

$2,960 01 
Deficit January 1,1908.......................... 372 04 

————— $3,332 95 
Deficit January 1,1909 ...................... $ 96 90 

One of the most interesting buildings in Charleston, S. C., Is: 
The Hospital and Training School for Nurses, an institution devoted to the 
preparation of colored women for the profession of trained nurses. 

The building itself is an old residence erected in the year 1800. Its solid 
walls, despite wars, storms and earthquakes, are as firm to-day as when first 
erected more than a century ago. In the year 1897, Dr. A. C. McClennan saw 
that trained nurses were needed in Charleston and that it would be well to 
establish a training school. After consultation with some of the other col- 

Hospitals 

91 

ored practitioners a course of lectures was arranged and, a room having been 
secured, the school •was opened. 

The large attendance showed that the school was destined to fill a long-felt 
want, but it soon became apparent that didactic instruction alone could not 
accomplish the desired end. The nurses needed practical instruction in a 
hospital ward. An attempt was made to arrange for such instruction in one 
of the public charitable institutions of the city; but after conferense with 
the various boards having these institutions in charge, it became clear that 
nothing could be accomplished along that line, and that the school must have 
a hospital of its own. A meeting of citizens was called and an association was 
formed and incorporated. 

The building which the school now occupies was for sale, the price being 
$4,500. By means of entertainments and subscriptions $500 was raised, and 
npon this small margin the building was purchased. Ten years have worked 
a wonderful change. The building, old and dilapidated, has been repaired and 
remodeled, and equipped to meet the needs of the work; the grounds have 
been leveled and drained, and outside and inside both buildings and grounds 
are in keeping with the character of the work. Meanwhile the debt upon the 
property has been reduced from $4,000 to $500. 

Forty-five trained nurses, representing ten graduating classes, have been 
sent out and all of them have found employment and have given satisfactory 
service. Thirteen are residing and working in Charleston; the others are 
widely scattered, one of them being in northern New York, one in Florida, one 
in Ohio and one in California. 

One of the most noteworthy cases treated at this institution was that of the 
family of Fraser Baker, postmaster at Lake City, S. C. Baker was killed and 
the members of his family seriously wounded by a mob, who set fire to their 
home and fired on them as they were making their escape from the burning 
building. These people were brought to Charleston and treated at the hos 
pital free of charge. The expense of caring for them was considerable, and 
the institution could ill afford such a drain upon its resources, but it was done 
nevertheless. They were all discharged cured, and afterwards removed to 

Boston, Mass. 

The hospital has been of great benefit to the people living in the country 
districts near Charleston, where it is difficult and at times impossible to 
obtain medical treatment. The charge made for patients in the hospital is 
very small.barely enough to cover the cost of food and medicines. There is a 
constant demand for the services of the nurses connected with the training 
school, and the fees paid for their services constitute the principal source of 
income for the institution. The great need of the work is money to erect 
additional buildings. A nurse dormitory is especially needed. There are 
always a large number of applicants for admission for nurse-training, but 
owing to the limited space only a small number can be accommodated. Yet 
with all the disadvantages the work still grows; those in charge of it are 
doing the best they can with the limited means at their command, and 
hoping that the time may come when some wealthy philanthropist may 
become interested in the work and supply the fnnds needed to enlarge the 
building. 

In Pittsburgh: 

The B. T. Washington Hospital and Nurse - Training School was 
organized October 30, 1907, by a few women. 

In July, 1908, we purchased a twelve-room building located on La Place 

 92 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

street at the cost of $7,000. We have two wards fitted up for male and female 
ready for operation. We have a head chief nurse, the staff and resident phy 
sician. 

In Dallas, Tex.: 

The Wright Cuney Memorial Nurse-Training School is an association of 
the best element among the Negroes of this city for the purpose of conducting 
a school for the training of sick nurses. 

In Kansas City, Kan.: 

The Douglass Hospital is kept up largely by the citizens and church of this 
city and Kansas City, Mo. The organization has been taken in charge by the 
A. M. E. Church. 

In Houston, Tex.: 

The Feagan Hospital is a new enterprise, but within the past year it has 
done a vast amount of good for our people. Patients are received at a very 
small cost, by week or month. Medical services are given free and Mrs. Fea- 
gan, a trained nurse, is in constant attendance. 

Frierson & Co.'s ambulance conveys patients to and from the hospital, free 
of cost. 

In Greenville, Miss-: 

There is one Circle of the King's Daughters in Greenville, Miss., and they 
together with the white Circles of that city have built and operate a hospital. 
Out of such beginnings have grown several large well-equipped hos 
pitals; perhaps the best in the country is the Provident Hospital and 
Training School of Chicago: 

Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses has been in successful 
operation more than ten years. It was founded through the united efforts of 
a few earnest colored men. A building at the corner of Dearborn and 29th 
streets was rented, 14 beds were installed and its mission of caring for the sick 
poor regardless of race or creed was inaugurated. 

In its early days it passed through gloomy and anxious periods. Several 
times it looked as though the doors would have to be closed, but renewed and 
sustained efforts on the part of the trustees averted the calamity. 

The men who founded the institution were poor. The race it most sought 
to benefit is the humblest and most ostracized of races, yet the earnest and 
heroic struggles to maintain the institution won the confidence of many of 
Chicago's foremost men. The splendid generosity of Philip D. Armour, 
Nathan M. Freer, Herman H. Kohlsaat, George M. Pullman, George H. Web 
ster and others made it possible to build and maintain a hospital which in 
administration, method, equipment, appointments and convenience is equal 
to the best in Chicago. Here over 3,000 sick persons mostly among the poor 
have already been scientifically cared for. 

Five of the hospital staff of physicians and surgeons are colored men of 
education and attainments. To the hospital every year or two is admitted as 
an interne a bright colored doctor just graduated from one of the medical 
schools. These men otherwise could not secure the benefit of a hospital con 
nection or experience. And in this hospital, although 65per cent of the patients 
are white, a colored man can at all times be sure of advanced medical skill and 
sympathetic trained nursing. 

The hospital and its allied charities is incorporated and is managed by a 
board of eighteen trustees of different creeds. Six only of the trustees are 

Hospitals 

93 

white. As the result of ten years of effort the association has accumulated 
property worth $100,000 upon which there is no encumbrance whatever. Not 
withstanding the most rigid economy, there is, however, an annual deficit of 
about $3,500 which is made up by voluntary contributions and the revenues 
from associate memberships which call for the payment of ten dollars on the 
first of May in each year. These memberships are open to all and the aim is 
by this means to secure the interest of a great number of men and women 
who feel that they should be doing something for a people who are as yet 
financially unable to extricate themselves from conditions which have been 
imposed upon them by others. 

When Provident Hospital wag opened but one training school in America 
would receive colored women as students. With this exception it was then 
impossible for these women to be trained in the art of scientific nursing. This 
condition produced the training school, the hospital being in fact a means to 
this end. Colored nurses only are admitted. It has been in successful opera 
tion since the founding of the hospital. For the first five years the school 
suffered for lack of proper accommodations and equipment, but the few nurses 
the institution was able to accommodate, by their great patience, self-denying 
interest and earnest work, fixed the future not only of the training school but 
of the hospital. Now the early prejudice against the colored nurse has almost 
entirely disappeared. Patients are sent to the hospital by eighty physicians 
in addition to those of the staff, many of them believing that here more 
uniform and intelligent attention is given than can be secured elsewhere. 
The term is two years of actual service; the requirements for admission, good 
health, good moral character, and a high-school education or its equivalent. 
The selection of nurses is made after careful investigation, only one out of 
twenty applicants on the average being received and then upon three months 

probation. 

Forty-one nurses have graduated. They have come from all parts of the 
United States, thus making the training school national in character. How 
ever, a majority of them have been from the South where their advancement 
would be especially difficult, and, in accordance with the wish of the trus 
tees, they have returned to that part of the country as helpers and workers in 
the perplexing problem of uplifting the downtrodden of their people. Earnest 
ness, intelligence, patience and sympathy must be combined in the nurse who 
would graduate from this school. 

"Esther Freer Home," the dormitory for the nurses, is probably the most 
complete and artistic of ite kind to be found anywhere and the young colored 
women, always poor, who are admitted feel during life the refining influence 
of this comfortable home with its atmosphere of benevolence. 

When Armour Mission was founded, among its other activities was a free 
dispensary. This was transferred to Provident Hospital and became one of 
its departments. The aim has been to charge each patient ten cents for a 
prescription, a nominal payment being thought consistent with the wisest 
charity. None, however,who cannot pay is refused attention or medicine. More 
than 25,000 persons have been treated. 

District visiting is an interesting feature of the training-school work. Into 
the more neglected sections of the city Provident nurses go daily, ministering 
to the poor and sick of both races. This service is attended with most grati 
fying results. The influence for good which these young women carry into 
many homes cannot be calculated. Practical instruction is given in the care 
of the sick, in house ventilation, in the preparation of food, in cleanliness of 
home and body, all in a gentle and effective manner. The work is of the 

 94 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

*'*! 

utmost importance and when sufficient funds are available will be widely 
extended. 

Provident Hospital was founded with a subscription of $350. 
We may Judge the results from the following figures: 

Number of patients In the wards and private rooms in 10years. 3,000 
Number of homes visited by the nurses In 5 years................ 679 

Number of visits made in 6 years................................... 2,827 

Amount of property accumulated...................... $100,000 

Donations received for operating expenses.......... 88,147 

Amount collected from patients for hospital service 62,624 
Total revenue for operating expenses.................. 85,672 

These figures are gratifying. They show the peculiar merit of the institu 
tion in accomplishing so much with comparatively small means. They indi 
cate how much more migh t be accomplished with ample means. They mean 
that there is maintained among the 35,000 colored people of Chicago a perma 
nent object lesson to all who are struggling upward, teaching that the best 
hope of rising lies in doing a thing well. 

The Frederick Douglass Hospital of Philadelphia: 

Was founded in 1895 and incorporated the following year under a charter by 
the legislature of Pennsylvania. It has done and is still doing a much-needed 
work in the care and treatment of the humble and indigent sick, especially of 
the colored race, and also in the training and equipment of colored young 
women for the important functions of the professional nurse, and also giving 
a large field of practical service and usefulness especially to the thirty-five 
colored physicians of Philadelphia. 

A post-graduate course is planned for doctors of medicine. 
The hospital, while largely under colored control, has leading white and 
colored physicians on its staff, and its doors are open to all, without discrim 
ination either of race or religion. The young women in its training school 
for nurses have been drawn from States North and South, and they are prov 
ing themselves evangels of mercy and helpfulness in the homes of the afflicted 
In various parts of the country. 

Since its formation the hospital has treated nearly 2400 in-patients and 
upwards of 30,000 out-patients. Such work as this must command the confi 
dence of any community. 

Some hospitals are connected with schools, as those at Hampton, 
Spelman Seminary, and especially the one at Louisville connected with 
the Colored Medical School: 

The Citizens' National Hospital is a part of the Louisville National Medical 
College. It was first organized in conformity to the laws governing medical 
schools. In 1H04 we moved into our present quarters. The new home was 
given the present name. 

The hospital is supported by board money from patients and tuition from 
medical students. 

We have a training class for nurses (girls only), seven in class. 
We do all the charity work our friends will permit. This is not much. 
Hospital on grounds with College, combined value about $8,000. 
We receive no help from the city and a very little from the public, per 
haps about three hundred dollars from all sources in the last five years. 
Capacity, twelve beds. 

Other Negro hospitals are said to exist as follows: 

Hospitals 

95 

Mercy Hospital and Nurse Training School, Ocala, Fla. 

Mercy Hospital and School for Nurses, Philadelphia, Pa. Total in 
come to November, 1907, $6,474.02; patients, $4,232.00; received from 
Negroes, $4,390.69, and from the State $5,000 every two years. 

Mitchell Hospital, Leavenworth, Kansas. Income, $2,320.60. 

Taylor Lane Hospital, Columbia, S. C. 

Mercy Hospital, Nashville, Tenn. Patients, 394; total income, $1,873, 
all from Negroes. 

Harris Sanatorium, Mobile, Ala. Patients, 25. 

Colored Hospital, Petersburg, Va. 

Provident Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Property, $15,000. 

Burrus Sanitorium, Augusta, Ga. 

Colored Hospital, Evansville, Ind. 

Provident Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. 

State's Hospital, Winston, N. C. 

Colley's Hospital, Cincinnati, O. 

Hairston Infirmary, Memphis, Tenn. 

Dr. J. T. Wilson's Infirmary, Nashville, Tenn. 

Colored Hospital, Dallas, Tex. 

Woman's Central League Hospital, Richmond, Va. 

Slater Hospital, Winston-Salem, N. C. 

Hale Infirmary, Montgomery, Ala. 

One interesting work is the Dispensary connected with the First Bap 
tist Church of West Washington, D. C. 

We have treated about one hundred and fifty persons at theDispensary. We 
have not been open for business quite three months, yet the work is grow 
ing, however, and we feel that much more will be accomplished as the com 
munity becomes acquainted with the work. 

Section 14. Young Men's Christian Association and Young Women's 
Christian Association.—These Christian Associations reveal in their 
history the curious complications of the Negro problem in America. In 
the South there is, in the recent abolition of slavery, an historical if 
not a logical excuse which lets the color separate Christians. 

In the North there is no such excuse, and yet Negroes have been 
gradually excluded from Young Men's Christian Association buildings 
in New York, New Haven, Philadelphia, Chicago, and other large 
cities and segregated in separate bodies, while from the first they were 
in nearly all cases refused admittance to Young Women's Christian 
Associations. These separate Negro bodies are now growing and 
flourishing, but they are and are felt to be monuments to a miserable 
unchristian and unmanly prejudice. Of course if they represented 
voluntary segregation like the German associations or the Railroad 
men the case would be different; but this separation is compulsory and 
humiliating. The colored bodies have flourished because earnest and 
self-sacrificing secretaries have urged them 011 and counseled them to 

 96 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

ignore the stigma. In this way they have done great good. But the 
good accomplished is no excuse for the insult offered. 
Figures for the Colored Young Men's Christian Associations follow: 
The Colored Men's Department now has 136 associations—96 in educational 
institutions and 40 in cities—with an aggregate membership exceeding 11,0110 
young men. Notwithstanding the financial stringency of the past year, two 
new city associations and six new student associations were added to the 
list, a new building was dedicated at New Orleans, and the corner-stone of 
the $100,000 building for Washington, D. C., was laid by President Roosevelt. 
The year was specially characterized by the splendid advances made in night- 
school work and by the increased attendance upon religious meetings. Ten 
colored student associations sent delegates to the first International Student 
Bible Conference at Columbus, Ohio. 

Colored Young Men's Christian Associations 

A labama.—Mobile. 

California.—Los Angeles. 

Connecticut.—New Haven. 

District of Columbia.—Washington: real estate, $52,000; debt on same, $2,000. 

Georgia.—Americus. Atlanta: real estate, $4,500. Augusta. Columbus: 
value of real estate, $26,600. 

Illinois.—Normal. 

Indiana.—Indianapolis. 

Iowa.—Buxton: Colored population, 5500; value of building and lot, $23,500; 
other real estate, $500; value of boys' building and lot, $10,000. 

Kansas.—Topeka. 

Kentucky.—Louisville: value of building and lot, $10,000; deb ton same, $2,750. 

Louisiana.—New Orleans: value of building and lot, $6,400; debt on same, 
$1,200. 

Maryland.—Baltimore: value of building and lot, $3,000. 

Missouri.—Kansas City: value of real estate, $7,200; debt on same, $6,000. 
St. Louis: value of building and lot, $5,500; debt on game, $2,000. 

NP.W Jerxey.—Atlantic City. Montclair. Orange. 

New York.—Brooklyn: value of building and lot, $6,400. Elmira. New York 
city: value of building and lot, $32,000. 

North Carolina.—Asheville: value of building and lot, $35,000; debt on 
same. $4,580. Charlotte. Winston-Salem. 

Ohio.—Springfield: building, $5,000; debt on same, $1,200. 

South Carolina.—Charleston. Columbia. 

Tennessee.—(Ihattanooga: building and lot, $8,800; debt on same, $4,175. 
Knoxville: building and lot, $2,000. Nashville. 

Texas.—Dallas. Fort Worth. 

Virginia.—Charlottesville. Norfolk: value of building and lot, $16,000, debt 
on same, $1,600. Portsmouth: funds paid in, $1,070; pledged in addition, $10,930. 
Richmond: value of building and lot, $7,000; funds paid in, $175; pledged, $730. 

)l 'est Virginia.—Bluefield. Wheeling. 

Colored City Associations 

39 colored city associations exist. 

28 of these report officers or statistics. 

28 report 5,379 members. 

26 report 2,836 active members. 

24 report 1,300 serving on committees. 

Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. 

97 

r 

24 report a total amount paid out for current expenses, $41,947. 

22 report a total average daily attendance at rooms of 1,070. 

22 report 211 socials and receptions. 

20 report 103 paid lectures and entertainments. 

16 report 373 situations secured. 

13 report gymnasiums, with 512 using same. 

15 report 68 athletic teams or clubs, with 589 members. 

7 report 289 enrolled in gymnasium classes, and 47 in leaders' corps. 

7 report 56 matched games with outside teams. 

EDUCATIONAL 

22 associations report some educational information. 
20 report reading-rooms with 499 periodicals on file. 

16 report 188 educational lectures and practical talks (not including popular 
courses). 

9 report 22 educational clubs, with 489 members. 
16 report 49 educational classes, attended by 391 different students. 
12 report 22 paid teachers. 

19 report $1,322 total expenses of all educational work. 
10 report $597 total receipts from class tuition fees. 

