Archives and Special Collections
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title: Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc. records
Date: 1993-2007
Location Code: 57/1-2, FF4/D5
Reference Code: M146
Extent: 1.75 cubic ft. (2 boxes, 1 flat file drawer)
Scope and Content Abstract: The collection documents the administration of the Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc., and events and programs sponsored by the Coalition including its Sister-to-Sister mentoring program. Topics covered include community relations, conference planning, and program development. Records include minutes, memoranda, correspondence, conference packets, financial records, newsletters, and photographs.
Historical Abstract: The Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc. was founded as the Boston Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women to provide African American women in Boston with a social and political forum. Founding members included: Vivian Beard, Joan Wallace Benjamin, Carol Nicholson Bolling, Patricia Bush, Callie Crossley, Alice Delgardo, Barbara Edelin, Carolyn Golden Hebsgaard, Karen Holmes Ward, Deborah Jackson, Vickie Jones, Dani Monroe, Deborah Murphy, Carolyn Sawyer, Dianne Young, and Dianne Wilkerson. The Boston Chapter was formally chartered in 1991 and was the largest founding chapter in the history of the National Coalition. The Boston Chapter separated from the national organization and incorporated as the Boston Coalition in 1996. The organization sought to provide leadership and access to resources to allow members to become involved in the community through education, social, economic, and civil action. Work sponsored by the organization has included mentoring opportunities, primarily the Sister-to-Sister program, and fundraising and cultural events.In 2000 in addition to its original programs and activities, the Coalition adopted a specific public policy agenda that focused on education and legislation that involves women and children. In collaboration with groups such as the Massachusetts Advocacy Center and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Coalition monitored the development of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. Other activity in the community involved Coalition members mentoring girls in detention units, hosting author talks, and partnering with other community service organizations including Project Bread and Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries.
Language and Scripts: The collection is entirely in English.
System of Arrangement: Organized in two series: Series 1. Administration; and Series 2. Events and Programs.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Watson, Denise
  • Shaw, Sarah Ann
  • Smith, Beverly Jean

  • National Coalition of 100 Black Women (U.S.)
  • Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc.

  • African American Women – Massachusetts – Boston
  • Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
  • Mentoring – Massachusetts – Boston
  • Mentoring in social service – Massachusetts – Boston
  • Political participation – Massachusetts – Boston
Conditions Governing Access: The collection is unrestricted.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: The Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc. Board of Directors donated the material to Northeastern University in 2007.
Processor: Finding aid prepared by Kimberly Reynolds, January 2008; updated by Hanna Clutterbuck, August 2008
Chronology
1990-1991 Boston Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women is chartered as largest founding chapter in the history of the national organization. Holds first event at Coolidge Corner Theatre to screen Daughters of Dust.
1995 Holds first Between Sisters conference.
1996 Majority of membership of the Boston Chapter votes to disaffiliate from the National Coalition.
1996-1997 Name changes to Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc.
1998 Holds second Between Sisters conference.
Presidents
1992-1996 Carolyn Golden Hebsgaard
1996-2000 Gretchen Tucker-Underwood
2000-2001 Carolynn Jones
2001-2003 Sarah Ann Shaw
2003-2005 Beverly Jean Smith
2005- Denise K. Watson
Bibliography

“History,” M146, Box 1, Folder 25.

“Board of Directors,” M146, Box 1, Folder 4-9.

“CityLine,” M146, Box 1.
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Series:
1. Administration, n.d., 1993-2008
Volume:.50 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

This series includes material generated by the officers and board of the Boston Coalition of Black Women. The series documents the work of the Coalition's Board of Directors and the general membership of the organization. The correspondence file includes correspondence between members of the Board of Directors and from outside groups soliciting or thanking the Coalition for financial or personal help. The meetings files include minutes, agendas, and notifications from general membership meetings and annual meetings of the entire Coalition. Of interest is the CityLine program covering the first event sponsored by the Coalition at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in 1991. The series includes financial and fundraising material as well as the President's Letters, which often served the Coalition in lieu of a newsletter. Records include meeting agendas and minutes, notes, newspaper clippings, standards of operation manuals, correspondence, and financial materials.
BoxTitleDate
1Annual Reports1997-2007
1Application Packet2004
1Articles of Amendment2005
1Board of Directors (5 folders)n.d., 1995-2007
1Brochures1996-2005
1By-Lawsn.d., 1999-2004
2“CityLine” (VHS)199?
1Committees (8 folders)n.d., 1997-2006
1Correspondencen.d., 1996-2008
1Electionsn.d., 2001-2006
1Financialn.d., 1993-2006
1Fundraisingn.d., 1999-2000
1General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts2002
1History2002-2004
1League of Women for Community Service2002
1Meetings (5 folders)n.d., 1995-2006
1Member-at-Large Position2002
1Member Survey200?
1Membership Listsn.d.
1Mission Statement 1999
1, FF4/D5National Coalition of 100 Black Women1997
1, FF4/D5Newspaper Clippingsn.d., 1998
1Notesn.d.
1Organizational Structure1994-2004
1Phone Tree200?
1President's Lettersn.d., 1995-2007
1Public Policy Program1999-2003
1Resource and Member Directoriesn.d., 1995-2005
1Standards of Operationn.d.
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Series:
2. Events and Programs, n.d., 1995-2007
Volume:.75 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

This series documents the events and programs sponsored by the Boston Coalition of Black Women and a few events, in which they participated but did not organize, such as the Freedom House's Ebony Fashion Fair which they were invited to sponsor in 2001 and the St. Francis House capital campaign. The Sister to Sister mentoring program has been a particular focus of the Coalition since its foundation. This program pairs members of the Coalition with young African American women in the community for a year-long mentoring relationship. The Sister-to-Sister files include photographs and negatives of some of the events the program ran for the mentors and girls. The Coalition has also organized two Between Sisters conferences in 1995 and 1998, bringing together women from all over the United States for a three-day conference covering issues including healthcare, women's history, cultural trends, and parental responsibility. Records include correspondence, fliers and programs, newsletters, conference packets, and memorabilia including a tote bag and pin from the 1998 Between Sisters conference. Researchers should note that, in addition to the photographs in the Sister-to-Sister and Salute to Police Women files, there are unidentified photographs, negatives, and a U-Matic tape included in Audio-Visual Material.
BoxTitleDate
19/11 Memorialn.d., 2001-2004
Audio-Visual Material
1Prints (3 folders)199?-200?
1Negativesn.d.
2U-Maticn.d.
1, FF4/D5Certificates of Participation2003, 2007
1Conference: Between Sisters (5 folders)1995-1998
1Correspondence1996-1997
1Department of Youth Services Partnership2002
1Ebony Fashion Fairc. 2001
1Event Calendarsn.d.
1Fliers and Programsn.d., 1997-2006
1Genealogy Workshop2000
1Market Women Workshop2002
1Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systemn.d., 2001-2003
2Memorabilia199?
1Mentoring Program Outlinen.d.
1Newsletters (3 folders)1997-2003
1Newspaper Clippingsn.d., 1997-2003
1Planningn.d.
1Public Policy Forum2002
1A Room Full of Sisters1999-2001
1Salute to Police Women2005
1St. Francis House Capital Campaign2001
1Signed Conference Program1998
1Sister-to-Sister (5 folders)n.d., 1995-2002
1Sweet Honey in the Rock Concert2003
1Succeeding Sisters (2 folders)n.d., 2001
1Symposia2003-2004
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