Black Women's Clubs and Organizations

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2023-032

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Black Women’s Club and Organizations collection (1935-1987; undated) contains one box and 0.21 linear ft. of material. The majority of the collection contains a newspaper called The California News, Northern Section, a souvenir program for the tenth-annual East Bay Cosmetologist and Professional Association Creative Hairstyles and Fashion Scholarship Queen Prize Winning Contest for 1976, and a photo album belonging to the members of the United Business and Professional Women of Northern California. The Newspaper The California News, Northern Section features a partial article called “Colored Women’s Club” and a business directory that catered to the Black community in Northern California. The newspaper is missing several pages. The souvenir program for the tenth-annual East Bay Cosmetologist and Professional Association contains several advertisements for African-American owned businesses, a list of its patrons, photos of its governing members, a program schedule, and photos of the contestants. The photo album contains a list of governing board members with a description of the roles and a list of its members in 1985. It also contains photos of events from the organization, such as a fashion show (undated), a Christmas social event held in 1987, and a photo from 1981 of the organization presenting a check to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Dates

1935, 1976, 1981,1982, 1985, 1987; undated

Creator

East Bay Cosmetologist and Professional Association (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

California holds a long history of Black women’s organizations that have played essential roles in advocating for civil rights, gender equality, and social justice. The organizations, such as the East Bay Cosmetologist and Professional Association, sought to help their communities through various means. For example, the organizations established scholarships for Black college students through fundraising and promoted Black-owned businesses.