BIBLE STUDY 

18 associations report Bible study statistics. 

18 report 708 different students in Bible classes: men, 523; boys, 185. 
16 report 22 miscellaneous Bible classes of men, with 394 students. 
1 reports 1 evangelistic Bible class, with 8 students. 

6 report 8 Bible training classes, with 113 students. 

7 report 11 boys' Bible classes, with 220 students. 
14 report a total Bible-class attendance for the year of 13,922. 

RELIGIOUS MEETINGS 

24 associations report statistics of religious meetings, etc. 
20 report 355 men serving on religious-work committees or doing personal 
religious work. 
16 report $963 paid out for religious work. 

3 report 192 shop meetings with a total attendanceof 4,452. 
22 report 808 evangelistic meetings for men, with a total attendance of 68,111. 
±J report 1,121 all meetings for men, with a total attendance of 84,292. 

4 report 148 meetings for boys, with a total attendance of 3,425. 
22 report 1,620 average per week at all-men's meetings. 
4 report 67 average per week at all-boys' meetings. 
17 report l>:s total professed conversions: men, 245; boys, 38. 
10 report 156 of the above united with churches as a result of the work: 
men, 120; boys, 36. 
24 report 102,784 a total attendance at all religious meetings andBible classes. 

Student Associations 

81 associations in colored institutions are in existence. 

2 have been organized this year. 
72 report statistics of their work. 

62 report 11,360 young men, students in their institutions. 
61 report 7,821 young men, students in their institutions, members of evan 
gelical churches. 

68 report a total membership of 5,081. 
66 report an active membership of 3,795. 
66 report 1,389 men serving on committees. 

it... r 

 fio»3 

98 Efforts for Social Betterment 

30 report $1,650 paid out last year for current expenses. 

46 report 1,595 young men's meetings, with a total attendance of 94,±ir>. 

25 report 1,234 Bible-class sessions, with a total attendance of 28,000. 

26 report 188 missionary meetings; 6 report 361 men in mission study. 

43 report 253 lectures. 

15 report 545 volumes in libraries. 

Items Common to City and Student Sections 

130 colored associations are in existence; 100 send in reports. 
96 report a total membership of 10,460. 
92 report an active membership of fi,631. 
90 report working committees, with a membership of 2,689. 
54 report cash paid out for current expenses, $43,597. 
37 report libraries, containing 6,281 volumes. 
28 associations employ 29 secretaries. 
16 associations own bnildings, valued at $201,700. 

As to the individual Young Men's Christian Associations, the follow 
ing facts may be noted: 

Kansas City, Mo., is arranging to put up a $10,000 building. 

The Association in Louisville, Ky., has a handsome building which 
cost $10,000; of this the whites gave $7,000 and the colored people $3,000. 

The Baltimore Association sold the old building for $3,500 in October, 
1908, and is now in rented quarters with $8,000 in bank toward a build 
ing fund. They spend $1,800 a year and have a gymnasium, shooting 
gallery, pool table, etc. 

The St. L,ouis Association has a building worth $5,000. They raised 
$2,100 last year; almost entirely among Negroes. 

The Chattanooga Association raised $2,600 in 1907; over half of this 
came from Negroes. 

The Knoxville Association has property valued at $3,000 and raises 
$800 a year. 

Among the most interesting associations is that at Buxton, la. Bux- 
ton is a colored mining town of five thousand; three-fourths of the 
population being colored. This is the largest association for col 
ored people in the world and has a building for men and one for 
boys. They have Sunday services, Bible class, night schools, reading- 
room, and theatrical entertainments in a hall which seats six hundred; 
about 150 men and boys use the gymnasium. At night after working 
hours from 150 to 200 men can be found in the buildings. The total 
membership is 369 and the buildings and furniture are worth $40,000. 
The New Orleans Association has property worth $10,0000. 
The association at Portsmouth, Va., has property worth about $5,000. 
The association in Richmond, Va., has property worth $6,000 and a 
membership of 275; a good library of 1600 volumes; visits are made to 
the penitentiary and the sick, and there is a night school. 

At Asheville, N. C., Mr. George W. Vanderhilt put up a building at 
a cost of $32,000. It contains four storerooms, three sleeping-rooms, a 
hall seating 600, four office-rooms, a parlor, reading-room, and a large 
room for night school, with baths in the basement. This proved to be 

Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. 

99 

I 

too heavy a burden for the colored people to support, but when Mr. 
Vanderbilt threatened to foreclose the mortgage on the property and 
meet no more deficits coming from expenditures, the colored people 
rallied and bought the place by paying $2,400 in cash and securing a 
loan of $8,000. It then became a regular Young Men's Christian Asso 
ciation, and now has the debt down to $6,000. There is a membership 
of 200 and a night-school, also a library of 500 volumes and gymnasium 
work. 

The Young Women's Christian Association has never flourished so 
well among the colored people, on account of social prejudice; but sepa 
rate associations are beginning to be formed now. 

There is an association in St. Paul, two sectional conferences in 
South Carolina and Alabama, and there are the following other asso 
ciations : 

Alabama, seven: Talladega College, Tuskegee Institute, Selma Univer 
sity, State Normal School, Miles Memorial College, A. & M. College. 

Georgia, three; Spelman Seminary, Paine College, Haines Institute. 

Kansas, two: The Western College, The Topeka N. & I. Institute. 

Louisiana, one: Straight University. 

Mississi; >pi, four: Southern Christian Institute, Tougaloo University, Jack 
son College, Alcorn A. & M. College. 

Missouri, three: Western College & Ind. Institute, Lincoln Institute, George 
R. Smith College. • 

Arkansas, three: Philander Smith College, Branch Normal College, Arkan 
sas Baptist College. 

District of Columbia, one: Howard University. 

North Carolina, one: Bennett College. 

Ohio, one: Wilberforce University. 

Oklahoma, one: A. A: N. University. 

South Carolina, three: Claflin University, Benedict College, Alien Univer 
sity. 

Tennessee, four: Walden University, Roger Williams University, Lane Col 
lege, Knoxville College. 

Virginia, one: V. N. & I. Institute. 

Pennsylvania, one: The Philadelphia Association. 

New York, two: The Fifty-third Street Branch, New York city, The Lexing- 
ton Avenue Branch, Brooklyn. 

Minnesota, one: The St. Paul Branch. 

District of Columbia, one: The Washington Association. 

The branch in New York, Fifty-third Street, has a dormitory, par 
lors, reading-room, library, an employment bureau, and serves meals. 
There is also instruction in sewing, millinery, cooking, physical culture 
and elocution. 

The branch in Brooklyn has a regular night-school with instruction 
in 21 industries. 

The association in Washington raises about $700 a year and has a 
building fund. 

 100 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Section 15. Refuges and Rescue Homes for Women. These institu 
tions fall into two classes: those that seek to protect decent girls and 
those that try to reform fallen women. Among the first are a series of 
homes for servant girls, supported mainly by colored people. 
The Phyllis Wheatley Home of Chicago reports: 

The home is established to solve the prohlem of befriending the colored 
girls and women who come into this great city seeking work, often without 
relatives, friends or money. 

1st. By providing a comfortable home surrounded hy Christian influences. 
2nd. To elevate the standard of domestic service; to provide a social center 
for homeless girls and women, where they can improve their opportunities, be 
assisted in securing employment, and feel sure at all times of friendly help, mu 
tual help and encouragement. 

The home is open for the reception of visitors daily from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. 
Terms: $1.25 per week for lodging. Transient, 25 cents per night. 
The winter has heen one long struggle to keep things going and to help 
the many girls aii«d women who come to us. We feel that our work is one of 
practical value to any community, especially one like this great cosmopolitan 
city where our people come in on every train and among them many women 
and girls seeking to better themselves in various ways. Of the hundred or 
more homes established here for working girls, not one of them offers a 
shelter to our girls except the Benlah Home and the Erring (Jirl's Refuge; 
both of them open their doors after the first false step has been taken. 

Many of our girls coming from small towns and the Southland are unused 
to life in a great city and find themselves stranded and helpless, ready to fall 
an easy prey to the human vultures ever ready to destroy young woman 
hood. 

Again, conditions in domestic service are vastly different from those they 
were familiar with in their homes, and they are labeled incompetent when 
often they are willing but "green," and ignorant of the ways of service in 
city homes. 

The Phyllis Wheatley Woman's Club, organized thirteen years ago, has 
always felt the importance of its mission to better community conditions. We 
have during those years supported a sewing-school, a day nursery in a much- 
needed district, etc. Three years ago we determined to do something toward 
helping the stranger girl and woman especially, as well as those in our midst 
who needed it, to a standard of higher womanhood ar*d usefulness. 

We began the purchase of the Home at3530Forest avenue at a cost of thirty- 
four hundred dollars, with an incumbrance of twenty-five hundred dollars. 
We kept it rented until May 1st, 1908, turned the rentals over to the payment 
of the property until we had paid $2,i c , which includes the equity, interest on 
mortgage, taxes, insurance, and reduction of mortgage by $500. 

We opened the Home May 31st, 1908, and have never been without an 
jjamate a single day. We have housed thirty girls, have secured employment 
for over one hundred, and have given encouragement, sympathy, and in a few 
cases financial aid, to many more. We have done very little soliciting. We 
have a membership of forty earnest Christian women. 

A Home of this kind ought to be in every large city, and notices of the same 
given wide publicity in every town and city throughout the country, in order 
to safeguard our women and girls. 

In Indianapolis, Ind., there is a Young Colored Women's Protective 
Association. 

Refuges and Rescue Homes for Women 

101 

I 

Something had to be done. There was a Young Men's Christian Association 
for the white boys, there was one for the colored boys; there was a Young 
Women's Christian Association for white girls, but there was none for the 
colored girls. 

The work started in a four-room cottage and now they have bought a 
three thousand dollar house. 

But the most hopeful feature of all, the most encouraging sign of the times, 
is that the responsibility and the burdens of the work have heen home hy 
young women for their future development and for the benefit of other young 
women who might wish to share the privileges of upbuilding which this asso 
ciation has planned to provide. It was pioneer work, and all the hardships 
incident to pioneer work they have endured bravely and wonderfully. No pen 
can do justice to the loyalty, to the sacrifice, to the real heroism that has been 
manifested by the young women interested in the support and management 
of this work. 

It has over one hundred members, and is designed among other 
things: 

To provide literary; musical, social and industrial centers for the pleasure 
and impiovement of young women. 

To establish training-schools in domestic science for the improvement of 
conditions in the home, and from which young women who prefer house 
keeping or cooking may graduate. 

To recognize with respect, intelligent, moral, competent, cultured workers 
in whatever honorable avocation engaged. 

To secure for working women better hours and bring before their employ 
ers the desirability of giving their woman employes half-holidays at least 
during the summer months. 

To maintain an employment committee, which shall assist in procuring de 
sirable positions for women who are out of employment. 

To become acquainted with other women who are strangers in our city and 
to be helpful to them in any way possible. 

To assist women desiring an education to find help along the particular lines 
in which they are interested. 

To encourage commercial enterprise among Negroes by patronizing the 
same and thus to help make opportunities for other girls. 

A Negro Working-Girls' Home will soon be opened in Springfield, 
Mass. 

One in Boston, called the Harriet Tubman House, at 37 Holyoke St., 
Was established by a number of colored women of the W. C. T. U. of 
Boston, who have made many sacrifices for its maintenance during the 
past three years. On November 10th, 1904, the house was open to the 
public for inspection. It is designed to furnish protection and home com 
forts to young colored women who come to our city from various parts of the 
country and at a nominal cost to them. It is the only one of this kind in our 
city. At present the house has accommodation for twelve young women. 
There is a lecture-room, parlor, sleeping-rooms, dining-room, kitchen and 
laundry. This work is carried on hy voluntary contributions, and it is not 
connected with any denomination or religious sect. It is the purpose of the 
management to open classes in the domestic arts, such as coofcinr' •••ii»» 
laundering, etc., as soon as sufficient funds are in hand to nn*#vutii \ 

LIBRARIES 
OF GEORG\& 

 y 

102 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The immediate need of the House is $10,000 for the purpose of paying for and 
equipping a permanent building: 

The House takes respectable working girls and gives them a home. 
It has sheltered 77 girls last year, and raises about $1,000 a year for its 
support. 

There are two such homes in Michigan: one in Grand Rapide which, 
with the aid of white friends, purchased a small building for $1,600, 
partially paid for. The other, in Detroit, was organized in April, 1906: 

We have for the past two years been very successful in having millinery, 
dressmaking, and embroidery classes. We employed one of our race to in 
struct us in each class. We give ten lessons for $1.00 in advance. Our expenses 
for the millinery class has been about $90.00 or more, and dressmaking class 
expenses $50.00. 

This year they are trying to buy property. 

One of the most extensive efforts to help colored girls is the National 
Association for the Protection of Colored Women, started by the white 
women of New York. There are local associations in NewYork, Phil 
adelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and Washington. The local work is 
largely or wholly in the hands of colored people and supported by con 
tributions from both races. 

The Philadelphia association is perhaps the most active. Its object 
is to provide a settlement and protection for migrating colored women, 
to study conditions and disseminate information. 

Mrs. H. F. Lanning, our dock worker, daily meets the boats at the Ericsson 
Line (Baltimore Boat Company) and the Merchants' and Miners' Line(Charles- 
ton andGeorgia boats) bringing passengers from the Southern States. The 
courtesy of the boat companies is yet accorded to our worker. Following is a 
report of the total number of persons met during the year: 

Virginia ................................................ 458 

Maryland. ............................................ 868 

West Virginia.......................................... 213 

New Jersey............................................. 47 

South Carolina........................................ 46 

Pennsylvania .......................................... 60 

Delaware ............................................... 59 

Georgia ................................................. 65 

North Carolina ........................................ 45 

Total. 

1851 

Employment agencies are looked after, and there is a working-girls' 
home established in Philadelphia. 

There are also working-girls' homes in Lynchburg, Va., and Rich 
mond, Va., and a movement for one in Columbia, S. C. 

Next to this work comes attempts to rescue girls who are already 
fallen into vice, or liable to. There is, for instance, an industrial home 
for colored girls at Pittsburgh, Pa., now three years old. It raises 
$3,350 a year, of which $2,250 comes from the State of Pennsylvania. 

The Dorcas Home Society of Yonkers, N. Y., is doing reformatory 
work among Negro women, and maintains a home and an employment 
office. 

Refuges and Rescue Homes for Women 

103 

The White Rose Mission in NewYork has done considerable rescue 

work. 

In Topeka, Kan., is a rescue home for fallen women and girls, and the 
Colored Hebron Rescue Association maintains a home in St. Louis. 

In Kansas City, Mo., the legislature failed to decide on an industrial 
reform home for girls, and the Federation of Women's Clubs took up 
the matter and established a home in 1908,known as the Jackson County 
Home for Negro Girls. 

Forty girls have been sent by the Court to the Home, of whom seven have 
been sent to homes out of the city, six paroled by the Court, nine discharged, 
and sixteen are now in the Home. We feel proud of the fact that not one has 
attempted to escape, and at no time has it been necessary to call an officer to 
quiet any disturbance. 

The girls are taught cooking and laundry work, the latter bringing in quite 
a deal of revenue to the Home. We have also tried to improve them morally 
and religiously, sixteen having been induced to join the church. All attend 
church and Sunday-school regularly. Besides this influence, the Board of 
Education provides'us a half-day school, conducted by Miss Doshia Johnson, a 
very kind and earnest young woman, who has done much good toward the 
progress of the girls. 

We feel grateful to Mr. Lee and Mr. Ross, our probation officers, for their 
untiring efforts for the success of the Home, and to the public for its generous 
support of our work. Our board of managers meets monthly to settle the 
accounts of the Home, and its secretary is able at a moment's notice to give a 
complete and accurate statement of the financial condition of the institntion 
and its working throughout. 
The income of the Home has been as follows: 

County Court ($10 per month for each inmate.. $ 826 78 
Juvenile Improvement Association............. 240 00 

Board of Education............................. 75 S3 

Laundry Work of Girls ........... ................ 13553 

Subscriptions ..................................... 656 61 

$1,834 25 

In Philadelphia there is a Home for the Homeless where any woman 
may apply for temporary aid. 

In Los Angeles, Cal., there is a Sheltering Arms Home: 
• Its doors are open night and day to any homeless woman, girl or child in 
need of shelter. We are renting, as yet, and caring for twelve persons at the 
present. We have sheltered fifty-six since opening, October 28, 1907. The 
growth has been slow because the people have not felt the real need of such 
an institution. We are beginning to awaken now, and are looking forward to 
great progress in the near future. We have donated five lots and a small 
three-room house which we hope to improve this f alL 

In Washington there is a Home for Friendless, and also a National 
Association for the Relief of Destitute Women and Children supported 
by the Government at the cost of $10,000 a year, but conducted entirely 
by colored women. It had 103 women and children in 1907. 

One woman, Mrs. Elizabeth McDonald, has been probation officer in 
Chicago, and does considerable lecturing on the subject of rescue work 
among women and children. 

 104 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Section 16. Social, Literary and Art Clubs. All over the country 
there are a number of private and some public clubs among the col 
ored people devoted primarily to literature or some form of art work. 
They are the remains of the more flourishing literary societies of ante 
bellum days in the free Negro settlements, but have changed consid 
erably in character and kind of work. 

The Friday Afternoon Study Club of Cleveland, O., consists of women 
who assemble once in two weeks to listen to papers and the discussions 
of general subjects. As, for instance, in 1905-06 they took the history 
of the United States and discussed different periods in sixteen different 
meetings, taking up not simply the formal history but the rise and fall 
of slave power, the development of American literature and art, the 
development of education, etc. 

