The Links Inc. Eastern Area archival collection

 Series 1 Albany District Chapter (1999) 

Series description

Chartered one year after the Links’ incorporation in 1951, the Albany District Chapter has the distinction of being one of the earliest groups chartered into the organization. Its series contains a recent picture of its membership, a listing of the chapter’s highlights from 1999, and images of these events. A brief note to archival coordinator Link DeLores Weaver is also included.

 Series 2.  Baltimore Chapter (1948-1999) 

Series description

The Baltimore Chapter has submitted a substantial collection of materials documenting its early history in the Links. The series contains three folders beginning with a history and event program commemorating the chapter’s twenty-fifth anniversary in 1973. Also included are photocopies of original chapter certification from 1948 and handwritten meeting notes from 1948 to 1952. The first folder ends with two project reports – one from 1989 and another from 1991 – that exemplify the national and international Link initiatives. The series continues with a folder of press clippings dating from 1948 (included are several excellent articles on black history of the Baltimore area). The series ends with a folder documenting a variety of historic chapter events through event programs, photographs, photocopied images, and ephemera.

 Series 3.  Brooklyn Chapter (1999) 

Series description

Founded in 1952, the Brooklyn Chapter was one of the initial groups chartered into the Links after the organization’s incorporation a year earlier. The chapter has contributed a letter to archivist Link Weaver and a separate “Message to the Future,” which has been presented in the form of a poem.

 Series 4.  Bucks County Chapter (2001) 

Restrictions

This folder is currently restricted. If you wish to use this material, please contact the HSP archives.

Series description

This relatively short series from the Bucks County chapter in southeastern Pennsylvania contains a Candidate’s Booklet from the Eastern Area Conference of 2001 and a note to archivist Link Weaver.

 Series 5.  Capital City Chapter (2001-2003) 

Series description

Included in this series from the Capital City chapter are two press clippings (one of which has no source listed) and two operational reports. There is also a letter proposing a donation to victims of the 11 September 2001 attacks in Washington, D.C.

 Series 6.  Delaware Valley Chapter (circa 1970s-2010) 

Series description

Chartered in 1964 under the sponsorship of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Links, Inc., the Delaware Valley Chapter provides service for the greater Philadelphia region, including Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties.

One of the larger donations of chapter materials in the collection, the Delaware Valley series begins with a “letter to the future” for the proposed Millennium Time Capsule. A chapter history and by-laws complete the first folder. Following are seven folders of meeting agendas, correspondence, and occasional event and program materials from 1997 to 2010. Next is a folder of professionally printed programs, primarily from regional and national conventions. The series ends with a folder containing a set of photographs from what appears to be the 1970s and another folder of photocopied press clippings and photographs from 1989 to 2000. There is also a plaque honoring the Delaware Valley Links from the youth volunteerism group Teenshop, Inc. and a binder of photographs from the 1987 Eastern Area convention.

 Series 7.  Eastern Area (2000-2001) 

Series description

Although the Eastern Area headquarters in Washington functions as the administrative body for the northeastern United States and Germany, the group has a relatively small series that includes a programming guide for 2000 to 2001, a little bit of correspondence, area conference materials, 37th National Assembly materials, and documents related to poster contests.

 Series 8.  Erie County Chapter (1987-2000) 

Series description

Chartered in 1987, the Erie County Chapter of western New York state currently maintains a membership of thirty-five women. The series begins with an introductory letter from chapter archivist Madeline Scott to DeLores Weaver noting that the records also have been cataloged and microfilmed. Following are by-laws and a rather unique collection of letters from 1987 congratulating the group for obtaining chapter status. Eight folders of meeting minutes, finances, and agendas as well as seven folders of committee reports from 1989 to 2000 easily make this a thorough collection of meeting-based documentation. A folder of correspondence from 1992 to 2000 and another of event programs from 1991-99 follow.

The series ends with what is perhaps the collection’s largest selection of materials beyond the scope of meeting minutes and programming reports. A scrapbook (removed from the original photo album and photocopied for archival purposes) highlights programs and events from fiscal year 1998-99 through press clippings, letters, and programming guides. Following is a 1994 new membership packet – an extremely useful set of papers in understanding the organization’s history and the meaning of Link membership. There are also reports from 1992 to 1994 pertaining to the chapter’s sub-committee called the Women’s Issues Network. The final folder contains photocopied articles dating from 1990 to 1996 regarding individual members, Connecting Links, and Heir-o-Links.

 Series 9.  Essex County Chapter (1996-2001) 

Series description

Originally formed in 1984 as a professional women’s organization known as the Essex New Directions, the Essex County Chapter of northern New Jersey was chartered into the Links, Inc. on April 26th, 1986. The chapter currently enlists the service of thrity-five members.

