Women United

Women United. Faith, Family, and Education . 9th Avenue South Corridor. , City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs , Denied access to white civic groups under segregation, local African-American women sought to establish their own organizations. In 1938, Fannye Ayer Ponder, teacher and wife of local physician Dr. James M. Ponder, founded the City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs along with notable women such as Mary L. McRae and Olive B. McLin. The local organization quickly forged an affiliation with the Florida and the National Federation of Colored Women's Clubs., The purpose of the City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, as outlined in its constitution, was "to unite the efforts of all the colored women's clubs in St. Petersburg in order to promote better educational advantages, to promote social and civic improvements, establish recreation for young people, and to educate the citizenry towards better and higher standards of living." It served as an umbrella organization under which seven individual clubs affiliated. Eventually, more than 12 clubs joined the City Federation. By 1953, membership in the clubs forming the Federation totaled more than 350 women., Member Clubs , Non Pareil Club (1927) , Margaret Washington (1929) , Quest (1934) , Socialites Club (1938) , Piquant Los Jovans (1938) , Phyllis Wheatley Forget-Me-Nots (pre-1942) , Non Pareil Charmerettes (pre-1942) , Sojourner Truth (pre-1942) , Mary McLeod Bethune’s Victorettes (1943) , Merrymakers Club (pre-1955) , Les Juene (pre-1955) , Hearts of Clanzell (1962) , John F. Kennedy Club (1962), Melrose Clubhouse , City Federation members initiated a campaign to acquire land and construct a clubhouse. Even non-Federation clubs donated toward the construction of the building, such as the Beauticians' Club which donated $5 to the project. White churches also supported the effort. The First Congregational Church pledged $1,000, and sponsored a play, "Wings Over Jordan," in 1941 as a cooperative fundraiser. Church member, Dr. Charles A. Lauffer, donated three acres of land and $5,000 toward construction "upon the condition and restriction that the said property shall be improved and used for educational, social, recreational facilities for colored people, especially a playground for colored YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of St. Petersburg, Florida, and for gardening by and for the needy colored people of said City." , Opened in April 1942, the Melrose Clubhouse. (1801 Melrose Avenue S.), served as a focal point of community service and charity work. During World War II, the clubhouse, along with Jordan Elementary, acted as a war nursery for African-American children. In 1945, the local YMCA leased space from the Federation and established the Melrose Park YMCA for African-American men and boys who were not allowed to use the main facility downtown. In 1959, the City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs sold a portion of their property to the Pinellas County School Board for the construction of Melrose Elementary School. , , Lauffer Branch YWCA , The YWCA offered programs for African-American girls through the schools long before opening their first office in the Gas Plant neighborhood in 1948. Dr. Charles Lauffer, who had generously donated to the construction of the Melrose Clubhouse, passed away in 1946 and bequested a yearly income to the YWCA which named the new branch in his honor. In 1950, a building was donated and moved to 2129 15th Ave S. to serve as the Lauffer Branch YWCA. which remained open into the 1970s. From January through June 1950, the Lauffer branch served 2,701 girls and women up to age 35., (captions) , City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Amanda Howard, St. Petersburg Times reporter covered African-American news and served as President of the of the City Federation in 1948 when St. Petersburg hosted the statewide convention. She served from 1946 until 1953. She also worked as principal of Davis Elementary from 1952 to 1956. Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, Quest Federated Club founded by Vera P. Nelson in 1934. The Quest Club was the first club federated by the state federation. Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, Lauffer Branch YWCA 1948, from left to right: Marcelo Campbell, Katie Lou Forted, Mary McLaughlin and Maxine Everett. Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg Evening News article, September 29, 1955. Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times