Did You Know About African American Women's Clubs in Davenport During the Progressive Era?
During the Progressive era (1890 - 1920) women of all backgrounds joined clubs to advocate for social and political change. These movements included women's suffrage and prohibition. Progressive reformers strove to end political corruption, improve the lives of individuals, and increase government intervention to protect citizens. Read more about female reformers in the progressive era.
In Davenport African American women formed their own women's clubs, as they were not welcome in white women's clubs. In addition to issues faced by women in particular and citizens in general, African American women had additional issues to confront. For example, many African American women's clubs wanted to demonstrate that black women were as moral and refined as white women, contrary to widespread negative racist stereotypes about them. Anti-lynching campaigns were promoted by some African American Women's clubs, also an issue of more concern to African American women.
Read more at this Wikipedia article on the Woman's Club Movement, which has a section devoted to African American women's clubs if you scroll down.
By 1919, African American women in Davenport had formed about 13 women’s clubs, starting with the oldest, the Silver Autumn Leaf Club founded in 1893, to the two newest, the Young People’s Progressive League and the Madame C J Walker Club, both founded in 1919.
You can help preserve this history by making a donation to purchase a display screen for the Martin Luther King Interactive Center.
Iowa Federation of Colored Women’s Club photo - 1903
Members of the Iowa State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs gathered in front of Bethel A. M. E. Church at 624 West Fourth Street in May 1903. (State Historical Society of Iowa--Des Moines) Organized in 1902 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the Iowa Federation of Colored Womens Clubs (IFCWC) worked to improve the home and social lives of African-American women in Iowa. Guided by their motto Sowing the Seeds of Kindness, the IFCWC also focused on the welfare of children and civil rights. Proud to host the clubs second annual meeting in 1903, the Davenport delegation was led by Ruth Richardson, who is seated in the front row on the far left.
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