The Booklovers' Club of Washington, D. C., discussed the same year 
the principal religions of the earth and their effect on civilization. 
They held two meetings a month for seven months and took up the 
religion of Egypt and other ancient places, including Brahminism, 
Buddhism, Judaism, including a comparison of Jews and Negroes, 
Mohammedanism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, with discus 
sions of the Negro and the Catholic Church and of American Negro 
religion. 

Nearly all the larger churches throughout the United States have 
one or more literary societies connected with them; perhaps the most 
noted of these church literary societies is the Bethel Literary and His 
torical Association of Washington, D. C., organized in 1881 and com 
manding large audiences. Probably few organizations have had a 
more distinguished list of speakers, including Frederick Douglass, 
J. C. Price, John M. Langston, Alexander Crummell, Dr. E. W. 
Blyden, George W. Williams, Senator Blair, Richard T. Greener, and 
others. 

Examples of some of the present societies follow: 

The Dunbar Reading Circle of Newport News, Va., studies Negro 
history. 

The Bowen Reading Circle of Washington, D.C., meets twice a month 
to read different authors. 

The Royal Club of Houston, Tex., has a literary programme ouce a 
month and spends the rest of their time in charity work. 

The Ladies' Reading Circle of Dallas, Tex., pursues certain lines of 
reading from year to year. 

The Ladies' Literary Digest Club of Danville, Ky., is to encourage 
the reading of race literature and current events, and contribute to 
good causes. 

The Macon Art and Social Club of Macon, Ga., consists of married 
women organized to do fancy work, and does some charity work also. 

The West India,n Literary Club of Cambridge. Mass., does both liter 
ary and charitable work. 

The Union of Haverhill, Mass., conducts a literary course. 

Social, Literary and Art Clubs 

105 

The Detroit Study Club of Michigan is studying the lives of English 
and American poets. 

The Scotia Reading Club of Jersey City, N. J., encourages the study 
of literature and maintains a scholarship at Scotia Seminary. 

The Minervia Club of Cleveland, Ohio, is literary and musical, with 
some charitable work. 

The American Girls' Culture Club of Newport, R. I., writes: 

The American Girl's Culture Club was organized January 13,1905, by Mrs. 
Bessie Jamison. There are at present twenty-two members. Our object is 
to work along various Hues of charity and to help the Colored Old Folk's 
Home and the Working-Girls' Home in Providence. The first week in June 
the club is planning to give a star concert and the proceeds will be sent to a 
young colored man who is working his way through Brown University in 
Providence. Nearly all the girls in our club are talented, and very often the 
churches call upon us to help them out in their entertainments. We send 
flowers, fruits and other delicacies to the sick. We have made a number of 
visits to the hospital. We go and see the blind, and read to them. Easter- 
time we took several potted plants to a number of old ladles. In the last two 
or three weeks we have sent two large baskets of groceries to two poor old 
women. The club has given several dramas and concerts, and all proved to 
be successful. The ministers and all the churches seem to take a great inter 
est in us. We have been very lucky in not losing any members by death. 
Nearly all of the girls attend the High School; some have graduated and are 
away to college. 

In several cities there are organizations which maintain lectures and 
discussions on Sunday afternoon specially for men. Among these are 
the Men's Forum of Cambridge, Mass., the Sunday Forum of Minne 
apolis, Minn., and the Young Men's Christian Sunday Club, of Savan 
nah, Ga. This latter club reports: 

Its purpose is for the economic and hygienic development of Negroes. They 
do their work: (a) by having Sunday meetings at which men of ability give 
lectures; (6) they issue literature on hygiene to afflicted sections of the city; 
they make contributions to the poor, sometimes to the colored hospital. Any 
one willing to take part may become a member; no monthly fees required. Its 
finances come from collections from those who attend. 

Various cities maintain regular lecture bureaus. One of the most 
successful of these is the People's Lecture Association of Little Rock, 
Ark. The following is a report of this organization: 

Organization effected November 11, l!«i",. with about twenty-five members; 
seventy members in Ivn'i. 

Dues, one dollar per year, in quarterly payments. 

During six years of its existence it has had forty-two lectures, two concerts 
by local talent, two concerts by professional talent, and one stereopticon lec 
ture. 

We have raised about $500. 

Our earlier lecturers were colored college presidents of the city; later, white 
ministers of the city, politicians, teachers, educators of standing, not forget 
ting two lectures by Father Lucy, of Pine Bluff (white Catholic priest and 
writer of newspaper articles in State papers, advocating better treatment of 
Negroes), nor oiniting Rabbi Wolsey (Jewish Priest, travelling orator; now 

 106 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Social, Literary and Art Clubs 

107 

of Cincinnati), nor Professor Dayne, State Superintendent of Public Instruc 
tion. 

Our colored lecturers embrace names widely known and appreciated. Of 
these are Prof. W. E. Burghardt DuBois, Atlanta University; Prof. Wm. Pick- 
ens, Talladega College; Mrs. Mary C.Terrell, Hon. Edward Morris, of Chicago; 
Hon. J. T. Settles, lawyer of Memphis, Tenn., Archdeacon ft. Alexander 
McGuire, of Cambridge, Mass.; Rev. Maximo Duty, of Memphis, Tenn,; Rev. 
D. LeRoy Ferguson, of Louisville, Ky.; Prof. Kelley Miller,Washington, D. C. 

There are -A number of small men's clubs Like the Monday Club of 
Atlanta, Ga., and Advance Club of Birmingham, Ala. These are chiefly 
social clubs, but are also places of discussion and centers of various 
civic movements. For instance, members of the Atlanta Monday Club 
were largely called upon in the Atlanta riot to join with the whites in 
reconstruction. 

Many social clubs are formed with the distinct purpose of beautify 
ing and bettering social life. The Owl Club of Little Bock, Ark., con 
sisting of nineteen married couples, was organized in 1894. Its object 
is to "uplift our race socially, and we have succeeded iii bettering it 
morally as well." 

There are a number of so-called art clubs whose object is chiefly 
social, and who do some drawing and painting and embroidery. They 
are chiefly valuable in keeping alive and encouraging the love for 
beautiful things; although the actual work accomplished is usually 
small and unimportant. 

Silver Spray Art Club of Houston, Tex., is trying to beautify the 
homes of its members and also do some charitable work. 

The most important developments in the line of art have been natu 
rally toward music. Nearly all the large churches have organized 
choirs, and there are numbers of amateur musical associations, instru 
mental and vocal. 

The work of Mr. Coleridge-Taylor, of England, led to the establish 
ment of the Coleridge-Taylor Choral Society, in Washington, D.C. This 
society had a chorus of 200; among its patrons were Eegiiial DeKoven, 
Eugene E. Stephens, Henry Handzer, Lieutenant Santelmann. 

It was organized in 1901 (incorporated 1903), tinder the stimulus of a pro 
posed visit to Washington of the eminent composer. In a conference of our 
more prominent musicians, which met at the home of Mrs. A. F. Hilyer, it 
was'discovered that the formation of a choral society among the colored 
singers of Washington had long been in the minds of many of them, and only 
needed the stimulus of the proposed visit of the composer and the opportu 
nity to sing "Hiawatha" to give it tangible shape and permanent form. Its 
object is to develop a wider interest in the masterpieces of the great com 
posers and especially to diffuse among the masses a higher musical culture 
and appreciation of works that tend to refine and elevate. 

Since its organization the society has rendered "Hiawatha" on seven differ 
ent occasions—four times in Washington, twice in Baltimore, and once in 
Philadelphia at the Academy of Music. It has also rendered Mr. S. Coleridge- 
Taylor's "Atonement" and the Choral Ballads (the latter having been dedi 
cated to the society by the composer) and other compositions. 

In November, 1904, the society had Mr. S. Coleridge-Taylor as its special 
guest, when it gave a Musical Festival consisting of three great concerts—two 
in Washington and one in Baltimore—rendering Hiawatha and the Choral 
'Ballads under the direction of the composer, with the U. S. Marine Band Or 
chestra of 52 pieces accompanying, and other selections directed by Prof. John 
T. Lay ton. These concerts were attended by prominent musicians (white and 
colored)not only from this city, but from New York, Philadelphia, Bos ton, Balt 
imore, Chicago, Richmond, and other cities. 

The most remarkable effort, perhaps, is the Foreign Scholarship 
Association established by Mme. E. Azalia Hackley. Mrs. Hackley, 
who herself has an unusual voice and was trained abroad, said in 
taking up her work in 1907: 

I thoroughly believe that there is a future for colored musicians abroad,pro 
viding they take rank with white artists. I may not live to see it, but even in 
ten years, if something is done to encourage such a condition, I believe that 
several first-class companies—not coon shows—could have seasons in various 
countries. I also believe that white managers will engage colored artists,pro 
viding they can sing in foreign languages. I believe that there could even be 
colored managers abroad within the next ten years, but they would be obliged 
to offer real attractions. 

If we encourage our young people generally throughout the country, every 
five or six years, some one of them will leap out of the circle of mediocrity and 
push his way to the front, and perhaps represent us musically as we have 
never been represented. 

If the colored musicians in each place would unite as enthusiastically as 
people do to start a new church, or establish a lodge, there could be some one 

helped each year. 

Who is doing anything for a colored genius ? Well, of course, the race is 
comparatively poor, but there are some wealthy ones, and we could help a 
couple a year, at least, if we tried. 

I heard abroad of about six students whom Mr. Schwab, the steel mag 
nate, is helping. He does not even know the beneficiaries. Mr. Rockefeller 
and Mrs. Vanderbilt are educating several each, and many others are helping 
talented people. 

Thereupon Mrs. Hackley established what she ealled the Foreign 
Scholarship, and induced two hundred or more colored people to con 
tribute a scholarship of two or three hundred dollars a year. She then 
took a trip through the South, and reported an orchestra of thirty mem 
bers in Richmond,Va., and a festival; a remarkable soprano at Atlanta 
University, and a good violinist; fine choral work at Tuskegee; a very 
competent piano teacher at Montgomery; an amateur cornetist at 
Mobile; a chorister in New Orleans and four exceptional voices, and 
a tenor soloist at Jacksonville. In the West she found a good soprano 
at Harrisburg, chorister in Pittsburgh, three violinists in Detroit and 
Chicago, a good soprano voice in Chicago together with a musical- 
study club, a good musical director in Kansas City, a rare contralto in 
Omaha, a chorus of thirty-five voices in Denver, a good baritone in Col 
orado Springs, a pianist in Oakland, Cal., and a study club in Los 
Angeles. 

 108 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

In the pursuance of this plan Mrs. Hackley has sent her first bene 
ficiary abroad during 1908-9 in the person of Clarence C. White, a 
violinist of rare ability; the next beneficiary is to be Carl E. Diton; 
three hundred dollars is to be raised for him. 

In her last report Mrs. Hackley says: 

In June I finished the last payment of the five hundred dollars I had prom 
ised to Mr. Clarence Cameron White, to assist him in his studies abroad for 
one year. Mr. White sailed for London in June, 1908. 

It has been a difficult task to collect this amount, but it has been accom 
plished, and the scholarship establishes a precedent. I am highly gratified 
with all results. If those who have contributed could understand how ard 
uously Mr. White has worked, and how much he has improved in his play 
ing, they would be as pleased as 1 am. If he had to return at this date, he 
will have profited to a remarkable extent, and the money has been well 
spent. 

To have one colored artist presented abroad every five years would cost 
less than $5,000, an average of $1,000 a year. What a pittance this is if it scores 
one point in favor of ten millions of people. One department store in any 
large city expends that much in less than a week for advertising, because the 
results of advertisement are evident. 

How can the race expect the world to believe that it has rare musical tal 
ent, the one line in which it can excel if given opportunity, if the fact is not 
continually advertised and evidence produced ? Must there be no change of 
opinion because of a few dollars that might be easily given ? 

Another interesting musical association is the Viotti Association of 
Boston. Its founder says: 

I went from house to house one day and saw as many mothers as I possibly 
could find at home, told them what my object was, that 1 wanted them to 
help me in getting the boys and girls off the streets at night and give them 
something to do at home, something all colored people, as a rule, are very 
fond of, and that is music. I started out with five other women and we 
organized a club called the Viotti Club of Boston. For one year it grew to 
fifteen, then I entered the club into the Northeastern Federation of Women's 
Clubs of New England, and we now number twenty-five. The club was named 
for Henry Viotti, of London, a professor of music. We have a Junior Depart 
ment of twenty boys, who are organized into a brass band and orchestra. 
They are doing nicely. It is conducted by a colored woman of my club. Last 
year we raised one hundred and twenty-nine dollars from concerts given by 
the boys. I paid $150 for the instruments. We give the instruments to the 
poorer boys who are not able to pay for them. 

There is one National Association which seeks to encourage litera 
ture and art among Negroes. This is the American Negro Academy, 
founded by Alexander Crummell in 1897. Its objects are "the promotion 
of literature, science and art; the culture of a form of Intellectual 
Taste ; the fostering of Higher Education; the publication of scholarly 
work; the defense of the Negro against vicious assaults." 

It has a limited number of selected members and has published thir 
teen pamphlets on Sociological and Historical subjects. 

Literature and Newspapers 

109 

Section 17. Literature and Newspapers. Only a brief sketch of the 
attempt to better social conditions by means of newspapers, books and 
periodicals can here be attempted. 

As early as the eighteenth century, and even before the Revolution 
ary War, the first voices of Negro authors were heard in the United 
States. 

Phyllis Wheatley, the black poetess, was easily the pioneer, her first 
poems appearing in 1778, and other editions in 1784 and 1793. Her 
earliest poem was in memory of George Whitefield. She was followed 
by the Negro, Olaudah Equiauo—known by his English name of Gus- 
tavus Vassa—whose autobiography of 350 pages, published in 1787, was 
the beginning of that long series of personal appeals of which Booker T. 
Washington's Up From Slavery is the latest. 

Benjamin Banneker's almanacs represented the first scientific work 
of American Negroes, and began to be issued in 1792. 

Coming now to the first decades of the nineteenth century we find 
some essays on Freedom by the African Society of Boston, and an 
apology for the new Negro church formed in Philadelphia. Paul Cuffe 
disgusted with America wrote an early account of Sierra Leone, while 
the celebrated .Lemuel Haynes ignoring the race question dipped 
deeply into the New England theological controversy about 1815. In 
1829 came the first full-voiced, almost hysterical, protest against slavery 
and the color line in David Walker's Appeal, which aroused Southern 
legislatures to action. This was followed by the earliest Negro conven 
tions which issued interesting minutes, and a strong appeal against 
disfranchisemeut in Pennsylvania. 

In 1840 some strong writers began to appear. Henry Highland Gar 
net and J. W. C. Pennington preached powerful sermons and gave 
some attention to Negro history in their pamphlets; R. B. Lewis made 
a more elaborate attempt at Negro history. Whitfield's poems ap 
peared in 1846, and William Wells Brown began a career of writing 
which lasted from 1847 until after the war. In 1845 Douglass's Auto 
biography made its first appearance, destined to run through endless 
editions up until the last in 1893. Moreover it was in 1841 that the first 
Negro magazine appeared in America, edited by George Hogarth and 
published by the A. M. E. Church. 

In the fifties William Wells Brown published his "Three Years in 
Europe"; James Whitfield published further poems, and a new poet 
arose in the person of Frances E. W. Harper, a woman of no little 
ability who is still alive; Martin R. Delaney and William Nell wrote 
further of Negro history, Nell especially making valuable contributions 
to the history of the Negro soldiers. Three interesting biographies 
were added in this decade to the growing number: Josiah Henson, 
Samuel G. Ward and Samuel Northrop; while Catto leaving general 
history came down to the better known history of the Negro church. 

In the sixties slave narratives multiplied, like that of Linda Brent, 
while two studies of Africa based on actual visits were made by Robert 
Campbell and the revered Alexander Crummell; William Douglass 

 110 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

and Bishop Daniel Payne continued the history of the Negro church, 
while William Wells Brown carried forward his work in general Negro 
history. In this decade, too, Bishop Tanner began his work in Negro 
theology. 

Most of the Negro talent in the seventies was taken up in politics; 
the older men like Bishop Wayman wrote of their experiences. Wil 
liam Wells Brown wrote the Rising Son, and Sojourner Truth added 
her story to the slave narratives. A new poet arose in the person 
of A. A. Whitman, while James M. Trotter was the first to take 
literary note of the musical ability of his race. Indeed, this section 
might have been begun by some reference to the music and folk 
lore of the Negro race; the music contained much primitive poetry 
and the folklore being one of the great contributions to American 
civilization. 

In the eighties there are signs of unrest and different conflicting 
streams of thought. On the one hand the rapid growth of the Negro 
church is shown by the writers on church subjects like Moore and 
Wayman. The historical spirit was especially strong. Still wrote of 
the Underground Railroad; Simmons issued his interesting biograph 
ical dictionary, and the greatest historian of the race appeared when 
George W. Williams issued his two-volume history of the Negro race 
in America. The political turmoil was reflected in Langston's Free 
dom and Citizenship, Fortum-'s Black and White, and Straker's New 
South, and found its bitterest arraignment in Turner's pamphlets; but 
with all this went other thought: a black man published his first Greek 
lessons, Bishop Payne issued his Treatise on Domestic Education, and 
Stewart studied Liberia. 

