| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Links of Cleveland, Incorporated |
| Title: | Links of Cleveland, Incorporated Records |
| Dates: | 1946-1991 |
| Extent: | 3.40 linear feet (4 containers) |
| Abstract: | The Links of Cleveland Incorporated was established in 1950 as a local chapter of a national non-profit, non-partisan volunteer organization of African American women. Beginning with its first president, Rosalind Garvin, the organization committed to educational, cultural, social, and civic activities to raise funds for charitable causes. Recipients of this fundraising have included the Cleveland National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Karamu House; the Eliza Bryant Home; Forest City Hospital; the Jewish Welfare Fund; and, the Phillis Wheatley Association. The collection consists of administrative files, correspondence, budgets, financial records, minutes, memoranda, membership lists, newsletters, reports, programs, press releases, subject files, statements, histories, bylaws, guest books, handbooks, publications, transcripts, articles of incorporation, agendas, project files, and presidential files. |
| MS Number | MS 4845 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Links of Cleveland, Incorporated (f. 1950) was established as a local chapter of a national non-profit, non-partisan, volunteer organization of African American women founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 9, 1946 by Margaret Roselle Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott. The Links of Cleveland, Ohio, was incorporated on October 28, 1950 with 14 charter members under the first president, Rosalind Garvin, and founding secretary, Bernice McAllister. The organization is committed to educational, cultural, social, and civic activities, many of which it sponsors to raise funds for charitable causes. Recipients of its fundraising activities have included the Cleveland National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Karamu House, the Eliza Bryant Home, Forest City Hospital, the Jewish Welfare Fund, and the Phillis Wheatley Association.
The Chapter's first project was a Talent Search at the WHK Auditorium on May 15, 1951 that recognized honor students of the Cleveland Public Schools. Subsequent programs have included a November 1952 presentation of the Metropolitan Opera Company prima ballerina, Janet Collins. That benefit was a collaborative effort with the Cleveland Girl Friends and supported the Cleveland NAACP. Another program included the 1976 "Ellingtonia" dinner dance featuring the Duke Ellington Orchestra for the support of the Karamu House Theater. In 1978 the Chapter sponsored the Cleveland Museum of Art exhibit, "Afro-American Tradition in the Decorative Arts," and in 1985 collaborated with the Western Reserve Historical Society and Cuyahoga Community College to sponsor the exhibit, "Women of Courage."
The Links of Cleveland, Incorporated Records, 1946-1991, consist primarily of administrative files, correspondence, budgets, financial records, minutes, memoranda, membership list, newsletters, reports, programs, press releases, subject files, statements, histories, bylaws, guest books, handbooks, publications, transcripts, articles of incorporation, agendas, project files, and presidential files.
This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio, and seeking materials on the history and activities of The Links of Cleveland Incorporated, its members, and the national body. Those interested in the history of African American women, the Black middle class, and civil rights in Cleveland, Ohio, will find this collection useful. The collection documents trends in African American philanthropy, African American organizations, and African American arts. Those studying issues related to education and civic affairs in Cleveland will find this collection useful. Noted correspondents and files include Dr. Zelma Watson George, first chapter president Rose Garvin, historian Adrienne Lash Jones, trustee Leatrice Madison, and subsequent presidents Christine Branch, Juanita Storey, Frances King, and Audrey Kelker. Also included are files related to the Afro-American Tradition in the Decorative Arts, Black Folk Art, and Ellingtonia, a musical tribute to composer Duke Ellington.
None.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4845 Links of Cleveland, Incorporated Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Frances M. King for The Links of Cleveland, Inc., 1993
Processed by Thelma Pierce and Samuel W. Black in 2001
Series I: Administrative Files 1950-1992 undated |
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Sub-series A: President Files 1950-1985 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Garvin, Rosalind, correspondence, 1950-1952 and undated; cover page, 1950; minutes, 1950; plaque, NAACP Life Membership, 1954; programs, 1951; and telegram, undated . | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | White, Lauretta, correspondence 1951-1953 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | McAllister, Bernice, cards, 1956; correspondence, 1954-1957 and undated; and telegrams, 1955-1956 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Glenn, Fern, budgets, 1965-1967; correspondence,1966-1967; invitation, 1965; minutes, 1967; program, undated; proposal, 1965; and telegram, 1967 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Fuster, Maryette, budget, 1969; correspondence, 1967-1969; handbook, 1969; minutes, 1967-1969; plaque, 1968; and roster, 1968 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Jones, Adrienne, audit, 1968-1970; budget, 1970; correspondence, 1970-1971; minutes, 1969-1971 and