Introduction

There were a wide variety of important people attached to the Colored Branch throughout its history. Below we have listed a selection of figures. This list is far from exhaustive, and it is crucial to note that there were many more people involved in a variety of ways.

Important Terms

In order to understand the roles of these women, some details regarding positions must be outlined.

• The “Committee of 22” was an all-white group comprised of church women from the Germantown YWCA that were interested in creating a YWCA for the Black community.
• The position “General Secretary” is the same as “Executive Director”
• The Committee of Management (COM) was responsible for supervising work in the Colored Branch, including managing contracts, establishing rules and regulations, and organizing subcommittees.

Notable Figures Attached to the Colored Branch of the YWCA ¹

• Eva Bowles - National Secretary for Colored Work, invited to help found the Branch YWCA, meets with “Committee of 22” to discuss
• 5 Black Affiliation Committee Representatives - Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Olivia Yancy, Mrs. A. L. Manley, Mrs. Hobson, and Mrs. Carrie Fareira
• Colored Branch Officers - Mrs. Leila Morris as Vice Chairman, Mrs. Mary Cowdery as Secretary
• End of 1918 - Colored Branch standing committee officers
  • Mrs. Carrie Fariera - Chairman of the Finance
  • Mrs. Carrie Manley - Chairman of the House
  • Mrs. Mary Vaughan - Chairman of the Membership and Social
  • Mrs. Olivia Yancy - Chairman of the Education
  • Mrs. Mayme Dyke Turner - General Secretary
  • Mrs. Leila Morris - Vice Chairman
  • Mrs. Mary Cowdery - Secretary
  • Mrs. William E. Shipley - Chair (only white member)
• Until 1924, Black women could not be the chair of the Colored Branch
• 1924: Mrs. Olivia Taylor (formerly Yancy) is elected to lead the Colored Branch
• Sunie Steele (Warrick) - Secretary of the Younger Girls’ Department (1929-36). After integration, she served as the Camp Committee chair.
• Mrs. Isabel Calloway - Branch Chairman until 1932
• Mrs. Ruth P. Johnson - Chairman from 1932-1938
• Mrs. Olivia Y. Taylor - elected Chairman in 1938
• Mrs. Susan Reed Jackson - Committee of Management Chairman in 1940
• Alice Onque - Branch Secretary
• Mrs. Beulah McNeil - Chairman 1940-1942
• Mrs. Belle Miller - Chairman 1942 - left in May
• Mrs. Mabel Rawlins and Mrs. Elizabeth Duplessis - co-chairs in 1942
• Mrs. Elizabeth Duplenssis - elected Chairman in 1943
• Sibyl Gowdy - Colored Branch Program Director during integration
• Jessie Pratt - one of 3 Black board members in the integrated Committee of Management in 1948
• Dorothy Warrick - chair of Integration Committee