In the nineties came histories, essays, novels and poems, together 
with biography and social studies. The history was represented by 
Payne's History of the A. M. E. Church, Hood's History of the 
A. M. E. Zion Church, Andersen's sketch of Negro Presbyterianism 
and Hagood's Colored Man in the M. E. Church; general his 
tory of the older type by E. L. Perry's Cushite, and the newer type in 
Johnson's History and DuBois's Suppression of the Slave Trade, while 
one of the secret societies found their historian in Brooks; Croj-man's 
essays appeared and Archibald Grimke's biographies. The race ques 
tion was discussed in Frank Grimke's published Sermons, while social 
studies were made by Penn, Wright, Mossell, Crummell, DuBois, 
Majors, and others. Most notable, however, was the rise of the Negro 
novelist and poet with national recognition; Frances Harper was still 
writing and Griggs began his racial novels, but both of these spoke pri 
marily to the Negro race; on the other hand, Chesnutt's six novels and 
Dunbar's inimitable works spoke to the whole uation. 

Since 1900 the stream of Negro writing has continued: Dunbar has 
found a worthy successor in the less-known but more carefully cul 
tured Braithwaite; Booker T. Washington has given us his biography 
and Story of the Negro; Kelly Miller's trenchant essays have appeared 
in book form and DuBois's Souls of Black Folk and John Brown; Sin- 

Literature and Newspapers 

111 

I 

clair's Aftermath of Slavery has attracted attention, as have the studies 
made by Atlanta University. The forward movement in Negro music, 
is represented by Frederick J. Work in one direction and Rosamond 
Johnson in another. 

On the whole the literary output of the American Negro has been 
both large and creditable, although, of course, comparatively little 
known; few great names have appeared and little work that could 
be called first-class, but this, of course, is not a peculiarity of Negro 
literature. 

A Chronological List of Some Notable Works In Negro Literature 
PhylUa Wheatley—Poems on various subjects, religious and moral. 1773. 8vo. 
Equlano, Olaudah (Gustavus Vassa)—Autobiography. 1787. 850 pp. 
Benjamin Banneker—Almanacs, 1792-1806. 
African Society. Essay on Freedom. Boston, 22 pp. 1808. 

Act of Incorporation, Causes and Motives of the African Episcopal Church. Phila 
delphia, 1810. 

Paul Cuffe—Brief Account of Sierra Leone. New York. 12 pp. 1812. 
Lemuel Haynes—Sermons. 1H15(?I. 
Walker, David—Appeal, In four articles, together with a Preamble to the Colored 

Citizens of the World, etc. 66 pp. Boston, Mass. 1829. 
Minutes of the First Annual Convention of the People of Color Philadelphia. 1831. 

Pamphlet. 
Appeal of forty thousand colored citizens threatened with dlsfranchlsement to the 

people of Pennsylvania. Phila., 1838. 18 pp. 8vo. 
Lee, Jarena—Journal. Cincinnati, 1839. 24 pp. 12mo. 

J. W. C. Pennlngton—Origin and History of the Colored People. 1841. 100 pp. 
African M. E. Church Magazine. (George Hogarth.) 1841. 
Lewis, Robert Benjamin—Light and Truth, etc. Boston, 1844. 400 pp. 16mo. 
Douglass—Autobiography, 1845. 
Whltfleld's Poems, 1M 1. 

Brown, William Wells—Narrative of a fugutive. Boston, 1847. 110 pp. 16mo. 
Garnet, Henry Highland—The Past and Present Condition and the Destiny of the 

Colored Race. Troy, 1-I-. 29pp. 8vo. Plates. 
W. W. Brown—Three Years In Europe. London, 1852. 
W. W. Brown—Sketches of Places and People Abroad. New York, 1855. 
Martin R. Delaney—Condition, Elevation, Emigration and Destiny ol the Colored 

geople of the United States. Phila., 1852. 215 pp. 12mo. 
James M. Whltfleld—Poems. America, and other poems. Buffalo, 1853. 
Harper, Frances E. W.—Miscellaneous poems. Boston, 1854. 
William Cooper Nell—The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution. Intro. by 

H. B. Stowe. Boston, 1855. 896 pp. 12mo. 

Ward, S. O.—Autobiography of a Fugitive Negro. London, 1855. 
Catto, W. T.—History of the Presbyterian Movement. Phila., 1857. 8vo. A semi- 

centenary discourse and history of the first African Presbyterian church, 

Phila., May, 1857, from itslorganizatlon, including a notice of its first pastor. 

John Gloucester; also appendix containing sketches of all the colored churches 

in Philadelphia. 

Hensoii, Joslah (.Uncle Tom)—Father Henson's story. Boston, 1858. 
Twenty Years a Slave. Northrup. 1859. 
Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl (Linda Brent). 1861. 
Robert Campbell—A Pilgrimage to my Motherland. Phila., 1861. 
Crummell, Alexander—The Future of Africa. 1862. 
Douglass, William—Annals of St. Thomas's First African Church. Philadelphia, 

1862. 172 pp. 8vo. 
Brown, William Wells—The Black Man, his Antecedents, etc. New York, 1863. 

J'-^ pp. 12111O. 

Payne, D. A.—The Semi-Centenary and the Retrospection of the A. M. E. Church. 

1866. 

 112 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Literature and Newspapers 

113 

Brown, William Wells—The Negro In the American Rebellion. Boston, 1867. 
380 pp. 8vo. 

Tanner, Bishop Benjamin T.—An Apology for African Methodism. Baltimore, 1867. 
468 pp. 8vo. 

Cyclopedia of African Methodism. Bishop Wayman. 

Brown, William Wells—The Rising Son. Boston, 1874 (1873). 12mo. Portrait. 

Truth, Sojourner—Narrative. Boston, 1875. 

Whitman, A. A.—Not a Man and Yet a Man. Springfield, O., 1877. 

Trotter, James M.—Music and some highly musical people. Boston, 1878. 858, (1) 
152 pp. 12mo. 

Moore, J. J.—History of the A. M. E. Zlon Church. York, Pa., 1880. 

Williams, Geo. W.—History of the Negro race In America from 1619 to 1880. New 
York, 1888. 2 vols. 8vo. 

Wayman, A. W.—My recollections of A. M. E. Ministers. Philadelphia, 1881. 250 pp. 
8vo. 

Scarborough, W. 8.—First Greek Lessons. New York, 1881. 150 pp. 

Langston, J. M.—Freedom and Citizenship, 1882. 286 pp. 

Still, Wm.—The Underground Railroad. Phlla., 1888. 

Fortune, T. Thomas—Blacfc and White. New York, 1884. 

Turner. H. M.—The Black Man's Doom. 1884,1886. 90 pp. 

Turner, H. M.—Methodist Polity, or the Genius and Theory of Methodism. Phila 
delphia, 1885. 

Payne, Daniel A.—A Treatise on Domestic Education. Cincinnati, 1885. 

Scarborough—The Birds of Aristophanes. 188«. 86 pp. 

Stewart, T. Me.—Liberia, the Amerlco-Afrlcan Republic. New York, 1H86. 

Slmmons,Wm. Johnson—Men of Mark: eminent,progressive, rising. Cleveland, 1887 
1141pp. 8vo. 

Straker, D. Augustus—The New South Investigated. Detroit, 1888. 

Hagood, L. M.—The Colored Man in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 1890. Cin 
cinnati. 

Gaines, W. J.—African Methodism In the South. Atlanta, 18!!0. 

Recollections of Seventy Years—Bishop D. A. Payne. 

Jamieson, Dr.—Mlnden Arniais, the man of the new race. Phila., 18SIO. 110 pp. 

Crummell, Alexander—Africa and America. Springfield, 1891. 466 pp. 8vo. 

"Aunt Llndy"—Victoria Earle. 

Penn, Irvine Garland—The Afro-American Press and its Editors. Sprlngneld, 1811. 
565 pp. 12mo. 

Johnson, Edward A.—A School History of the Negro Race In America from 1619 to 
1890, with a short Introduction as to the origin of the race; also a short sketch 
of Liberia. Raleigh, 1891, * 

Payne. Daniel A.—History of the A. M. E. Church. Nashville, 18111. 498 pp. 

Grimke, Archibald H.—William Lloyd Garrison. New York, 1891. 

Grimke, Archibald H.—Charles Sumner. New York, 1892. 515 pp. 8vo. 

Harper, Frances E.W.—IolaLeroy: a novel. 8d ed. Phlla., 1892. 281pp. 

Perry, Rufus L.—The Cushlte. Springfield, 1893. 

Majors, M. A.—Noted Negro Women. Chicago, 1893. 

Brooks, C. H.—Manual and History of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. 
Philadelphia, 1893. 260 pp. Hvo. 

Smith, Mrs. Amanda—Autobiography of Amanda Smith. Chicago, 1893, 

Mossell, Mrs. N. F.—The Work of Afro-American Women. Phlla., 1894. 

Jones, Robert—Fifty Years In the Lombard Street Central Presbyterian Church. 
Philadelphia, 1894. 

Wright, Richard R.—Brief Historical Sketch of Negro Education In Georgia. Sa 
vannah, 1894. 

Hood, W. J.—History of the A. M. E. Zion Church. New York, 1895. 

W. H. Crogman—Talks for the Times. Atlanta, 1896. 

DuBois, W. E. B.—Suppression of the Slave Trade. New York, 1896. 

Anderson, Matthew— Presbyterlaiilsm and its relation to the Negro. Phila., 1897. 
Griggs, Button E.—Imperlum in Imperio. Cincinnati, 1899. 

Ohesnutt, Charles W.— 

The Conjure Woman. Boston, 189a 
Frederick Douglass. Boston, 1899. 
The House Behind the Cedars. Boston, 1900. 
The Marrow of Tradition. Boston, 1901. 
The Wife of his Youth. Boston, 1899. 

Grimke, Francis J.—The Lynching of Negroes In the South. Washington, 1899. 
DuBois, W. E. B.—The Philadelphia Negro. Phlla., 1899. 620 pp. 
Dunbar, Paul Lawrence—The Sport of the Gods. New York, 1901. 
Atlanta University Publications—The College-bred Negro. Atlanta, 1900. 
Atlanta University Publications—The Negro Artisan. Atlanta, 1902. 
Washington, B. T.—Up from Slavery. New York, 1901. 

Penn, I. G.,and J. W. E. Bowen, Editors—The United Negro; His Problems and His 
Progress. Containing the Addresses and Proceedings of the Negro Young Peo 
ple's Christian and Educational Congress, held August 6-11,1902. Atlanta, Iii02 
Gibbs, M. W.—Shadow and Light. Washington, 1902. 
Wright, R. R.—Negro Companions of the Spanish Explorers. From "American 

Anthropologist," vol. 8. 1902. 

Work, Frederick J.—New Jubilee Songs, as sung by the Jubilee Singers of Fisk Uni 
versity. 1902. 

DuBois, W. E. B.—The Souls of Black Folk. Chicago, 1908. 
Atlanta University Publications—The Negro Church. Atlanta, 1908. 
The Negro Problem—A series of articles by representative Negroes of to-day. New 

York, 1'icv. 

Braithwalte—Poems and Anthologies. 

Grimshaw, Wm. H.—Official History of Freemasonry, etc. New York, 1908. 
Cromwell, John W.—The Early Negro Convention Movement. Washington, 1904. 

(The American Negro Academy.) 
Sinclair, William A.—The Aftermath of Slavery, etc., with an introduction by T. W 

Higginson. Boston, 1905. 
Miller, Kelly—Race Adjustment. 1908. 
Washington, B. T.—Story of the Negro. 1910. 

Turning now to the newspapers we quote from L. M. Hershaw: 
Negro journalism in the United States had its origin in the aspiration for 
freedom. The first Negro newspaper in the United States was begun in New 
York city, March SO, 1827, and was called The Journal of Freedom. Its editor 
was John B. Russworm, a graduate of Dartmouth College of the class of 1826i 
perhaps the first Negro to receive a degree from an American institution of 
learning. Associated with him in the editing was the Rev. Samuel E. Cornish, 
a controversialist of no mean powers. 

This journal had an existence of but three years, and other attempts by 
Negroes to publish newspapers failed of notable success until Frederick 
Douglass started The North Star at Rochester, N. Y., in 1847. The name was 
subsequently changed to Frederick Douglass's paper, and Mr. Douglass 
continued it up to the opening of the Civil War. For length of life, extent 
of circulation, ability of matter contributed and commanding talents of its 
editor, the publication was one which occupies a conspicuous chapter in the 
history of Negro journalism. 

From these beginnings the Negro newspaper has grown until to-day 
there are over three hundred periodicals published, most of which are 
in the form of weekly papers. Since the establishment of the Journal 
of Freedom in 1827 thousands of Negro journals have lived and died. 

 114 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Among these papers the most notable was the Voice of the Negro, an 
excellent magazine which lasted several years. At different times 
small Negro daily papers have been started. The only surviving one 
at present seems to be the Daily Metropolitan of Dallas, Tex. At pres 
ent there have been received in this office specimen copies of 185 papers 
and 9 magazines. Besides these we have the names of 76 other weekly 
papers which either are being published or have been until quite re 
cently. 

The 185 papers actually received have been tabulated according to 
the year of founding, the number of pages, the size of the page and the 
number of columns of "live matter." i. e., of matter actually set up 
in type by the paper each week and not received in printed form from 
some printing or advertising- agency: 

Name 

Christian Recorder 

Southwestern Christian Advocate 

Christian Index 

Star of Zlon 

Afro-American Presbyterian 

The Washington Bee 

Georgia Baptist 

Western Star 

Baptist Vanguard 

The World 

Pioneer Press 

Gazette 

Normal Index 

Appeal 

Southern Letter 

Savannah Tribune 

Philadelphia Tribune 

Brotherhood 

Crusader 

Florida Sentinel 

New York Age 

The Light 

The Freeman 

Steelton Press 

Tuskegee Student 

New Light 

Statesman 

Southern Christian Recorder 

Baptist Leader 

Christian Banner 

The Christian Hope 

Dallas Express 

Griffin Echo 

Oklahoma Guide 

People's Recorder 

Oklahoma Safeguard 

Iowa Bystander 

Baptist Truth 

Plalndealer 

Weekly Express 

Charleston Messenger 

The Standard 

The Journal 

Seattle Republican 

Western Outlook 

Published 

Philadelphia 
New Orleans, La. 
Jackson, Tenn. 
Charlotte, N. C. 
Charlotte, N. C. 
Washington, D. C. 
Augusta, Ga. 
Houston, Dallas, Tex. 
Little Rock, Ark. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
Martlnsburg, W.Va. 
Cleveland, O. 
Normal, Ala. 
St. Paul, Mlnn. 
Tuskegee, Ala. 
Savannah, Ga. 
Philadelphia 
Cincinnati, O. 
Baltimore, Md. 
Pensacola, Fla. 
New York 
Vlcksburg, Miss. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
Steelton, Pa. 
Tuskegee, Ala. 
Edwards, Miss. 
Denver, Col. 
Columbus, Ga. 
Birmingham, Ala. 
Philadelphia 
Demopolls, Ala. 
Dallas, Tex. 
Griffin, Ga. 
Guthrle, Okla 
Orangeburg, S. C. 
Guthrle, Okla. 
Des Molnes, la. 
Cairo, 111. 
Palestine, Tex. 
Mobile, Ala. 
Charleston, S. C. 
Lexlngton, Ky. 
Huntsvllle, Ala. 
Seattle, Wash. 
San Francisco, Los An 
geles and Oakland,Gal. 

Year Pp. L.M. Size 

1852 

1866 

1870 

1877 

1878 

1879 

1879 

1881 

1881 

1881 

1882 

1883 

1883 

1884 

1884 

1885 

1885 

1886 

1886 

1886 

1887 

1887 

1887 

1*« 

1888 

1888 

1888 

1889 

1889 

1889 

1891 

1892 

1892 

1892 

1892 

1893 

1893 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1894 

8 

16 

16 

8 

4 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

4 

8 

4 

4 

8 

16 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

6 

4 

4 

4 

8 

36 

42 

82 

27 

11 

15' 

23 

10 

19 

11 

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10 

13 

8 

7 

13 

24 

10J 

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15 

33 

7 

23 

2 

8J 

12J 

25 

22 

8J 

20 

6 

18 

2J 

4 

20 

12 

15 

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6 

11 

13 

9 

12 

8 

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11x15 

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12x21 

16x22 

4 15x22 

13x20 

15x22 

13x20 

15x22 

4 11x20 

18x24 

11x16 

18x24 

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15x22 

15x24 

. 15x22 

4 15x22 

15x22 

16x20% 

18x24 

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18x24 

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4 15x22 

11x15 

18x23 

4 15x22 

18x21 

15x22 

18x24 

4 18x24 

18x24 

15x22 

18x24 

18x24 

^ 18x24 

15x21 

15x22 

18x24 

18x24 

15x22 

llxlfi 

1884 

10 18x24 

Name 

Rock Hill Messenger 
Colored Citizen 
Advance Citizen 
Detroit Reformer 
The Reformer 
Broad Ax 

Odd Fellows' Journal 
The Advance 
Recorder 
The Educator 
Taborlan Visitor 
Enterprise 
The Helping Hand 
Louisiana Baptist, 
Informer 
Oakland Sunshine 
News-Enterprise 
Nashville Clarion 
Weekly Gazette 
City Times 
Mission Herald 
National Protest 
Texas Freeman 
Western Enterprise, 
Plalndealer 
Baptist Seutlnel 
Durham Reformer 
Kentucky Standard 
Missionary Seer 
Independent 
Southern Reporter 
Kentucky Reporter 
Advocate, 
Western Messenger 

The Demonstrator 
St. Luke Herald 
Florida Reporter 
American Star 
National Star 
Pythian Monitor 
Bluff City News 
Friendship Banner 
Wllkes-Barre Advocate 
The Star 
The Courant 
Professional World 
The Guardian 
The Torchlight 
Florida Labor Temple 
Baptist Rival 
Industrial Era 
Seattle Searchlight 
The Truth 

Missionary Presbyterian 
Portland Advocate 
Vox Popull 
Fisherman's Net, 
The Forum 
Cleveland Journal 
Southern Age 
The Echo 
The Signal 

Birmingham Reporter 
Illinois Idea 
National Watchman 
The Defender 
The Advocate 
Springfield Leader 
Interstate Reporter 
Staunton Reporter 
Beaufort County News 
Boley Progress 
Florida Standard 
Negro Fortune Teller 
Atlanta Justice 
Colorado Times 
The Messenger 

Literature and Newspapers 

Published 

Rock Hill, S. C. 
Memphis, Tenn. 
Springfield, 111. 
Detroit, Mlch. 
Richmond, Va. 
Chicago, 111. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
Jamestown, N. C. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
Huntsvllle, Ala. 
Little Rock, Ark. 
Omaha, Neb. 
Paris, Tex. 
Alexandria, La. 
Urbana, O. 
Oakland, Gal. 
Shreveport, La. 
Nashvll^Tenn. 
Metropolis, 111. 
Galveston, Tex. 
Louisville, Ky. 
St. Joseph, Mo. 
Houston, Tex. 
ColoradofSprlngs 
Topeka, Kan. 
Raleigh, N.O. 
"Durham, N. C. 
Louisville, Ky. 
Philadelphia. 
Savannah, Ga. 
Charleston, S. C. 

