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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Women’s Industrial Service League, Inc. Records
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Women’s Industrial Service League | |
| Title | Women’s Industrial Service League, Inc. Records, | |
| Dates: | 1934-2010 | |
| Abstract: | The Women’s Industrial Service League, Inc. Records (8 boxes, 4 cubic foot, 1934-2010) highlight the efforts of the Far Rockaway based organization dedicated to the advancement and counseling of women. Founded on October 8, 1934, as the Working Girls Cooperative League, the organization has been successful in providing shelter, friendship, and guidance for women of all ages. The Women’s Industrial Service League provides programs, scholarships, and recreational activities as opportunities for women to communicate and expand future options. The organization was instrumental in the creation of the Redfern Housing Projects, the Council for Health and Welfare, and the Women’s Industrial Service League Youth Club. | |
| Extent: | 8 boxes, 4 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | W-18 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
The Women’s Industrial League was organized on October 8, 1931, with 14 members, under the leadership of Mrs. Eleanor Hull. Many women had come from the South seeking a better life through jobs and education. Many of these women became domestic employees. The organization was set up so that young women in the Far Rockaway area of Queens would have a place to get counseling, sleeping accommodations, friendship and love. Mrs. Hull was the president of the organization from 1931 to 1940. Originally known as the Working Girls Cooperative League the organization was incorporated in 1934.
The Women’s Industrial League purchased an indoor facility in 1936 to provide housing accommodations for detached women. The dwelling has a playground for children and an indoor Assembly area. The building is located at 1428 Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway.
Emily Brown was the second president of the Women’s Industrial Service League and was instrumental in two major developments in Far Rockaway history. The high incidents of Tuberculosis in the Black community led to the creation of a chest x-ray program which was the spark that led to the creation of the Council for Health and Welfare. The Council for Health and Welfare began the fight for adequate housing believing that the risk of catching Tuberculosis was increased by the bad living conditions of the poor. The battle for better housing was culminated in the building of the Redfern Housing Projects.
The Women’s Industrial League has provided young people with a place to understand and evaluate all of the options that life provides for them. The league has been successful in providing scholarships and friendships that enhance and encourage young men and women. The annual Scholarship and Awards Luncheon began in 2005. The organization has also provided members with the chance to interact with guest speakers from different occupational backgrounds, sponsored seminars on entrepreneurship, resume writing, and participated in Black College Fairs.
A Youth Club was re-established within the organization in 1992. This was created by Women Industrial League members Frances Shackelford-Howell and Yolanda Walker to help young people starting from the age of adolescence.
Women’s Industrial Service League Presidents
| Eleanor Beatrice Hull (1931-1940) | |
| Emily Capers Brown (1940-1962) | |
| Sadie Johnson (1962-?) | |
| Ada Green (?-1978) | |
| Rev. Annie Simmons (1978-1985) | |
| Josie Dennis (1985-1997) | |
| Yolanda Walker (1997-2000) | |
| Florine Jenkins (2000-Present) |
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Scope and Content Note
The Women’s Industrial Service League, Inc. Records (8 boxes; 4 cubic feet, 1934-2010) highlight the activities of an organization dedicated to providing shelter, counseling, and opportunities for women in Far Rockaway. The collection contains documents that focus on activities of the organization, press coverage, and membership. The records are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Anniversary Luncheons (1 folder, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001) contains the programs used for anniversary celebrations held for various years of the organizations existence. These programs provide organization history, a memoriam for members who may have passed during the current year, and a schedule for each day’s events.
Announcement Bulletins (1 folder, 1992-1993) contain memos from within the Women’s Industrial Service League about upcoming events or new policies in the organization.
Awards & Plaques (1 box) contain two plaques that were received by the organization from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. and a award of appreciation from the Huskees’ Lacrosse team of Far Rockaway. There is also a plaque devoted to past members of the Women’s Industrial Service League that have passed away.
Correspondence (1 box; 1 folder) has letters sent to the organization expressing support and admiration for the achievements they have accomplished. There is a folder that contains six letters and a box that contains three framed letters from politicians such as New York State Governor George E. Pataki and United States President William J. Clinton.
Luncheon Programs (1 folder, 1969; 1988-1999) contain small brochures of the events for the luncheons in various years.
The Photographs (3 boxes, 1956; 1962-1985; 1991) series is mad up of two sub-series. The first sub-series Anniversaries (1 box, 1956, 1981, 1991) consist of three framed photographs of WISL members on the 25th, 50th, and 60th anniversary celebrations. There are also two smaller copies of the 25th and 50th anniversary members that are unframed. The second sub-series Presidents (2 boxes, 1962-1985) contain five framed pictures of past WISL Presidents. There is also a framed picture of former WISL Vice-President Minnie Cannon Caldwell.
Press Clippings (1 folder, 2002, 2005, 2008-2010) are articles about WISL events covered by the Rockaway Wave.
Proclamations (1 box, 1934; 1991) contain a proclamation from Queens Borough President Claire Shulman and a copy of the certification of incorporation from the state of New York in 1934. The incorporation changed the groups name from the Working Girl’s Cooperative League to the Women’s Industrial Service League, Inc.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a
photograph its control number. The Women’s Industrial Service League, Inc. Records,
Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Provenance
These records were donated to the Queens Library Archives on October 13, 2010.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Organizations:
- Women’s Industrial Service League
Subject Places:
- Far Rockaway (New York, N.Y.)
Document Types:
- Correspondence
- Photographs
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