undated; press release, 1970; program, 1970; proposal, 1970; and reports, 1970-1971 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Kelker, Audrey, correspondence, 1971; memo, 1971; minutes, 1971-1973 and undated; and receipts, 1972-1973 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Ritchie, Beatrice, correspondence, 1973-1974; membership list, 1973-1975; minutes, 1975; receipts, 1973-1974; and report, 1974 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Wilkerson, Janet, audit, 1977; certificates, 1977; minutes, 1975-1977 and undated; and reports, 1975-1977 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Storey, Juanita, audit, 1977-1978; budget, 1977; correspondence, 1977-1979 and undated; membership lists, 1978 and undated; minutes, 1977-1979; notes, undated; and reports, 1978 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | King, Frances, agenda, 1981; audit, 1976; budget, 1980-1981; committee lists, 1976-1982; correspondence, 1979-1983 and undated; guidelines, 1979-1982 and undated; membership lists, 1973-1978; minutes, 1978-1983 and undated; and programs, 1978-1983 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Madison, Leatrice, budget, 1982; correspondence, 1982-983; guidelines, 1981; membership lists, 1982 and undated; and minutes, 1978-1983 . | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Branch, Christine, certificate, 1958; correspondence, 1983, 1985; minutes, 1983-1985; and proclamation, 1985 . | |||||||||
Sub-series B: General Files 1950-1991 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Agendas 1950-1986 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Articles of incorporation 1975 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Budgets 1955-1978 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Bylaws, Central Area 1951-1988 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Bylaws, National 1951-1986 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Ceremonies and rituals 1960-1987 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 20 | Certificates 1972-1975 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 21-23 | Correspondence 1950-1991 | |||||||||
| 1 | 24-25 | Financial records 1951-1979 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Financial records 1980-1986 | |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Guest book 1962-1966 | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Handbooks 1969-1972 | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | History, local and national 1986 | |||||||||
| 2 | 5 | Membership 1950-1992 | |||||||||
| 2 | 6-8 | Minutes 1950-1992 | |||||||||
| 2 | 9 | National Assembly 1981 | |||||||||
| 2 | 10 | Newsletters 1950-1992 | |||||||||
| 2 | 11 | Permits 1980 | |||||||||
| 2 | 12 | Press releases 1975-1984 | |||||||||
| 2 | 13 | Programs 1951-1991 | |||||||||
| 2 | 14 | Publications 1946-1973 | |||||||||
| 2 | 15 | Reports 1950-1983 | |||||||||
| 2 | 16 | Statement 1991 | |||||||||
| 2 | 17 | Transcript 1959 | |||||||||
Series II: Project Files 1961-1991 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 18-24 | Afro-American Tradition in the Decorative Arts, copyright registration, correspondence, and curriculum guide 1972-1985 undated | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1-20 | Afro-American Tradition in the Decorative Arts, description, evaluations, financial records, history, lists, manual, map of exhibit, minutes, monographs, notes, presentations, press release, proposals, publications, reports, schedule, speeches, teaching aids, and workshops 1972-1979 undated | |||||||||
| 3 | 21 | American Cancer Society Ball, committee lists, correspondence, minutes, programs, reports, seating charts, and sponsors lists 1990-1991 | |||||||||
| 3 | 22 | Black Folk Art, correspondence 1984 | |||||||||
| 3 | 23-30 | Discovery, agendas, application, certificates, contracts, correspondence, financial records, lists, memos, minutes, newspaper clippings, press release, publications, reports, and workshop materials 1983-1986 | |||||||||
| 3 | 31-36 | Ellingtonia, agendas, correspondence, financial records, lists, memos, press releases, publications, and reports 1974-1976 | |||||||||
| 3 | 37 | Ohio Black Family, agendas, correspondence, fact sheet, memo, minutes, newspaper clippings, notes, public service announcement, outlines, and statement of goals 1983-1984 undated | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | Ohio Cluster Meeting, budgets, correspondence, and workshop materials 1983-1984 | |||||||||
| 4 | 2 | Search for Talented Youth, agenda, correspondence, minutes, newspaper clippings, and reports 1961-1964 undated | |||||||||
| 4 | 3-4 | Services to Youth, agenda, certificate, correspondence, evaluation forms, financial records, information forms, lists, memos, newspaper clippings, notes, press release, programs, reports, and test information 1951 1972-1984 undated | |||||||||
| 4 | 5 | Sickle Cell Anemia, correspondence and financial records 1972 | |||||||||
| 4 | 6-7 | Women of Courage, correspondence, history, itineraries, newspaper clippings, notes, programs, proposal, and scrapbook 1984-1986 undated | |||||||||
Series III: Subject Files 1951-1992 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 8 | Chagrin Falls Park 1960 | |||||||||
| 4 | 9 | George, Zelma 1971-1975 | |||||||||
| 4 | 10 | George Gund Foundation, annual report 1977 | |||||||||
| 4 | 11 | Jelliffe, Russell 1980 | |||||||||
| 4 | 12 | Job Corps Center 1967-1969 | |||||||||
| 4 | 13 | Metropolitan Cleveland Jobs Council, National Alliance of Businessmen 1971 | |||||||||
| 4 | 14 | Newspaper clippings 1967-1992 | |||||||||
| 4 | 15 | Sickle Cell disease 1951-1972 | |||||||||