115 

Year Pp. L.M. Size 

•X 

V 

Owensboro, Ky. 
Charleston, W. Va. 
Macon, Jefferson City 

and St.Louis, Mo. 
Mound Bayou, Miss. 
Richmond, Va. 
Tampa, Fla. 
Tuscumbla, Ala. 
Vlcksburg, Miss. 
Cincinnati, O. 
Memphis, Tenn. 
Rock Hill, 8. C. 
Wllkesbarre, Pa. 
Newport News, Va. 
Philadelphia. 
Columbia, Mo. 
Boston, Mass. 
Danville, Ky. 
Jacksonville. 
Ardmore, Okla. 
Beaumont, Tex. 
Seattle, Wash. 
Birmingham, Ala. 
Washington, Ga, 
Portland, Ore. 
Albany, Ga. 
Hampton, Va. 
Springfield, 111. 
Cleveland, O. 
New Orleans 
Red Bank. N..J. 
Memphis, Tenn. 
Birmingham, Ala. 
Chicago 
Topeka, Kan. 

Sumter, S. C. 

Portland, Ore. 

Springfield, 111. 

Helena, Ark. 

Staunton, Va. 

Beaufort, S. C. 

Boley, Okla. 

Jacksonville 

Huntsvllle, Ala. 

Atlanta, Ga. 

Pueblo, Col. 

Tuskegee, Ala. 

1895 

1895 

1895 

1895 

1885 

1895 

1896 

1896 

1896 

1896 

1895 

1896 

1896 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1897 

1898 

1898 

1898 

1898 

1898 

1898 

1888 

1899 

1899 

1889 

1900 

1900 

1900 

1900 

1900 

1900 

1900 

1901 

1901 

(?) 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1901 

1801 

1902 

1902 

1902 

1902 

1902 

1902 

1903 

1903 

1903 

1803 

1903 

1903 

1803 

1803 

1903 

1903 

1803 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1904 

1805 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

8 

8 

8 

8 

9 

4 

4 

8 

4 

8 

4 

4 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

4 

8 

8 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

8 

8 

4 

8 

12 

4 

4 

8 

4 

8 

8 

4 

8 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

8 

8 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

8 

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4 

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4 

4 

4 

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4 

4 

&A 

10 

5 

11 

18K 

9 

15 

1 

12 

3 

40 

10 

27 

22K 

10 

13K 

13 

10 

14W 

417 

19 

16K 

13 

13 

13 

15 

6 

14 

8 

14K 

8 

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15 

7K 

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10 

6 

6 

80 

12 

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10 

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20x26 

16x22 

13x20 

15x22 

18x24 

11x16 

15x22 

15x22 

15x22 

13x20 

15x22 

18x24 

15x19 

18x19 

18x20 

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12x19 

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18x24 

15x22 

12x20 

11x16 

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17x22 

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i 15x22 

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18x24 

; 15x22 

18x24 

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$ 16x22 

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12x18 

13x20 

18x24 

18x20 

15x22 

12x16 

15x22 

i 18x22 

I 15x22 

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11x15 

£ 13x20 

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ssa 

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 116 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Name 

American Problem 

Nashville Globe 

Llglit of the Race 

Farmers' Courier 

Southern Plowman 

The Messenger 

Chicago Defender 

Rlchomnd Planet 

Mid-weekly Progress 

Colored Alabamlan 

Waycross News 

Wisconsin Weekly Defender 

The Advance 

Saturday Evening News 

The Union 

Union Messenger 

Macon Dispatch 

The Dally Metropolitan 

San Antonio Inquirer 

National Industrial Enterprise 

The American Citizen 

Kansas City Son 

Yonkers Standard 

Fessenden Academy Herald 

New York Eye 

Union Ledger 

The Light 

Mississippi Odd Fellow 

Southern Indicator 

The Advocate 

The r'lalndealer 

Muskogee Dimeter 

Conservative Counselor 

The New Oenrary 

Spokane Citizen 

Atlantic City Weekly Topic 

Washington American 

Alien Student 

Wagoner Lantern 

Supreme Circle News 

Bath Times 

The New Age 
The Sentinel 
The College Journal 
Baltimore Times 
Appreciator Union 
Negro Leader 
St. John Herald 
Baptist Herald 
Ethiopian Phalanx 
The Caret 

The U. B. F. Searchlight 
Fort Valley Uplift 
New York Defender 
The Forum 

Wadesboro Enterprise 
Indiana Register 
Zanesville Advocate 
National Aspect 
Jackson Gazette 
The Enterprise 
Illinois Chronicle 
Pittsburgh Courier 

A. M. E. Church Review 
A. M. E. Z. Quarterly 
Gazetteer and Guide 

Business League Herald 

The Horizon 

McGlrt's Magazine 

The Liberator 

Negro World Echo 

The Sixth Race Magazine 

-Published 

Newport News, Va. 
Nashville, Tenn. 
Newport News, Va. 
Darlington, S. O. 

Columbia, S. C. 

Atlantic City, N. J. 

Chicago, 111. 

Richmond, Va. 

Memphis, Tenn. 

Montgomery, Ala. 

Waycross, Ga. 

Milwaukee, Wls. 

Providence, R. I. 
Columbus, O. 

Cincinnati, O. 

Dothan, Ala. 

Macon, Ga. « 

Dallas, Tex. 

San Antonio, Tex. 

Washington, D. O. 

Atlanta, Ga. 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Yonkers, N. Y. 

Fessenden, Ala. 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Anniston, Ala. 

Columbia, S. C. 

Holly Springs, Miss. 

Spartanburg, S. C. 

Boston. Mass. 

Helena, Mont. 

Muskogee, Okla. 

Gonzales, Tex. 

Norfolk, Va. 

Spokane, Wash. 

Atlantic City, N. J. 

Washington, D. O. 

Columbia, S. O. 

Wagoner, Okla. 
Albany, Ga. 

Hot Springs and Oov- 

Ington, Va, 
Los Angeles, Oal. 
Richmond, Ky. 
Savannah, Ga. 
Baltimore, Md. 
Ft. Smith. 
Uniontown, Ala. 
Montgomery, Ala 
Lynchburg, Va. 
Oovington, Ga. 
Philadelphia. 
Sedalia, Mo. 
Ft. Valley. Ga. 
New York 
Spokane, Wash. 
Wadesboro, N. O. 
Richmond, Ind. 
Zanesville, O. 
Chicago, 111. 
Jackson, Tenn. 
Muskogee, Okla. 
Chicago, 111. 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Magazines 

Nashville, Tenn 

Charlotte, N. O. 

St. Paul, Detroit, Rich 
mond, Va., and Mon 
treal. 

Washington, D. O 

Washington. D. O. 

Philadelphia. 

St. Louis. 

Hot Springs, Ark. 

Orlando, Fla. 

Year Pp. L.M. Size 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1905 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 

1906 
1906 

IMH 

1907 

1907 

1907 

1007 

1007 

1907 

1907 

1907 

1007 

1907 

1907 

1007 

1007 

1908 

1908 

li.lfS 

1908 

1908 

1908 

1908 

1908 

1908 

1908 

1908 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1S)09 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1909 

1909 

190!) 

1010 

1910 

1010 

1910 

1910 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

8 

4 
4 

8 

8 

8 

4 

8 

8 

4 

8 

4 

8 

8 

4 

8 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

6 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

1 

8 

4 

4 

8 

4 

8 

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27 

15 

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14 

12 

6 

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8 15x2"' 

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11 

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1882 100 99 

1889 91 182 

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6x9 

1900 24 'Hi., 11x16 

1908 12 84'., 9X12 

1907 12 24 10^X8 

(?) 40 60 6X9 

(?) 96 145 71 X9'. 

1910 64 86 iV^xlft 

1910 20 19 6xS*i 

Libraries 

Papers Not Received, but Reported as Being Published 

117 

The Tribune, Bessemer, Ala. 

The Selma News, Selma, Ala. 

Voice of the 20th Century, Argenta, Ark. 

Union Trumpet, Montrose, Ark. 

Reporter, Little Rock, Ark. 

Fraternal Union, Fort Smith, Ark. 

Echo, Hot Springs, Ark. 

Eagle, Los Angeles, Oal. 

The Forum, San Jose, Oal. 

The Light, Colorado Springs, Oolo. 

Delaware Advocate. Wilmington, Del. 

Afro-American Ledger,Wimyngton, Del. 

Masonic Forum, Jacksonville, Fla. 

Florida Tribune, Marianna, Fla. 

Christian Recorder, Orlando, Fin. 

Advocate, Covington, Ga. 

Baptist Truth, Macon, G%. 

Enterprise, Pulaski, Ga. 

Standard World, Columbus, O. 

Ohio Standard, Xenia, O. 

Republican, Muskogee, Okla. 

Sun, Ardmore, Okla. 

The Western Age, Langston, Okla. 

The Gazette, Buxton, la. 

The Enterprise, Salina, Kan. 

The Searchlight, Wichita, Kan. 

American Baptist, Louisville. Ky. 

Blue Grass Bugle, Frankfort, Ky. 

Report ir, Mt. Sterling, Ky. 

The Watchman, Shreveport, La. 

Republican Liberator, New Orleans, La. 

Louisiana Searchlight, Shreveport, La. 

The Guide, Evansville, Ind. 

The Sun, Columbia, S.O. 

The Monitor, Greenville, S. O. 

The Blade, Chattanooga, Tenn. 

The Conservator, Memphis, Tenn. 

The Signal, Memphis, Tenn. 

The Paul Quin Weekly, Waco, Tex. 

The Wiley Reporter, Marshall, Tex. 

The Witness, Houston, Tex. 

The Watchman, Austin, Tex. 

Texas Pythian Journal, Waco, Tex. 

The Searchlight, Austin, Tex. 

The New Idea, Galveston, Tex. 

The Item, Fort Worth, Tex. 

The Louisiana Record, New Orleans, La. 

The Advocate, Baltimore, Md. 

The Appeal, Meridian, Miss. 

The Baptist Reporter, Jackson, Miss. 

The Herald, Natchez, Miss. 

The News Journal, Laurel, Miss. 

Delta Light House. Greenville, Miss. 

The National Mirror, Kansas City, Mo. 

The Western Christian Recorder, Kan 
sas City, Mo. 

The Sentinel, East St. Louis, 111. 

The Signal, Kansas City, Mo. 

The Palladium, St. Louis, Mo. 

The American Citizen, Kansas City, Mo. 

The Advance, St. Louis, Mo. 

The Appeal, Jersey City, N. J. 

The IndustrialWatchman, Paterson,N.J. 

Voice of Missions, New York. 

The Statesman, New York. 

The National Review, New York. 

The Gazette, Charlotte, N. O. 

The Piedmont Advocate, Salisburg, N.C. 

The True Reformer, Littleton, N. C. 

The Bee, San Antonio, Tex. 

The Utah Plalndealer, Salt Lake City, U. 

The National Pilot, Petersburg, Va. 

The Virginia Baptist, Richmond, Va. 

The Colored Union, Clifton Forge, Va. 

The Westerner, Spokane, Wash. 
Fair Play, Parkersburg, W. Va. 
The Wisconsin Advocate, Milwaukee, 
Wis. 

Section 18. Libraries. Most of the public libraries of the South 
exclude Negroes, even though they pay taxes; for instance, in Atlanta 
there is a Carnegie public library and a branch library supported by 
public taxation, to which Negroes have no access. This and tha 
natural desire for books have led to movements for Negro libraries. 

In Montgomery, Ala., the Sojourner Truth Club was organized about 
twelve years ago by a number of young women. 

It has always stood for personal improvement and for social service. It 
meets twice a month, having one meeting devoted to business and the other 
to a literary program. For a number of years its benevolences were of a 
general character. For the past five years the strength of the clnb has been 
given mainly to the maintenance of a Free Reading-Room and Library. The 
establishment of the Reading-Room grew out of the fact that our people here 
were refused admission to the Carnegie Library. Appeals were made, in the 
churches and to the citizens in general, and about three hundred dollars 
collected to be used for furnishings. The present rooms were rented and 
the doors thrown open. At first the public was invited simply to come and 
read; later, as books were accumulated, books were loaned for use in the 
home. The expense of maintaining this work is between twenty and twenty- 
five dollars a month. It would be more, but the rooms are open for six hours 

 118 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

daily instead of all day. There are about five hundred volumes of good 
literature. 

The Sojourner Truth Club also gives an annual prize for the best paper 
written by a student of our Junior or Senior class on a subject connected with 
the history of the development of the race. 

Our money is raised by entertainments and contributions. In having 
entertainments to raise money for even so laudable an undertaking as the 
Eeading-Eoom and Library, we are scrupulous as to the character of these 
entertainments. We seek to have them at all times uplifting and elevating. 
Many of the most distinguished persons of the race have come to Montgom 
ery under the auspices of this club. Among them are Prof. Kelly Miller, 
Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Booker T. Washington, 
Mr. Joseph Douglass, Mr. Clarence White and Madame Anita Patti Brown 
of Chicago. 

Only thirty women compose this faithful little band. They have always 
stood for the highest and best things in club life, and have never shirked 
duties because they were hard. 

From Guthrie, Okla., we learn: 

The colored people of Guthrie have an organization known as the Excelsior 
Club, which is conducting a library for the Negroes. The city has appro 
priated a part of the taxes for its maintenance, but since it is conducted 
wholly and partially supported by Negroes, it ought to be counted. It is called 
the Excelsior Club Library. 

There is also a colored library in Dallas, Tex., and one has just been 
incorporated in Jacksonville, Fla.; besides this, Jacksonville has a 
colored department to her public library. 

The number of books loaned from the colored department has increased 
from 5,031 in 1907 to 7,182 in 1808, an increase of 2,151. The registration has 
nearly doubled, being 121 in 1907 and 234 in 1908. Even with this increase, 
however, the use of the department is still very small when the large colored 
population of the city is considered. If the time should come when a sepa 
rate branch library for the colored people could be conducted, we are con 
vinced that the registration and circulation could quickly be very greatly 
increased. For the present, however, the finances of the library forbid this 
important step. In November the librarian gave an address at the Florida 
Baptist Academy, a colored school, on the subject "What Books are For." 

The Colored Branch of the Louisville, Ky., public library says: 
In outlining the library system for Louisville the Trustees wisely planned 
a special library for the 40,000 colored citizens. After the opening of the main 
library the Colored Branch came next on September 23,1905, in temporary 
quarters. At the same time the Board purchased a site at Tenth and Chestnut 
streets, where one of the Carnegie branch buildings was erected, and opened 
October 29,1908. 

The new building is 77 feet long and 45 feet wide, two stories high, built of 
brick with some trimmings and tile roof. On the main floor near the entrance 
is the delivery desk and back of it are large tables with abundant space for 
reading and reference; to the left on entering is a newspaper alcove, an office 
and the special children's room; to the right is a magazine alcove, a special 
room for adults and a small study-room. The ground floor contains a large 
lecture-room, two class-rooms, and supply and boiler rooms. 

Day Nurseries 

COST OF PI.ANT 

Site...................................................9 8,18000 

Improving grounds ................................ 1,048 68 

119 

A, 

v 

J 4,228 68 

Building proper...... .............................. 27,51174 

Light fixtures....................................... 433 55 

Furniture............................................ 8,80584 

Books and periodicals . 

81,840 63 

6,189 71 

Total........................................................$41,709 02 

CIBCUI/ATION 

The number of volumes drawn for home use was: 

First fiscal year ............................................... 17,838 

Second fiscal year ............................................ 80,259 

Third fiscal year ..... ........................................ 85,910 

September 1,1808 to May 1,1909.............................. 89,754 

Total....................................................... 123,761 

The library contains 6,882 volumes of books and 65 current magazines and 
periodicals, all of which are free. New books are being added constantly. 
The branch serves as a reference library for the colored schools. Books are 
distributed free, not only at the branch proper but also at various public 
schools. 

The opening of its doors marked an epoch in the development of the race. 
It is the only institution of its kind in existence and has been a success from 
the beginning. Since its opening 123,761 volumes have been drawn for home 
use; of these only 38 per cent were fiction and 67 per cent were children's 
books. It is at present in such high favor that the Library Trustees in May 
1909 voted to establish a Second Colored Branch in the eastern portion of 
the city. 