The materials provided by chapter archivist Gwenddyn Davis were donated in a sealed cardboard tube intended to be opened in April of 2011 as part of the proposed Millennium Time Capsule project. Materials were removed and flattened for archival purposes. Like many other chapter holdings, the series begins with a “message to the future.” Glued to green construction paper, the six-page message has also been photocopied to ensure its preservation. Following are event programs from 1986 and 1999 as well as a color-photocopied membership picture and a selection of photographs from various programming events in 2000. There is also a small collection of photocopied articles related to a tenth anniversary gala event featuring famed rhythm and blues musician and Chicago politician Jerry Butler.

 Series 10.  Farmington Valley Chapter (circa 1980-2000) 

Series description

The Farmington Valley Chapter of Connecticut has donated a small collection that begins with archivist Deirdre Biddy’s detailed description of the holdings. There are photographs from 1979 and 1999, original handwritten minutes from 1983, and remarks commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the group’s 1979 charter.

 Series 11.  Harbor City Chapter (1985-2000) 

Series description

Harbor City became Baltimore’s second chapter of the Links, Inc. when chartered in 1985. Originally founded in 1983 as an interest group called the Charm City Women’s Association, the chapter was renamed to avoid confusion with its earlier incarnation.

Chapter archivist Jesola E. Jones has arranged a collection that begins with a short history and continues with a biographical sketch of each current member, photocopied press clippings, and several certificates of appreciation. Four folders of event programming follow, containing reports, brochures, and promotional flyers from 1985 to 2000. Completing the series are photographs from 1986 to 2000 and several pieces of ephemera from a 1996 youth summit.

 Series 12.  Jamestown Chapter (1993-2002) 

Series description

Recognizing a need to organize another chapter in western New York state to assist in service to the Black community, Georgia Cowherd founded the Chautauqua Ladies Club in 1989 to seek status as a chapter of the Links, Inc. After four years of service very much in line with the Links’ national initiatives, the club of twenty-five civic-minded women was chartered in 1993. Diagnosed with cancer that same year, Georgia Cowherd passed away in February 1994 and was succeeded by Link Ida Knight as chapter president.

With one of the largest donations of the recently charted chapters, the Jamestown holdings open with a letter from archivist Kathryn Kenney listing the chapter’s contribution to the Eastern Area Archival Repository. Also included in the first folder are by-laws, a chapter history, correspondence pertaining to acquisition of chapter status, a member listing and photograph, and a color photocopy of the chartering certificate. Meeting minutes from 1994 to 2002 follow in four folders. The series closes with three folders – one of event programs and programming reports, another of correspondence, and a final folder of photographs.

This rich series exemplifies the loyalty and commitment necessary to bring a burgeoning Link chapter to the forefront of social activism in a given community. The Jamestown holdings chronicle the chapter’s rise from small-scale local aid to international efforts to strengthen Black communities such as their Books to Belize program and a campaign to enrich education in Africa.

 Series 13.  Long Island Chapter (2003-2003) 

Series description

Based in Roosevelt, New York, the Long Island Chapter engaged in service throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties. Chartered in 1962 as the first Links chapter on Long Island, the chapter has expanded considerably from its original membership of twenty to include thirty-eight women at its fortieth anniversary.

The Long Island Chapter series includes correspondence between Chapter President Marcia White and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Lee Arnold. There is also a sheet of highlights from the year 2000. Two event programs follow as well as a photocopied article commemorating the chapter’s fortieth anniversary.

 Series 14.  Middlesex County Chapter (2000-2001) 

Series description

The Middlesex County Chapter, founded in 1976, provides community service throughout the greater Boston region. Chapter archivist Claudette Crouse has donated a small collection, which was originally intended for the proposed Millennium Time Capsule. A letter to Link Delores Weaver and a “message to the future” are included as well as a detailed member listing.

 Series 15.  Morris County Chapter (2000) 

Series description

The Morris County Chapter of northern New Jersey provided a message for the Millennium Time Capsule.

 Series 16.  New Haven Chapter (1986-2000) 

Series description

With a unique chapter history dating back to its 1972 charter, Connecticut’s New Haven Chapter has the distinction of being founded by the fifth Eastern Area Director Millicent Smith.

The chapter’s carefully selected holdings span only two folders. The series starts with an introductory letter (“A Message to the Future”) and continues with photocopied charter certificates, two newspaper clippings, and meeting minutes from 1986-2000. A second folder contains event programs from 1986 to 2000.

