Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs

The Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs (ESFWC) was founded in 1908 and is an umbrella organization for African-American women's groups in New York. The organization worked to help improve the lives of young women and helped care for Harriet Tubman until her death in 1913. The organization was affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs,[1] and worked with the NAACP.[2]

About

Alice Wiley Seay founded the Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs (ESFWC) in Brooklyn in August 1908.[3][4] The first convention took place at the Bethel A.M.E. Church in New York City in July 1909.[5] The organization has created educational endowments.[2] In 1933, they formed the Empire State Association of Youth Clubs for black girls.[2]

The organization also saw that Harriet Tubman, who was living in poverty in the Tubman Home, would need continuing donations to support her care in her old age.[6] The ESFWC was sending Tubman $25 a month for expenses, which supplemented the $20 a month she received as a pension.[7] Tubman's expenses came to around $40 a month.[8] The club has continued to honor Tubman's memory in various ways. In 1915, the group created a monument designed by Mrs. Jackson Stewart at Tubman's grave.[9] In 1974, the ESFWC paid tribute to Tubman at their annual convention, and over 300 women attending the convention visited the Tubman home.[10]

Notable members

References

Citations
  1. "Federation to Convene Next Week". The New York Age. 27 June 1912. Retrieved 13 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Eisenstadt, Peter, ed. (2005). "Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs". The Encyclopedia of New York State. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. pp. 503–504. ISBN 9780815608080.
  3. "Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs Records". M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives. University of Albany. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. Lawton, M.C. (3 September 1909). "New Federation of Women's Clubs". The Bystander. Retrieved 13 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Empire Federation Convenes". The New York Age. 22 July 1909. Retrieved 13 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Humez 2003, p. 113,115.
  7. "Harriet Tubman Needs Federation Money, part 1". The New York Age. 8 February 1912. Retrieved 13 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Harried Tubman Needs Federation Money, part 2". The New York Age. 9 February 1912. Retrieved 13 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Auburn, New York". Harriet Tubman Biography. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008.
  10. "Willas Women's Whirl". The Pittsburgh Courier. 31 August 1974. Retrieved 15 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Hillburn, N. Y." New York Age (July 24, 1943): 9. via Newspapers.com
  12. Delaney, Ted. "Black History Month: Chronicling Lynchburg's roots". The News & Advance. Retrieved 8 February 2018.

Sources
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