Besides these Hampton Institute sends out Traveling Libraries, and 
the number sent from Atlanta University has been increased this year 
to twenty-five. 

Section 19. Day Nurseries. We now come to a set of specialized 
and more scientific charities, and many of which the Negro population 
as a whole is just learning. There are, therefore, comparatively few 
examples of these among them, but the few that are arising are very 

significant. 

The Day Nursery is a widespread and crying need among Negroes. 
There ought to be not only several in each city and town, but also in 
country districts. It is a potent field for philanthropic enterprise. 

The Women's Union Day Nursery in Philadelphia is one of the most 
successful. 

The Women's Union Day Nursery was first opened November, 1898, at 1508 
Lombard street, and so is now in its tenth year. It is entirely conducted by 
an organization of colored women of every religious denomination. Its sup 
port has come almost entirely from our own people. The children of parents 
whose work calls them from home are taken care of from 6.30 a.m. to 650 p.m. 
for five (5) cents a day. They receive excellent care, and three wholesome 
meals are provided. All children of the proper age are sent to the kinder 
garten or school. 

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120 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The Nursery is now located at 707 S. 19th street, this property having been 
recently secured by the Women's Union Missionary Society as a permanent 
home. Since moving into the new location, May 10th, an aggregate number 
of three thousand four hundred children have been cared for. The largest 
attendance in one day was forty. 

This increase in work has made a corresponding increase in expenses, and 
we strongly appeal to all, particularly the church, to help to carry on this 
most excellent charity. 

The society that carries this on has a membership of 200 and has 
spent about $2,000 annually. The property at 707 S. 19th street cost 
$4,000, and $1,000 worth of repairs put, upon it. The work is purely 
charitable and no one in the organization receives any remuneration. 

The Day Nursery in Columbus, O., on the other hand, was hegun and 
is still supported largely by white people. 

This institution was inaugurated by the Woman's Educational and Indus 
trial Union, a corporation of Christian women (white) of this city, February 
4th, 1901, in a two-story five-room frame building, at 231 N. Ohio avenue. 

At the opening of the Nursery a matron and cook were employed and three 
children constituted their first care, which number has gradually increased 
until at the present time they number 58. 

Realizing the necessity of some assistance from the colored people in car 
rying on this work, on April 19th, 1901, an auxiliary board of managers was 
organized among them, consisting of four members, who worked in conjunc 
tion with the white board. 

Owing to the rapid growth of the institution the auxiliary board was, in 
1902, increased to twelve members. 

About this time it became apparent that this building was not adequate 
for the growth of the Nursery. As the necessity for more room and increased 
facilities for doing the work became evident, il was decided by the board to 
purchase larger quarters, which they did by securing the present quarters, a 
seven-room brick house, modern, with two large lots at 162 N. Ohio avenue, in 
the name of The Woman's Educational and Industrial Union. 

In Lexington, Ky., there is a Day Nursery just beginning: 

The Woman's Improvement Club has purchased a four-room cottage with 
nice playground, in which to begin this work. The house is now undergoing 
repairs, and I was so successful as to solicit the material necessary for said 
repairs. Lumber, paint, paper, roofing and guttering have been given. The 
workmen readily responded to the request to give a portion of their labor. As 
soon as the house is ready for use we have the promise of furniture. 

The Nursery in Washington, D. C., at 69 O street, is supported almost 
entirely by white people. 

The Nursery at Pittsburgh, Pa., reports: 

Some ladies of the Baptist church have established a Day Nursery at 3211 
Penn avenue, which is filling a long-felt want. They also take children 
temporarily, which has been a great help to the Juvenile Court work. 

The Douglass Club of Austin, Tex., is seeking to establish a nursery 
and there are other nurseries established on Rodman street, Philadel 
phia, and Bainbridge street, in the .Lincoln Settlement of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., in Richmond, Va., Athens, Ga., Louisville, Ky., and Los An 
geles, Cal. There are probably a number of others unreported. 

Social Settlements 

121 

Section 20. Social Settlements. There are a few Social settlements 
among the Negro city populations, and considerable unorganized slum 
work like that of the Women's Twentieth Century League in Mobile, 
Ala. 

The Presbyterian Colored Missions maintained by the Southern white 
Presbyterians of Louisville, Ky., is a specimen of settlement work. 
They report as follows: 

The Presbyterian Colored Missions celebrated the tenth anniversary of 
their organization on April 14,1907, and the work has now passed the experi 
mental stage and is a firmly established factor for good in this community. 
The year which closed on March 31, 1907, was one of marked progress and 
some permanent results were achieved. There were more pupils enrolled, 
more religious services conducted, and more industrial classes instructed each 
week, than ever before in their history. 
The average weekly attendance for the year was as follows: 

Pupils Teachers 
First quarter, April-June, 1806.......... 445 52 

Second quarter, July-Sept., 1806........ 427 25 

Third quarter, Oct.-Dec., !•.««..-.,. .. . 538 47 

Fourth quarter, Jan.-Mch., 1S07.... 677 54 

The average weekly attendance for first three week? in April, 1907, showed 
744 pupils and 54 teachers. 

They maintain a cooking-school, carpentry shop, sewing-school and 
public playgrounds. This work is supported almost entirely by South 
ern whites. 

On San Juan Hill, New York city, a noted Negro quarter, is a 
missionary settlement work supported by the white Episcopalians and 
carried on by colored priests and workers, known as St. Cyprian's 
Chapel. This settlement ministers to over 1,500 families, and has a 
new parish house and four workers. 

, The new building has made it possible to assemble our congregation under 
healthier and more churchly conditions, and so our services have continued 
to grow, not only in numbers but in heartiness and reverence. With our new 
gymnn-ium, our shower baths and lockers, we have been enabled to carry out 
our long-cherished desire to enlarge the scope of our work among our boys 
and girls as well as that with young men and women of the neighborhood. 
For six afternoons and evenings of each week, under safe and competent 
instruction, our young folks are carried through exercises that will tend to 
give them strong and vigorous bodies. In this connection I ought to mention 
also the excellent work done by four young women, communicants of St. Cyp 
rian's, as visitors, nurses, or model home-keepers in our district. 

Several doctors, white and colored, meet the mothers in our rooms, and after 
examining the infants give talks as to their proper feeding and clothing. The 
New York Milk Committee has kindly supplied pure milk to such as were 
too poor to buy it. Some 200 children have been handled. Of this number not 
six died during the summer. 

Four hundred and twenty girls are enrolled in cooking and sewing-schools. 
The cooking-school has grown into a lunchroom where poor and hungry 
school children and other sick folk are fed. 

During the month of October 156 meals were given to the poor, while the 
400 sold to school children about covered the total expenses. Once a month 

\S> 

 122 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

our young people have donation parties, at which time they bring gifts of gro 
ceries, canned goods and vegetables for the lunchroom. In the sewing-school 
our girls continue to make underwear and dresses which when finished are 
given or sold to them. Out of the sewing-school has come an industrial ex 
change which gives sewing to worthy women who come to us seeking employ 
ment. The garments made by these workers are sold through our Clothing 
Bureau, as are second-hand shoes and other clothing. We repair our shoes 
through our cobbling classes. 

Chicago furnishes a settlement, of a different type—the Frederick 
Douglass Center, on Wabash avenue. This work was founded by Celia 
Parker Woolley, and its object is stated to be: to promote a just and 
amicable relation between the white and colored people; to remove 
the disabilities of which the latter suffer in their civil, political and 
industrial life; to encourage equality irrespective of race, color, or other 
arbitrary distinction; to establish a settlement of friendly helpfulness 
and influence in which to gather useful information, and for mutual 
co-operation for the needs of right living and higher citizenship. One 
of the reports says: 

The Frederick Douglass Center is increasingly busy on old and new lines. 
Its work is educational and philanthropic. 

The Negro in this country suiters not only those hindrances that spring 
from his former enslavement, but he suffers even more from the obstacles 
imposed in race and caste feeling. Our treatment of the colored people in this 
country constitutes the greatest charge that can be made against our patriot 
ism, our religion, our humanity. The civilized world stands aghast at the 
crimes committed almost daily by race hatred in this country, the most 
advanced civilization under the sun. 

The darkest spot on our national escutcheon is race prejudice. This feeling 
exists in other parts of the world: in Russia against the J ew, in Great Britain 
against her Irish, JBoer and East Indian subjects, but nowhere does this feeling 
find more brutal expression than with us. Nowhere is it a greater travesty 
on the general creed and profession than in our free republic. 

This attempt to establish a center of friendly influence and co-operation 
between the races has met the approval of representative men and women of 
highest standing on both sides the color line. Its demand for the colored peo 
ple is equal opportunity. Its plea to the white is for simple justice, while its 
labors for the moral uplift of the people in its vicinity are incessant. 

The workers are both colored and white, and the activities consist of 
a woman's club, sewing-class, children's singing-class, study-class, an 
orchestra, quartette and religious services Sunday afternoon; besides 
this there are social meetings of colored and white people with lectures 
and talks. A building worth $5,500 has been bought, and no salaries 
are paid except to the sewing teacher, the janitor and the housekeeper. 

One of the best social settlements along regular lines is the Colored 
Social Settlement on M street, Washington, D. C. It is conducted by 
colored and white people and is doing an excellent work. 

In the year 1902 Mr. Charles F. Weller, former secretary of the Associated 
Charities of this city, founded in southwest Washington a colored social set 
tlement. The object of this organization was to place before the neglected 
and unfortunate colored people such principles of industry and right living as 

Social Settlements 

123 

would remove the causes of dependence which exists so prominently among 
a great number of the people in southwest Washington. 

In two small meanly-provided houses situated at 116-118 M street S.W., this 
institution has been Located since it was founded. These houses are without 
even water. Besides visiting the neglected homes of the unfortunate colored 
people of this district, teaching them morality, temperance, religion, and 
neatness in domestic life, this settlement maintains a day nursery where the 
babies of working mothers are cared for through the day, while the mother 
provides for house-rent and other necessities of life. We are also giving in 
structions in housekeeping, cooking, sewing and drawing. Again, the settle 
ment has managed a stamp savings bank where, in the year of 1908, over 
a thousand dollars, mostly in pennies, were deposited by children and adults 
who had probably never saved a cent before: now they were learning their 
first lesson in thrift. 

The public can little imagine the immense good this work has done for the 
colored people of southwest Washington, and little can they imagine the 
great work that yet remains to be done. The problem is a difficult one, but if 
the generous-hearted and Christian people of this city support us, in time the 
desired work will be accomplished. 

At present there is under erection a sixteen room building which will bet 
ter accommodate the work. And there will be carried on in this building in 
addition to the industries taught at the present Settlement House, carpentry, 
shoe-repairing and chair-caning. A library and gymnasium will also be pro 
vided. The cost of this building is $6,'' , $1, of which will go for the equip 
ment. There must also be raised $ ' per month for the running expenses. 

As this institution is supported entirely hy voluntary contributions, we must 
look to the public for the money with which to pay this debt and at the same 
time keep the work in progress. 

Philadelphia has three colored settlements. The Eighth Ward Social 
Settlement has three residents and 22 workers. 

The Starr Center, an old work, has a branch of the city library and 
a coal club of a thousand members who pay in over three thousand 
dollars a year; medical visitation, a dispensary, kindergarten, penny 
lunches and a savings bank. This is supported very largely by white 
people and most of the workers are white. 

The Spring Street Settlement has both colored and white managers 
and workers. It has the following departments of work: 

Gymnasium class for large boys, in which wholesome talks are given. 

Cobbler class. To teach older boys to mend and to make shoes. 

Chair-caning class. To teach younger boys to cane chairs. 

Dressmaking class. For older girls. 

Domestic science class. To teach girls plain house-keeping duties. 

Social evenings for small boys and girls. Some preliminary work is done, 
after which games are played, lantern talks given, etc. 

Social evenings for large girls. Same as above. 

Mothers' meetings. To discuss helpful topics of home-life and care and 
training of children. 

Savings fund. 

Library. 

Fuel savings fund. 

First-day (Sunday) school. 

Colored probation officer. 

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 124 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Visiting nurse. Colored trained nurse who calls on families whec illness 
is reported and sees that medical attendance, medicines and proper diet are 
obtainable; also that cleanliness, ventilation, etc., are observed. Visits and 
assists daily or when necessary. 

The Lincoln Settlement is in Brooklyn, N. Y. It has a kindergarten, 
day nursery, visiting-nurse, and physician. It is supported by white 
and colored people—the president, Miss Mary W. Ovingtoii, being white 
and the head worker being colored. 

The eleventh ward of Brooklyn for nearly a century has been the home of 
colored people, and it remains so to-day despite the encroachment of busi 
ness houses. Fleet, Prince, Navy and Fair streets and Hudson avenue are 
largely populated by the Negro race. 

Poverty dwarfs the life of this ward, and vice and crime thrive on some of 
its streets. Myrtle avenue has a crowd of loafers who corrupt its neighboring 
boys, and a decent girl avoids Hudson avenue at night. Disease breeds in the 
rear tenements and in the frame houses, too dilapidated to be worth repair 
ing. Sometimes the nights are noisy with carousing, and the worthy families 
whom necessity forces to live with the bad, see their children in contact with 
much that they can not remedy but deeply deplore. 

In this neighborhood, at 105 Fleet place, the Lincoln Settlement was opened 
in May, 1908. Its organizers hope that it will stand for a center of social serv 
ice to the neighborhood, and especially to the colored people who are not 
reached by other philanthropic organizations. 

The Flanner Guild, of Indianapolis, Ind.. is a neighborhood home 
established about ten years ago. The properties were given to the 
Negroes of Indianapolis by a prominent white undertaker, Frank. W. 
Flanner. The first property given had on it, a double house of four 
rooms, two on a side, which was repaired, furnished and made com 
fortable for the work and vised for two years. The work grew so 
rapidly that it was necessary to have a. larger building. Mr. Flanner 
then gave another piece of property and the building now occupied 
was erected. It has an office, reading-room, a large convenient kitchen, 
an assembly-hall with a seating capacity of two hundred; joining this 
building is a four-room residence. 

The Guild is a charitable institution for the moral and industrial uplift of 
the Negro boys and girls, and is struggling and striving to do its duty in the 
neighborhood. In the office we have a telephone for the accommodation of 
the public; an employment agency is managed by the matron. The reading- 
room has games and literature for the children and they spend their idle 
hours here, and each evening from seven to nine o'clock the room is crowded. 

We have a boys' club with a membership of thirty-five. On Wednesday 
evening of each week these boys are instructed in military drilling by Cap 
tain James Anderson. 

The kitchen is large and properly equipped for the instruction of cooking 
classes, or the preparations of serving clubs,receptions and social gatherings. 

The assembly is bright and cheerful, with a large platform and a piano. On 
Sunday afternoons during the winter months we have one hour's devotional 
service and a short program, which are usually well attended, owing to the 
fact that some of the best talent participate from time to time. We know 
that great good has been accomplished in the neighborhood. Clubs and 

Social Settlements 

125 

literary societies have the privilege of using the hall at any time, and onr 
entertainments and social gatherings are held with great satisfaction. 

We have an orchestra of nine pieces under the direction and management 
of Mr. smith, with Ruth E. Guthrie, aged fifteen years, as pianist. They re 
hearse Tuesday and Friday evenings of each week. 

Sewing and millinery are taught the girls by the matron and the voluntary 
service of women interested in the success of the work. 

The day nursery for the little tots adds much to the work; ten cents each 
per day furnishes lunch for them. Many mothers are compelled to work 
away from home, and the larger children are in school; but their minds can 
be at ease, for they know that their little tots are kept warm, have something 
to eat and are out of danger of the evils of the city. 

We have a choral society with an enrollment of seventy-five, under the 
direction of Professor Robert Anston. This gives those musically inclined a 
chance to learn all the rudiments of music and voice culture. 

After the present matrorj had been in the work about a year it was deemed 
necessary to open another branch of work that we might have a place to care 
for fallen Negro girls; there being no place in the city among the white insti 
tutions that would accommodate them. March 1,1908, the first cottage men 
tioned was comfortably fitted and furnished for a maternity home. This has 
a sitting-room, dining-room, dormitory and kitchen. Friendless fallen girls 
ranging in age from 15 to 21 years are placed in this cottage, nursed and cared 
for until they are able to return to work. 

Medical assistance is donated by the different physicians of the city. Drs. 
A. J. Kin. and A. H. Wilson were the first to serve us. We also accept young 
girls with their Little ones from the city hospital, as they are discharged in 
two weeks after their illness regardless of where they are to go. We encour 
age the girls to keep their babies, and do everything in our power to find 
homes for the girls and their little ones. We endeavor to surround these 
girls with Christian and motherly influence, with kindness and sympathy to 
make them feel they have friends, and though they have sinned they can be 
forgiven and may improve their lives by being honest Christian girls. Ten 
girls have been nursed in the Home and ten from the city hospital with babies 
have been cared lor. 

This work is wholly dependent upon the generosity of the public for main 
tenance, and so far we have been able to successfully carry it on. There is a 
Ladies' Board of Managers who work earnestly to help us. 

A nine-room house and lot was given the Guild by Rev. Moses Dixon. This 
property was not convenient for the work here, it being in another locality. 
The board of trustees decided it best to sell this property and pay off the 
indebtedness of the Guild. This was done and the Guild proper is free from 

debt. 

The county appropriates $500 each year, which is used for current expenses. 

Much and lasting good has been accomplished since the establishment of 
this institution in this neighborhood; as the time goes on the results become 
more evident. 