 Series 17.  Niagara Falls Chapter (2000) 

Series description

Organized by prominent social worker Alice C. Hayes on May 24th of 1950, the Niagara Falls Chapter was the first of several Links chapters in western New York. The series contains an event program and journal for the chapter’s 50th anniversary celebration. There is also a letter to Link Weaver from chapter President Crystal Barton and archivist E. Marie Davis.

 Series 18.  Old Dominion Chapter (1994-2000) 

Series description

Comprised of forty-eight members, the Old Dominion Chapter has been providing social service throughout northern Virginia’s Prince William County since receiving its charter in September of 1993. Prior to the group’s incorporation into the Links, the women worked under the direction of Will Rawls Dumas and DyAnne Horner Little as an interest group named the National Organization of Role Models and Mentors (NORMM), Northern Virginia Metro Chapter.

This rich series compiled by archivist Lois Grimmett begins with a time capsule message from chapter president Mary Raby Stafford and continues with a chapter history, correspondence, and a collection of page-long member biographies. Following are two folders of event programs and programming reports concerning political and educational platforms. The final folder contains press clippings and a collection of photographs that has been transferred from a photo album into archival sleeves.

 Series 19.  Penn Towne Chapter (1988-2010) 

Series description

With a charter membership of twenty-five, the Penn Towne Chapter was established in 1975 as one of four Links groups committed to service throughout the greater Philadelphia region.

The Penn Towne Links collection includes four folders of meeting minutes from 1988 to 1996, two folders of events materials, and a final folder of newsletters and press clippings. This series also contains an interesting variant to the relatively standard chapter history – a scrapbook constructed by photocopying event programs, news articles, invitations, and photographs to delineate the chapter’s history from 1975 to 1995.

 Series 20.  Potomac Chapter (2001) 

Series description

Organized in the early 1980s as an interest group known as the Beltway Women’s League, the Potomac Chapter received its charter in June of 1984 to become the 206th chapter of the Links, Inc. Their series contains an introductory letter to archivist Link Weaver and a “Letter to the Future” that also outlines the chapter’s history and programming initiatives. In December of 2000 charter member Gladys Gary Vaughn became National Vice President of the Links, Inc.

 Series 21.  Raritan Valley Chapter (1986-2010) 

Series description

Formed as a Links interest group in 1984, the Raritan Valley Chapter of central New Jersey received its charter in April of 1986. The chapter records include three boxes of meeting reports which incorporate monthly finances, programming reports, and grant proposals to provide one of the collection’s most detailed administrative contributions. The Raritan Valley minutes also include organizational documents for events offering a rare glimpse into the work involved in arranging large-scale events such as the chapter’s yearly Mélange of Arts celebration. The series also holds a folder of chapter history, including a copy of the charter certificate, member listing, and chapter by-laws. There are also three folders of correspondence, a folder of selected event programs and brochures, and a folder containing a variety of well-labeled photographs.

 Series 22.  Richmond Chapter (1998) 

Series description

The Richmond Chapter has provided a photocopied image of a collage commemorating the forty-seventh anniversary of its 1951 chartering year.

 Series 23.  Silver Spring Chapter (1988-2000) 

Series description

Beginning in 1970 as an interest group known as the Asterisks, the Silver Spring Chapter was officially installed on November 18th, 1972, with fifteen charter members. As of 2001, membership has reached fifty-five.

The holdings assembled by chapter historian Mabel Smith begin with a folder containing the chapter’s history, programming initiatives, and a membership listing. Also provided is a well-arranged scrapbook of photographs and documents highlighting key events and programs in the group’s history.

 Series 24.  Southern Maryland Chain Chapter (2000-2001) 

Series description

The Southern Maryland Chain was first organized by Albertine T. Lancaster in the spring of 1980 as an interest group working to demonstrate its commitment to the social initiatives of the Links, Inc. In May 1982, the group was installed as an official chapter. Their series contains a single sheet that incorporates a chapter history with a series of images. The sheet also includes a listing of twenty-nine members for the 2000-01 fiscal year.

 Series 25.  Suffolk Chapter (1999-2001) 

Series description

Founded in 1983 under the direction of Violene O. Sharpe as the Suffolk Women’s League, the Suffolk Chapter was chartered into the Links in 1985. Serving the Virginia communities of Suffolk and the Isle of Wight, the chapter concentrates on financing educational scholarships and providing assistance for special health needs of local students. The chapter has also contributed financial aid to help build schools in Rwanda and Liberia. In 1993, the Suffolk Chapter had the honor of sponsoring and electing one of their members, L. Bernice Plummer, into two terms as Eastern Area Treasurer.

