Civic Associations

Civic Associations. Faith, Family, and Education . 9th Avenue South Corridor. Denied access to whites-only organizations, African-American men formed their own clubs early in St. Petersburg's history. In addition to the well-known fraternal societies, clubs organized by occupation, churches, and recreational interests enriched men's lives. Many activities were sponsored by churches with the Ushers Circle and Ministerial Alliance the leading religious clubs catering to men. There was a Downtown Workers Association for hotel employees, railroad porters, cafeteria workers and other African-American men working in or near the downtown business district. The Negro Barber's Association actively supported their members. The Sportsman's Club and YMCA sponsored community dances and other recreational activities. College fraternal organizations were a source of fellowship, community leadership, and advocacy., Modern Free and Accepted Negro Masons of the World , The first recorded local organization is the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge 109, which formed in 1893. Although founded in another neighborhood, it is worth noting because the lodge is the oldest Masonic organization in St. Petersburg. It predated the city's first white Masonic lodge, and was formed by early black settlers. The 22nd Street S. neighborhood Masonic Lodge was located at 1210 Union Street S. and was constructed in 1919., International Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks , Another of the oldest local organizations, the Brotherhood of Negro Elks hosted the 1942 4-day annual convention. It included a parade down 22nd Street S. and a grand ball at the Manhattan Casino. In the picture to the right, W.T. Stockton, William Lattimore, E.H. McLin, and Samuel Joseph form the Elks Memorial Committee in 1961., The Ambassador Club , One of the most influential, the Ambassador Club counted its members among the city's most prominent African-American men. Dr. Ralph Wimbish is credited with founding the club in 1953. The club was formed by black professionals, educators, and businessmen including Dr. Orion Ayer Sr., Dr. Robert J. Swain, Dr. Fred Alsup, Samuel Blossom, Sidney Campbell, George Grogan, John Hopkins, Ernest Ponder, John Rembert, and Emanuel Stewart., Among the Ambassador's many services to the community was advocating and gaining acceptance for the first African-American float in the city's annual Festival of States Parade in 1954. In addition to advocating for civil rights, the Club established the Milk Fund which provided milk for underprivileged children at Jordan, Perkins, Wildwood, Davis, and Sixteenth Street elementary schools as well as Happy Workers, Community Day, Methodist Town, and Sixteenth Street nurseries. The club also organized numerous fundraisers to benefit the community., Veterans Organizations , Although the names of these servicemen have been lost to history, they represent the many men and women who courageously served in the armed forces during periods of conflict. During World War II alone, nearly two thousand black men and women from St. Petersburg served their country. After their return, local veterans formed organizations including the Sons of Colored Veterans, Colored Veterans of the World War, Pinellas County Negro Veterans Association, and Amvets, among others., NAACP , In 1933, as the Great Depression settled in and local African Americans were limited to certain areas, the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP formed. The NAACP organized stand-ins at theaters, boycotts of businesses, and sit-ins at lunch counters which refused to serve black patrons. Local branch leaders have included F.A. Dunn, Morris Milton, and Dr. Ralph Wimbish, who occupies a front seat at the organization's meeting in the photo to the right., (captions) , Membership certificate of Isiah Reed, 1949. Courtesy of Wanda Reed Williams., Photo courtesy of Tampas Bay Times., Ambassador Club members Ralph James, Louis Mcdoy, James Harvey. Theodore Willams, and Fred Minnic introduce the club's motto for the 1982 Milk Fund Drive. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Times., Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History., Membership card of Oscar Reed. Courtesy of Wanda Reed Williams. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Times.