Some of the colored schools are doing settlement work. The Institu 
tional Church of Atlanta, for instance, with its various settlement 
activities, has a membership composed largely of Atlanta University 
graduates. Atlanta Baptist College supports a Neighborhood Guild. 
There is a large Baptist church doing institutional work in Jackson 
ville, Fla. There are two settlements at Hampton, Va. 

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 126 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Civic Reform 

127 

The two settlements in which the school takes an active part are located in 
the town of Hampton and in the country near-hy. Roth are in charge of 
resident workers who are not directly connected with the school. The former 
is the larger. It has a clubhouse and makes use of the home and grounds of 
Mrs. Harris Barrett, who founded and still carries on the work. Six girls' and 
women's clubs meet here—five every week and one every month. The mem 
bership is from one hundred twenty-five to one hundred fifty. They meet 
"to learn sewing, to do quilting, to talk about the care of the home, to cultivate 
the love for flowers, and to do other useful things which make for a better and 
happier life." Four boys' clubs with a membership of about sixty-five and 
a night-school with an average attendance of twelve also use the Barrett home 
regularly. The object of the club is to create a desire for healthful pleasures, 
such as singing, reading, table and athletic games. One club has a bank 
account of thirty dollars. 

In some cases the associated charities have colored auxiliaries or 
workers who are doing systematic charitable work; in Harrisburg, Pa., 
for Instance, there is a ladles' auxiliary to the Associated Charities, 
with 54 members and a bank account. They think of opening a social 
settlement. 

At Columbus, O., the Associated Charities reported in 1909: 
For several years past a full third of all our families have been colored 
families. Believing that a properly-qualified visiting agent of their own race 
would be more helpful in tracing out the causes of their distress and stimu 
lating them to self-help, we secured last fall the services of Miss Bowles, whose 
work this past year has proven the truth of our contention beyond a doubt. 
AVe feel that this is one of the most important advances we have made during 
the year. 

Section 21. Kindergartens. The most elaborate effort at systematic 
free kindergartens is that of the Gate City Free Kindergarten Associa 
tion of Atlanta, Ga. Some years ago some colored people of the city 
started a free kindergarten association. It ran a kindergarten for two 
years and then getting into financial difficulties suspended. -Later, at 
one of the Atlanta University Conferences, Miss Gertrude Ware, the 
white superintendent of kindergarten methods in the Atlanta Univer 
sity Training School, suggested a new beginning of the work. The 
colored women rallied again, and the result has been five free kinder 
gartens here in operation; four of them since 1905 and the fifth started 
last year. The following are the figures concerning these kinder 
gartens: 

Raised Expended 
1905-06...................,,,,,. ......_.... .......$ 1,043 60 $ 44319 

1808-07 ........................ ......."........ 689 63 850 00 

1907-08........................... ................ 546 05 921 15 

1908-09........................... ............. 1,08986 1,04100 

Average attendance each kindergarten, 26 in a.m.,and 15 in p.m. 
Total average attendance .............................. 200 children 

At such times as Christmas 400 children are reached. 

No aid is received from the State, although the white kindergartens 
receive such help. 

In Columbus, Ga., on the other hand, the colored association began 
and supported the kindergartens, but they were eventually taken over 

by the city. 

In Gaiuesville,Tex., the Women's Beading Club is abovit to establish 

a free kindergarten. 

Many of the settlements, like the Lincoln Settlement, Brooklyn, the 
Star Centre, Philadelphia, and the Washington Settlement, have kin 
dergartens connected with them. 

In Anderson, S. C., the only club or institution doing wholly char 
itable work is the Thurman Kindergarten Club which has established 
and maintained a free kindergarten for the past seven months, paying 
a teacher forty dollars per month and purchasing material and furni 
ture. The president of this club is also president of the W. C. T. U., of 
which the kindergarten club is an auxiliary. 

The colored women of Harrisburg, Pa., are planning to establish a 
kindergarten and a. day nursery. 

It will thus be seen that the kindergarten idea is new and being 
developed only in a. few centers. 

Section 22, Civic Reform. The continued charges of criminality 
against the Negroes have aroused sentiment among them in many 
places. These charges are known to be exaggerated and unjust, but, 
at the same time, it is recognized that by reason of economic transition 
and racial prejudice it is much easier for colored boys and girls to fall 
into crime than for most white children. Effort, therefore, is being 
put forth here and there to reclaim criminals, stop crime, and spread 
some knowledge of civic duties. These efforts, however, are dependent 
for their successes very largely upon the attitude of the authorities. In 
the S^uth, and especially the lower South, the colored people are 
almost helpless; they have few or no representatives on the police 
force; no influence in the police courts; no control over the jail and 
methods of punishment. Personal influence may do something, but, 
for the most part, they have to sit by and see children punished unin- 
telligently and men and women unjustly. In the Border States and in 
some of the large cities of the North, however, constructive work is 
being done. In Johnstown, Pa., lor instance: 

We have a probation officer in the person of your humble servant, ap 
pointed by a Democrat judge of this county. I am a member of the Civic 
Club (white) and was recommended by the said club. We have several white 
probation officers and they wanted someone to look after the dependent col 
ored children. All children sent by the Cambia Civic Club to the various 
schools, our county pays $1.50 lor their board. 
Pittsburgh, Pa., reports: 

Our Juvenile Court Association was formed about three years ago to help 
care for the colored Juvenile Court children who were without friends. Here 
tofore we have been paying for some boys and girls in different institutions 
and have found private homes for many others. We have now decided to 
pay the salary of s1 probation officer instead of paying board for children in 

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 128 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

institutions, thinking that we can the better serve our race thereby. In Pitts 
burgh the county does not pay the salaries of probation officers, but they are 
paid by private organizations, clubs, etc. The Juvenile Court Association 
(white) pay five; the Catholics pay two; the Jews pay one, and the Colored 
Association pays one. The legislature now sitting in Harrisburg may pass 
a hill providing for the payment of the salaries and this association will pro 
vide only for the charitable end of the cases, for there is much destitution 
attending many cases. 

Kansas City, Missouri, has the Negro Civic, League, an organization 
composed of about forty of the leading colored men, ministers, tnach- 
ers, business men, etc., devoted to the social, moral, physical, political, 
economic and intellectual betterment of the race. A part of the work 
of this civic league is extremely interesting. It has taken over a sub- 
organization called the "Brotherhood." 

The society was formed at the request of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, 
with which it works as a committee on Negro cases. This Board, at the out 
set of its work, found it impossible to deal justly and intelligently with 
Negroes brought before them, because of a lack of information concerning 
their cases. Hence, a few of our prominent public-spirited citizens were 
called in and formed into a committee, whose duty should be to examine and 
report upon all Negro cases before action by the Board. Our committee felt 
a great responsibility resting upon its shoulders, in fact we feel now that we 
are on trial, as our attitude toward each case is scrutinized carefully, and 
never before hap such an opportunity been given to us to protect and encour 
age our unfortunate masses. 

To systematize and make our work efficient, the committee divided the city 
into fifteen districts, each having from one to five workers—members of the 
Brotherhood—all of whom were selected with special attention to their moral 
worth in the communities in which they reside. The duty of these members 
is to keep in close touch with the life of their districts and report upon all 
cases of crimes and misdemeanors or any irregularity to our executive com 
mittee of seven—five men and two women—who after due deliberation for 
wards its result to the Board. 

The work of the Brotherhood does not end there. Each person paroled 
must report weekly to our secretary and tell us what he is doing, and we are 
to encourage him by visits and advice, keeping always in touch with him. 

XJp to this writing we have secured some fifteen pardons, none of whom 
has broken his faith with the Board. But even more, we have been able to 
prevent many petty cases from going on record by using our influence for a 
good, healthy moral tone in our districts. Disorderly houses, illicit practices 
and many other offenses have been checked by bringing quiet but forceful 
pressure to bear upon them. 

There are no salaried positions and no money is solicited or required by us 
whatever. Each worker feels that the opportunity to do something for our 
more unfortunate brethren, and the opportunity of coming in contact with 
the best element, of the white men and women of our city, is ample reward for 
our services. 

In Baltimore the Colored Law and Order League has been waging a 
fight against disreputable saloons, with considerable success.1 

icf. Waring: "Work of the Colored Law and Order League, Baltimore, Md. OLe- 
ney. Pa., 1910. 

Civic Reform 

129 

Springfield, 111., has a Law and Order League formed since the dis 
graceful race riot. 

In various Southern States there have been efforts to establish re 
formatories. In Bichmond, Va., a colored man, the Hon. John R. 
Smythe, formed a Negro Reformatory Association. 

He secured subscriptions and laid his plans before the Prison Association 
of Virginia and received their endorsement. He then organized and incor 
porated the Negro Reformatory Association of Virginia, of which he was 
president until his death. With the money obtained by his efforts from 
philanthropists, north and south, the association purchased 405 acres of the 
old plantation known as Broad Neck Farm. The remaining 1,200 acres was 
later purchased by Mr. C. P. Huntington and leased to my father for the use 
of the school. 

In 1898 the school was started with six boys from the penitentiary pardoned 
by the Governor, and committed to the institution for the remainder of their 
terms. The State then made an appropriation for the support of 100 boys at 
83 cents per day for clothing and 25 cents per day for board. Out of this annual 
income, together with subscriptions, my father was able to clear up the land> 
build dormitories, start farming operations on a large scale, and pay all the 
employees, about 14 in number. 

The work of the school has been excellent from a moral standpoint. The 

percentage of lapses into former errors have been, I believe, less than ten 

per cent. These lapses have been mostly among the older boys. The work 

, carried on at the Reformatory is mostly agricultural. It was my father's 

. hope to ultimately establish a first-class trades school, but as yet it has been 

impossible to start this school with the limited meaus at the command of the 

institution. 

In Alabama, as has been noted, the State Federation of Women's 
Clubs opened a Negro Reformatory at Mt. Meigs, and has been sup 
porting it, hoping for eventual State aid. 

In Arkansas the Women's Clubs have done a similar piece of work. 
In Georgia there have been several small reformatories started. One 
in Macon reports: 

We are styled the Delaney Mission and Reformatory Club. We were or 
ganized February 19,1906, with five members, and have now an enrollment 
of over sixty. The Reformatory which we help to support is situated three 
miles from the city of Macon. It is an institution for wayward boys and 
girls. The school is not a denominational school, but its founders and chief 
supporters are Baptist ministers and the laymen of their churches. We meet 
once a week and put our little mites together, and by that means \ve have 
been able since we were organized to raise in actual cash $375 for the Reform 
atory, part of which we gave to the Convention to be used for erecting a large 
building at the Home and with the other we bought a buggy for them and a 
cow and paid for both. We have given them aid aside from the things men 
tioned above, by way of clothing and food, giving picnics, etc. 

The Johnson's Orphanage of Macon, Ga., and the Carrie Steele Or 
phanage of Atlanta, Ga., are partially reformatory; the latter is aided 
by the 'City of Atlanta. 

The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs has been inter 
ested in juvenile work in various parts of the country. 

 130 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

The Unity Political Club of Haverhill, Mass., aims 

" to encourage political, economic and educational activity among colored 
citizens of Essex county." This club has only been organized nine months. 
It is pledged to no one party, but is simply pledged to the good of the city 
and State and race. 

In Paducah, Ky., there was a movement in this line: 

The Forum movement was begun in our town, but everything is dormant 
at present. I was connected with a similar movement in Bowling Green, Ky. 
The Forum there had an interesting career of four or five years, bringing the 
colored people together monthly for the discussion of vital matters incident 
to our race life, working up a spirit of racial co-operation, and culminating in 
the opening of a grocery which did a creditable business. I should mention 
also that through the agency of the Forum the city council abolished certain 
nuisances repugnant to the better element of our people. 

While I have been active in the above mentioned organizations, yet the 
idea came to us (as well as I can remember) from Chicago and Kansas City, 
Kan. 

The following extract from a set of resolutions show the purpose of tho 
Organization: 

"Further be it resolved, that we organize ourselves into a body to be styled 
"The Forum," which shall meet monthly, on a Sunday afternoon convenient 
to the coming together of all the congregations of our city churches, and 
whose object shall be to take constant note of the conditions and needs of our 
people; to allow opportunity for free and open discussion of these conditions 
and needs; and to take such steps and measures, and to initiiate such enter 
prises and movements, as will promote the religious, moral, educational, civic 
and temporal welfare of our people." 

In Lynchburg, Va., there is a Civic League, and also one in "Wash 
ington, D. C.: 

The Civic Club of Washington, D. C., was organized about five years ago. As 
its name implies, its scope is civic rather than charitable. Like all other 
organizations among the colored people of whatever kind, it has shown a 
lively interest in matters pertaining especially to the race. We have endeav 
ored to oppose and remedy the discrimination that is shown in nearly all 
public places in this city against colored people. We have accomplished very 
little on account of the lack of suffrage. We have no building, but meet at 
the homes of members. 

The Equal Suffrage League of the National Association of Colored 
Women has sent out literature and circulated petitions. 

Section 23. Miscellaneous. Among miscellaneous efforts which 
may be noted are boys' clubs, summer camps, and efforts at securing 
work, humane bands and tuberculosis leagues. 

There is a Boys' Club in Indianapolis, Ind., and in Louisville, Ky., a 
society for the reclamation and improvement of newsboys. 

The Boys' Culture Club of St. Paul, Minn., reports: 

The Boys' Culture Club of St. Paul, Minn., was organized in January, 1904. 
The object of this club is to promote a feeling of brotherhood among its mem 
bers, to teach them the principles of honest, intelligent self-government, to 
encourage good citizenship among them; also to be directed in Physical Cul- 

Miscellaneous 

131 

tnre, that they may become strong, mental and physical men. During which 
time we have given several literary, gymnastic and athletic entertainments, 
among which we have given three annual, gymnastic and athletic exposi 
tions, in 1907,1908 and 1909, respectively. 

We also have baseball, football and basket-ball teams in connection with the 
club. Each of the teams have made good records during the four years they 
have been playing. Neither team has lost more than two games out of the 
season. 

The Wissahickon School Club, conducted by white people near 
Philadelphia for Negroes, has manual training class, out-door ath 
letics, lectures and entertainments, and spends over $1,000 a year; some 
4,500 boys attend its various functions. 

The Enypty Stocking and Fresh Air School of Baltimore has a sum 
mer home for poor colored children. 

The Summer Outing Home of "Washington, D. C., maintains a camp 
of about 1500 children at a cost of $650. This enterprise was supported 
by white and colored people. 

The Woman's Employment Company of Indianapolis, Ind., maintains 
a Summer Camp for the sick, and the Lincoln Settlement of Brooklyn 
has summer outings. 

In the line of increasing opportunities for employment there are 
numbers of benevolent efforts, among which might be mentioned the 
Farmer's Conference at Hampton and Tuskegee, the Georgia State 
College, Calhoun and other places, and the Farmer's Union at Waugh, 
Ala. 

There are two or three women's exchanges, one in Richmond, Va. 
In New York and Philadelphia, through the Armstrong Association, 
there is a special effort to secure opportunities for competent Negro 
artisans to work; money and advice for this has been furnished by 
white and colored contributors. The actual work has been done by 
Negro executive officers. In Philadelphia, for instance, there was 
reported in 1908: 

STTMMAEY OF BIKE MOUTHS' WOEK 

Number of j obs given up to date since April, 1908......... 85 

Number of men employed through such jobs.............. 81 

Amountof cash of such jobs, material and all, about..... $ 17,500 

Number of jobs estimated on since April, 1908, i. e.. over 
$500 or In which there was a competitor, or In which 
an estimate was especially asked for by patron... . .. 46 

Amount of cash In such, about.............................. $138,000 

Jobs given to colored architects............................. 4 

Number of meetings held by Carpenters' Association.... 20 

Number of meetings held by General Association ........ 16 

Manual training Introduced In three public schools. 

Public meetings held In churches........................... 4 

The following is an outline of the work of the Armstrong Association 
for the colored people of Philadelphia from April, 1908, to January 1, 

1909. 

The chief work of the Association has been to secure work for com 
petent colored mechanics, and thus to help them help themselves. Up to 
date nearly $18,000 worth of work has been secured. More than 80 different 

F" 

\ 

 132 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

men have thus been helped. The jobs ranged from 75 cents to $3,000. As a 
direct result of the Association's activity, more colored mechanics are at 
work this winter than any winter before in this city. For every dollar which 
has been spent by the Association for this branch of its activity, twenty dol 
lars have come to the men whom it is designed to help. Among those from 
whom work has been secured are Mr. J.Henry Seattergood, Mr. John T. Emlen, 
Miss Ellen Morris, the Octavia Hill Association, the City of Philadelphia, Her 
man Voigt, Frank I. Wintz, contractors, and others. Many jobs have come 
from the colored people themselves. Opportunities to bid have been given by 
Savery, Seheetz & Savery, Bailey & Bassett and other architects. 

The Association especially urges upon its patrons to assist in this feature 
of the work by permitting its mechanics to estimate on their work, thus help 
ing the colored people to help themselves. The Association has as its members 
an ex-foreman on Panama canal work, a half dozen men who worked on the 
Rockefeller Hall, Bryn Mawr College, and on the University of Chicago, two 
foremen who worked on the well-equipped Rockefeller barn, Long Island; a 
former instructor in Tuskegee Institute, and another in Clark University; also 
graduates from various industrial schools, including Hampton and Tuskegee. 
Only first-class mechanics will be recommended. 

Equally as good work has been accomplished by the Armstrong Asso 
ciation of New York. 

There has been some effort to organize Humane Bands to teach 
children humanity in the care of animals, etc. In New Orleans, for 
instance, there are reported 47 such bands with 5,300 children connected 
with them. 