Originally adhered to a scrapbook intended for the Time Capsule Project, the Suffolk records have been removed and photocopied for archival preservation. The series begins with a two-page “Message to the Future,” by-laws, and a member listing. Following is a chapter history that includes a collection of corresponding photographs and programs of key events. These images have been scanned by the chapter and printed in color ink for the scrapbook.

 Series 26.  Wilmington, Delaware Chapter (1999) 

Series description

The Wilmington, Delaware Chapter was established in 1948 as one of the earliest chapters beyond Philadelphia. As of 1999, the chapter had maintained thirty-eight members committed to community service throughout northern Delaware. The series contains only a “Message to the Future” which lists membership and objectives to strengthen youth outreach programming.

 Series 27.  South Jersey Chapter (1978-2006, undated) 

Series description

The materials of the South Jersey chapter of the Links are comprised of the archives inventory, introduction and history folder (connected to the time capsule project); meeting minutes, certificates, correspondence, newspaper articles, and other miscellaneous materials. The majority of the papers are the intermittent minutes spanning from the 1970s to 2000. The meetings focused on several areas of interest – youth services, the arts, worship, international trends (which included the chapter’s support of a Haitian refugee project), national trends (which included sickle cell anemia), and reports from the treasurer.

There are also programs from the annual exhibit the chapter held at Fine Arts Center at Gloucester County College. Sculptures and other works of art were displayed, and in 1998, vignettes from a play titled Of Ebony Embers were performed. Other programs from the annual Dinner Dance the chapter held are also among the materials. The event was held to raise funds for the scholarship offered by the South Jersey Chapter of Links, Inc. The scholarship demonstrates the importance this chapter places on youth and education; it sponsored literacy programs, financial aid sessions, and career days. A photograph of members accompanies the 2005 Dinner Dance program.

The chapter’s correspondence, press releases, miscellaneous event flyers, and a scholarship application and supporting materials round out the papers relating to the South Jersey Chapter of Links, Inc. The few letters present in this series concern the planning of the exhibit at Gloucester County College (GCC), the chapter’s donations to different charities and fundraisers, and the planning of meetings. The newspaper articles in this series focus on the art exhibit at Gloucester County College and former South Jersey Links, Inc. president Evelyn Webb’s resignation from her post as president of GCC.

 Series 28.  Philadelphia Chapter (1946-2015, undated) 

Series description

The Philadelphia Chapter is the founding chapter of Links, Inc. This series consists of seventeen boxes (Boxes 12-28) of documents and photographs that highlight the Links' history and recent activities, gatherings, and events.

The photographs are a highlight of the Philadelphia Chapter’s records. One folder (Box 21, folder 7) contains thirteen photographs from the 1950s, several of which are from The Links, Inc. Eighth National Assembly, Denver, Colorado, June 28-July 1, 1956. Other photos include informal group shots of members and those from a gathering that included Thurgood Marshall as a speaker. In this folder is also a commemorative photo-print of Margaret R. Hawkins, one of the founders of The Links, Inc. In addition to these early photos, there are two archival albums of more recent photographs compiled from several small albums (Boxes 22-23), a printed photograph book (Volume 5), and a Cornucopia of the Arts scrapbook (Volume 6)

The remaining papers in the series consist of correspondence, by-laws and amendments, newsletters, programs, conference materials, two books of Links, Inc., histories (Volumes 2-4), clippings, and other miscellaneous items. There are also materials from The Links' 35th, 36th, and 37th National Assemblies (Box 18 folders 1-8 and Box 19 folder 1), as well as several fact sheets on the Philadelphia Chapter. One fact sheet is titled "The Philadelphia Story," which reviews The Links' history from 1946 to 1996. (Box 12 folder 12). Additionally, there are several folders of materials from the 41st and 42nd Eastern Area conferences (Box 14 folders 9-12 and Box 15 folder 1).

 Series 29.  Garden State Cluster 

Scope and content note

The Garden State Cluster of Links, Inc., consists of the Central New Jersey, Atlantic City, Rancocas Vallley, Raritan Valley, and South Jersey chapters. This small series contains an Eastern Area Conference postcard.

 Series 30.  Greater New York Chapter 

Scope and content note

The Greater New York Chapter has contributed one folder of events materials.

 Series 31. Keystone Cluster 

Scope and content note

The Keystone Cluster consists of the Pennsylvania chapters of Links, Inc. This small series consists of one folder of event materials.

 Series 32.  National organization 

Scope and content note

The Eastern Area Archive of the Links, Inc. has chosen to deposit some national-level materials separate from chapter donations. The papers include program guidelines, correspondence, a code of ethics, Links Foundation records, national assembly materials, a history of the Links, Inc., and a few miscellaneous items.