Encouragement to buy homes is furnished In California by the Home 
Promoters' Association. 

The recent agitation about tuberculosis has resulted in a number of 
anti-tuberculosis societies. 

There is an anti-tuberculosis league In Georgia with headquarters at 
Savannah, and one in Washington, D. C.: 

Our society was organized November 11,1908. A recent report of the Health 
Officer of this District contained such appalling figures with regard to the 
death-rate among colored people that in the eyes of many it amounted to an 
actual stigma on the race. In connection with many other observing per 
sons, however, Dr. Wilder considers this death-rate due not so much to con 
stitutional weakness as to unhygienic housing, natural carelessness, and lack 
of sanitary information. This he proposed to remedy by the formation of a 
society to conduct an educational campaign among the people most in need 
of it.. Necessarily our work is conducted mostly among colored people; more 
than 2,000 having been reached by lectures and house to house visits alone. 

We have also very pleasant relations with "The Society for the Prevention 
of Tuberculosis," some of its members having visited our society during the 
progress of an entertainment and one of whom addressed us. 

Our members are: first, honorary, which include all the pastors in the 
city who will accept membership, together with such men as Commissioner 
McFarland, the late Dr. Reyburn and President Thirkield of Howard Uni 
versity; second, any one who will join. The names on the Board of Directors 
and Chairmanships show you the class of persons who are doing the work. 

We are supported by voluntary contributions and entertainments. 

We give a pledge for framing and a neat little button to all who join. 

Conclusion 

133 

Section 24. Conclusion. From this general and very imperfect 
review of efforts for social betterment among Negro Americans it is 
"lear that the evolution is in the right direction and that Colored 
people are more and more largely becoming interested in practical 
work for their own social uplift and are also to an increasing extent 
bearing the cost of this work. The most obvious criticisms and sug 
gestions would be: 

U) A hope that the Negro church will In the future become more and 
more Institutional and reformatory, and will call to Its aid trained 
social workers. There are some small beginnings in this line already 
and they need encouragement. 

(2) The economic foundation of the Negro school should be changed 
and changed quickly. To-day It rests partly on public aid, partly on 
the local efforts of Negro patrons, partly on general charity, and to a 
very small extent upon endowments. It should rest on general local 
taxation, aided by grants of the National Government. Higher cultural 
and technical work should be supplied by National and State aid and 
endowments. This would free the benevolent public from the burden 
of Negro schools and also the Negro churches and organizations, and 
would enable the benevolence of black and white alike to be directed 
toward the pressing need of social reform in all the various lines indi 
cated In this study. 

(3) The work of women's clubs has been tremendous, both In Its 
actual accomplishments and In its educational value. These clubs 
should be greatly multiplied and especially encouraged to take up local 
benevolent work. 

(4) Old folk's homes, orphanages and hospitals are greatly needed. 
So far as possible orphanages should be made places of temporary 
detention only, and homes for the children obtained In good families. 
There Is a pressing call for the spread of hospital work In country 
districts. 

(5) The work of rescue among women and children especially and 
also among men and boys is greatly needed, particularly among city 
Negroes, and has been neglected too long. 

(6) In the direction of art and literature much can be done which 
has not been done for Negroes. It is difficult for the people of America 
to understand that the Negro Is essentially an artistic being, whose 
rich emotional nature can be made to contribute much to the world's 
enjoyment and appreciation of beauty. To this end greater opportunity 
in drawing and music and other art-training should be opened to Negro 
children. 

(7) Day nurseries, social settlements and kindergartens, together 
with other of the newer forms of uplift work, like public play-grounds, 
should he furnished for the right training of the black worklngman's 
children to a much larger extent than now. In fact, in these lines, only 
the beginnings of work can be noted. 

(8) While something can be accomplished by organizations for civic 
reform among Negroes themselves, yet so long as the race is deprived 
of the ballot It is impossible to make such organizations of the highest 
efficiency in any avenue of life, whether It be education, religion, 
work, or social reform; the Impossibility of the Negro accomplishing 
the best work so long as he Is kept In political serfdom Is manifest even 
to the casual student. 

There would seem to be for the philanthropists no more Inviting 
field for work than in helping on some of the efforts for social uplift 
which Negroes have Instituted and are carrying on. 

\ 

 3 

Efforts for Social Betterment among 
Negro Americans 

Index 

Afro-American Council.................... 36 

Afro-American League ................. 36 

Alabama................................. 

82,43,49,55,56,61,62,72, 73,117,118, 121,1S1 
American Baptist Home Mission So 
ciety ................................... 35 

American Economic Association.. 12,16 
A. M. B. Church ...................... 25, 26 

A. M. B. Missionary Department... 18,19 
A. M. E.ZionChurch.................... 27 

American Negro Academy......... 85,108 

Anti-tuberculosis leagues............. 132 

Arkansas ............................. 52, 74 

Armstrong Association ........... 181,182 

Art and literature ...................... 133 

Assessed value Negro property in 
three States (chart) ............. 15,16 

Associated Charities ................... 126 

Atlanta Baptist College ................ 81 

Atlanta, Ga., kindergartens .......... 126 

Atlanta Negro Conference ............. 86 

Atlanta University............. B, 6, 81, 82 

Authors.Negro....... ......... 109,110,111 

Baptists in Arkansas ..................... 22 

Baptist Women's Missionary Conven 
tion. ................................... 25 

Baptist Young People's Union......... 21 

Barnet, Mrs. Ida B. Wells .............. 55 

Benefactions to Negro schools........ 35 

Benevolence ...... 27, 28, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 

Bethel Church, Philadelphia........... 26 

Bibliography .. .... ................. . 7,8 

Board of Education of English gov 
ernment ......................... .... 6 

Brunswick county, Virginia........... 32 

Bureau of Education ................... 35 

California.................... 43, 46, 49, 65,103 

Cape Town................................ 26 

Carnegie Institution ..................... 6 

Cash paid by Negro students...... .... 84 

Charity .......... ..................... 42-47 

Chart of Negro churches............... 17 

Church, The Negro......... 16,109,110,183 

Churches ................................. 28 

City Young Men's Christian Associa 
tions ............................... 96, 97 

Civic reform ........... 127,128,129,130,183 

Clark University ........................ si 

Clubs, Boys'......................... 130,181 

Clubs, Men's ........................ 105,106 

Clubs, Miscellaneou s .... ........ 130,181 

Clubs, Women's ............... 42,47-64,188 

Coleridge-Taylor Choral Society. .106,107 
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel......... 106,107 

Colorado............................ 49,51,52 

Colored Boys' Reformatory ............ 32 

Colored Women's Christian Associa 
tion .................................... 2S 

Colored Young Men's Christian Asso 
ciations by States........ ........... 96 

Committee of Twelve, The............. 85 

Communism among Africans ......... 10 

Conference forEducation in theSouth 29 
Connecticut .......................... 45, 65 

Constitution League, The .............. 86 

Contributions of Negro Baptists to 
education ..... ...................... 30 

Contributions of Negro M. E. mem 
bers to education ................... 30 

Coon,Chas. L............................. 29 

Co-operative Education Commission, 
The .............................. ... SO 

Criminality among Negroes ......... 127 

Deaconess work........................... 26 

Dispensaries .. ....... ............... 93, 95 

District of Columbia.................. 

- 5, 26,87, 44, 48,69,87,103,120, 122, 123,182 
Donations of colored people........... 83 

Donors, Negro............................ 42 

Douglass Center, Frederick.... ....... 122 

Douglass, Frederick..................... 56 

Duncan, Miss Anna M........... ..... 57 

Index 

135 

Efforts, Miscellaneous-.................. 130 

Enterprises, Negro...................... 12 

Equal Suffrage League................ 130 

Equiano, Olaudah...................... 109 

Expenditures for Baptist missions. 19, 20 
Expenditures for schools............... 84 

Farmers' Conference ...-.--...-.-... S3,181 
Federations, State....................... 49 

Fisk University ...................... 30, 82 

Planner Guild, Indianapolis ..... 124,125 

Florida ..................... 49, 55, 56, 72,125 

Foreign Scholarship Association.... 107 

Forum, The, Paducah, Ky........ .... 130 

Freedman's Bureau, The............... 34 

Freedmen's Hospital, The.............. 87 

Funds, Negro church................... 18 

Georgia............ 14, 28, 29, 49, 56, 57, 58, 

72, 77, 78,8i, 82, 83, 84, 86, 88, 89, 90,129, 182 

Hale infirmary ............................ 57 

Hampton Institute...................... 81 

Hampton Negro Conference ......... . 86 

Hand fund, Daniel.............. ....... 35 

Haygood, Dr. A. G....................... 84 

History,Negro.............. .... ...... 110 

Home for the Aged ........ ............ 61 

Home for Working Girls........... 56, 61 

Home Mission Board ...... ............ 20 

Hospitals....... 87, 88, 89,90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 

Howard University ...................... 5 

Illinois ............... .................... 

... 45,48, 49,51, 60, 61, 75, 79, 80, 81,122,129 
Income of Atlanta University........ 38 

Indiana .................. 32, 86, 46, 49, 58, 61 

Institutional Church, Atlanta....... 125 

Iowa. ... ................. .. 48,77 

Jackson County Home for Negro girls... 103 
Juvenile courts.............. ..... 127,128 

Juvenile work ........................... 26 

Kansas ........................ ........ 48,49 

Kemble, Frances............ ........ 10,11 

Kentucky.... ...... 47, 49,58, 74, 94,120,121 

Kindergartens.. .............. 126,127 

Lafon, Thorny....................... 40, 41, 85 

Law and Order leagues..... ..... 128,129 

Lecture bureaus................ ....... 105 

Lee, Jarena............................... 22 

Libraries ............................ 117,118 

Libraries, Traveling ................... 119 

Library, Public..................... 118,119 

Lincoln Settlement, Brooklyn........ 124 

Literary societies .................. 104,105 

Literature and newspapers........ 109-117 

Louisiana................. . .. 48,73,77,85 

Macon county, Ala........................ 39 

Magazines ................ .............. 116 

Maine..................................... 58 

Maryland ................................ 49 

Mason, Primus Parsons.......... 88, 89,66 

Massachusetts........... 46, 48, 56,59, 61, 66 

McKee, Colonel John ................... 89 

Meetings, Mothers'...................... 26 

Method of the study..................... 9 

M. E. Church ......................... 30, 35 

Michigan................ 45, 48, 49,59,76, 102 

Minnesota ....... .............. 49,50. 51, 60 

Miscellaneous general efforts ......... 35 

Missionaries, African ................... 27 

Mississippi ..................... 49,63,59,92 

Missouri........... 28, 48, 49, 54, 55, 61,74,75 

Money, Mission, raised by Baptists 
in Texas .............................. 21 

Mosely, John...... ...................... 87 

Music, Negro............................ Ill 

National Association of Colored Women 
......... .... ...................47,48,130 

National Association for Protection 
of Colored Women... ............. 102 

National Baptist Publishing Board.. 20 
National Negro Conference....... .... 86 

National Political League.............. 35 

Negro Business League.......... .... 35 

Negroes and Christian Associations 95,98 
New Jersey ........... ............ 59,60,88 

Newspapers, Negro.... 118,114,115,116,117 

New York.. 45, 48,55, 56,77, 87,121,122,182 
Niagara Movement...................... 35 

North Carolina ...... 28, 29, 86, 87, 71,72,78 

Nurseries, Day....... ...... 26,118,120,183 

Object of Atlanta University studies..... 5 

Ohio............. 49, 61, 76, 86, 96,104,120,126 

Oklahoma ............................... 118 

Old Folk's Homes....................... 

65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,7S, 74,75,76,77,138 
Orphanages ............................. 

... .... 77, 78,79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 

Ownership of schoolhouses............. 30 

\ 

 ^ I'! 

i 

136 

Efforts for Social Betterment 

Payne, Bishop ....... ................... 25 

Peabody fund ............................ 35 

Penn school.................. ........31 

Pennsylvania ........................ 36,49 

60,11, 91, 02, 04, 119, 120, 123, 127, 131, 132 
Philanthropists, Negro. 37,38,39,40,41,42 
Pitchford, Nancy........................ 38 

Presbyterian colored missions. ...... 121 

Probation officers.............. ....... 127 

Property of Georgia Negroes (chart).. 14 
Property owned by Negroes .... ... 12,13 

Provident Hospital............... 82, 93, 94 

Rachel, Joseph ............................ 37 

Reed Home....................... 82,83,84 

Reformatories................... 32, 57,129 

Reformatory Association,Richmond, 

Va.............................. ...... 129 

Refuges and Rescue Homes for 

Women ................. 100,101,102,103 

Religious opinions...................... 29 

Reports, Missionary........... 23, 24, 25, 26 

Report, Ninth Annual, of Baptist 

Woman's Convention .............. 23 

Rescue work ............................ 133 

Rhode Island. ................... ....... 60 

Ruffin, Mrs. Josephine St. Plerre...... 47 

Rural school fund, Negro............... 35 

Saint Cyprian's Chapel.............. 121,122 

School Improvement leagues....... 30, 31 

Schools, Negro. . 29, 30, 31, 32, 83, 34, 35,133 
Scope of the study. ......... ........... H 

Secret and Insurance societies........ 3H 

Self- help In Negro education.... 2», 30, 31 

Shorter, Bishop.......................... 25 

Slater, John F., fund ............ 5, 6, 31, 35 

Slavery...................... ......... 10, 11 

Slaves, Georgia.......................... 11 

Smith, Mrs. Amanda.................... 79 

Smith, Stephen .......................... 42 

South Carolina....... 48,72, 79,84, 88, 90, 91 

Social, Literary and Art Clubs........ 

.............. .... 104,105,106,107,108 

Social settlements .121,122,123,124,125,126 
Social work.............................. 31 

Spring Street Settlement, Philadel 
phia .............................. 123,124 

Starr Center, Philadelphia............ 123 

Statistics of Negro churches .. ..... 16 

Stokes fund .............................. 35 

Student Young Men's Christian Asso 
ciations. ........................... 97, 98 

Students, Negro ......... ............... 30 

Support, Financial....................... 6 

Talladega College.......................... 57 

Teachers' Associations ............. 32, 33 

Temperance .. ...... 26, 63, 127 

Tennessee....................... 48, 49, 60, 74 

Texas............... 28, 36, 43, 49, 54, 87,88, 92 

Texas State Baptist convention....... 21 

Thoumazeau, Jasmin .................. 37 

Tubman, Harriet, House, Boston.. 101,102 
Tuskegee Negro Conference............ 36 

U. S. Bureau of Labor-.................... 6 

U. S. Census .............................. 6 

Virginia ......................... 28, 2», 30, 31 

32, 43, 46, 49, 51, 78, 81, 82, 125, 126, 130, 131 

Washington, George................... 39,40 

West Virginia ........................... 49 

Wheatley, Phyllls...................... 109 

Wheatley, Phyllis, Home of Chicago 100 
White, Sarah Ann....................... 68 

Woman's Home and Foreign Mis 
sionary Society...................... 27 

Woman's Parent Mite Missionary 
Society........................... .... 25 

Wright, R. R., Jr. ................... 29, 30 

Wyoming............................ .... 52 

Young Colored Women's Protective 
Association, Indianapolis ....... 100,101 

Young Men's Christian Association.. 

.... ......... ... .... 31, W5, H6, 97,1)8, 99 

Young Women's Christian Associa 
tion ................... 47, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 

STUDIES OF NEGRO PROBLEMS 

No. I. 

No. 2. 

E.NO. 3. 

No. 4. 

R, No. 5. 

No. 6. 

No. 7. 

.No. 8. 

'No. 9. 

o. 10. 

o. 11. 

No. 12. 
;.No. 13. 
No. 14. 

The Atlanta University Publications 

COPIES FOR SALE 

Mortality among Negroes in Cities; 51 pp., 1896. Out of 

print. 
Mortality among Negroes in Cities; 24 pp., (2nd edition, 

abridged, 1903). 169 copies at 25c. 

Social and Physical Condition of Negroes in Cities; 86 
pp., 1897. 823 copies at 25c. 

Some Efforts of Negroes for Social Betterment; 66 pp., 
1898. Out of print. 

The Negro in Business; 78 pp., 1899. Out of print. 
The College-bred Negro; 1 15 pp., 1900. Out of print. 

The College-bred Negro; 32 pp., (2nd edition, abridged). 

1,500 copies at 25c. 

The Negro Common School; 120 pp., 1901. Out of print. 
The Negro Artisan; 200 pp., 1902. 590 copies at 75c. 
The Negro Church; 212 pp., 1903. 292 copies at $1.00. 
Notes on Negro Crime; 75 pp., 1904. 1,141 copies at 50c. 

A Select Bibliography of the Negro American; 72 pp., 

1905. 1,179 copies at 25c. 

Health and Physique of the Negro American; 1 12 pp., 

1906. 2 54 copies at $1.00. 

Economic Co-operation among Negro Americans; 184 pp., 

1907. 1,640 copies at $ 1.00. 
The Negro American Family; 152 pp., 1908. 1,500 copies 

at 75c. ,-. i 
Efforts for Social Betterment among Negro Americans; 

136 pp., 1909. 2,000 copies at 75c. 

*>i 
IsxiT' 

I 

\ 

I 

 I 

f 

11H 

*T*O sin by silence when we should 
protest makes cowards out of 
men. The human race has climbed 
on protest. Had no voice been 
raised against injustice, ignorance 
and lust, the Inquisition yet would 
serve the law, and guillotines decide 
our least disputes. The few who 
dare must speak and speak again, 
to right the wrongs of many. 

Ella Wheeler Wilcox.