Our History
In 1887, many areas of the country were blind to the Emancipation Proclamation, so Southern Negroes sought better opportunities in the prosperous city of Detroit. For many, the move necessitated the need for aid. But Detroit had no organized welfare department and no facilities to aid needy Negroes.
The Original Willing Workers grew from the desire of Mr. H. C. Clark (a noted gardener, caring for estates bordering Woodward as far as Watson St., which then was "the end of time") to aid those in need. In the Clark home at 432 Adelaide near Beaubien, on November 30, 1887, Mrs. H. C. Clark and a group of friends met to form the Original Willing Workers Society for the purpose of aiding the less fortunate.
Mrs. H. C. Clark (a woman with no formal education, but a woman of means) was named President. Mrs. Mary Miner was named Secretary. Mrs. William Anderson, a bookkeeper with Newcomb Endicott's rug department (later purchased by J. L. Hudson) and one of Detroit's first white-collar Negroes, became Treasurer of the Society.
Among the charter members were: Mrs. John B. Anderson, Mrs. W. H. Anderson, Mrs. Delia Barrier, Mrs. Ella (Lambert) Bradford, Mrs. Alex Bryant, Mrs. Fred Clark, Mrs. William Ferguson, Mrs. Sarah Howell, Miss Agnes Jeffery, Miss Carrie Jeffery, Mrs. Mary Catherine Johnson, Mrs. John Lowe, Mrs. Julia Malone, Mrs. William Palmer, Mrs. Robert Pelham, Mrs. Walter Stowers, Mrs. Robert Thomas, Mrs. William Tomlinson, Mrs. Harriet (Lambert) Williams, Mrs. S. Willis, and Mrs. Frank Winborn.
They met on Thursdays, laboring to make and sell quilts to raise funds. Regardless of color or creed, the "ladies bountiful" assisted the needy and aged, individuals and families, with personal visits and provisions of food, clothing, fuel (coal), rent payments, and loans. To cover their fees, weekly dues of five cents were collected. An additional one-dollar fee covered expenses for summer months, when they did not meet.
After 1935, dues rose to five dollars annually and then gradually to fifteen dollars annually in September 1982. Over the years, other funds have been raised through assessments, raffles, white elephant sales, craft auctions, and other special events.
Meetings have involved the making of quilts and cancer pads, white elephant sales, craft auctions, and interesting programs with piano and vocal performances, poetry readings, and informative speakers.
For decades, membership was limited to direct descendants. By 1937, membership rolls had grown to 50 active members. In the late 1930's, membership was opened and four non-descendants were allowed to join the Society. They were Dora Hill, Edith Rawlings, Jean Walker, and Virginia White.
For 50 years, the OWW met weekly from the last Thursday in October until the last Thursday in April. Sometime after 1935 and until 1980, meetings were held the 2nd Thursday of the months from October through April. From 1980 through 1996, meetings were held the 2nd Thursday of the month from September through December and March through May. In 1996, meetings were switched to the 2nd Saturday of the month, in an attempt to attract younger members and to conform to modern working schedules.
Through the years, efforts of the OWW have been recognized and praised in various ways by notable members of society. In 1909, the renowned W. E. B. DuBois praised the organization's efforts, saying, "The OWW regularly supported four colored familiies in addition to giving aid to worthy white families." Various certificates and endowments through wills and other contributions have been given to the OWW. Mrs. Fannie Hutchinson, who owned the property where Music Hall now stands, and Mrs. Gladys Pelham Roscoe, were such benefactors. At one time Mrs. Dodge Wilson gave a large monthly sum to assist the OWW's efforts.
In 1937, the following organizations received contributions from the OWW: The Carver Memorial, Community Fund, Mercy Hall, Needle Work Guild, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Phyllis Wheatley Home, and YMCA.
The OWW began making cancer pads for the American Cancer Society in 1949 and continued to do so until the late 1980's.
On June 25, 1953, at the International Institute, the Detroit Heirloom Society presented "Needs and Deeds" (a humorous one-act play about women), written and directed by Arthur D. Coar and produced by Fred Hart Williams. The play was dedicated to the Original Willing Workers for their outstanding contributions from 1887 through 1953.
For several years, the organization contributed to the Women's Committee of United Community Services. Because of their contributions to the Detroit League for the Handicapped and to the Phyllis Wheatley Home in 1959, the OWW received two certificates of recognition from the United Community Services. The certificates were presented on the 25th Anniversary of the Women's Committee, of which Mrs. Edsel B. Ford was Honorary Chairman.
By 1964, the recipients of the OWW's contributions included the Delta Home for Girls, Goodwill Industries, and United Foundation. They also contributed to the Patron of the Arts, an organization that presented nationally acclaimed Black artists, such as Marion Anderson, to Detroit audiences. Mrs. Gladys Pelham Roscoe was among the founding members of the Patron of the Arts.
The OWW also contributed funds to the Detroit Association of Women's Clubs from the 1970's through the 1990's.
On May 13, 1977, the Society loaned to the Afro-American Museum of Detroit, located at 1553 W. Grand Blvd., a scrapbrook, photographs, and newspaper clippings covering the history of OWW. The materials were to be on loan for an indefinite period.
In the 1980's and 1990's, in addition to continued support of many of the previously mentioned organizations, monetary contributions were being given to COTS, Crossroads, Grace Episcopal for the Homeless, Hospice, Interim House, and St. Christopher House; toys to Children's Hospital; layettes to the House of Love and Hutzel Hospital; and food and clothing to Focus Hope families.
In February 1985, the Detroit Historical Museum presented an exhibit "Black Women in Michigan: 1785 - 1985." In conjunction with this exhibit, in April 1985, the OWW was asked to provide its history to the Resource/Study Guide. They were documenting the efforts of Black women who had sought to increase their strength through organizations and social movements. This information was to be placed in libraries and archives throughout the state of Michigan.
The Original Willing Workers grew from the desire of Mr. H. C. Clark (a noted gardener, caring for estates bordering Woodward as far as Watson St., which then was "the end of time") to aid those in need. In the Clark home at 432 Adelaide near Beaubien, on November 30, 1887, Mrs. H. C. Clark and a group of friends met to form the Original Willing Workers Society for the purpose of aiding the less fortunate.
Mrs. H. C. Clark (a woman with no formal education, but a woman of means) was named President. Mrs. Mary Miner was named Secretary. Mrs. William Anderson, a bookkeeper with Newcomb Endicott's rug department (later purchased by J. L. Hudson) and one of Detroit's first white-collar Negroes, became Treasurer of the Society.
Among the charter members were: Mrs. John B. Anderson, Mrs. W. H. Anderson, Mrs. Delia Barrier, Mrs. Ella (Lambert) Bradford, Mrs. Alex Bryant, Mrs. Fred Clark, Mrs. William Ferguson, Mrs. Sarah Howell, Miss Agnes Jeffery, Miss Carrie Jeffery, Mrs. Mary Catherine Johnson, Mrs. John Lowe, Mrs. Julia Malone, Mrs. William Palmer, Mrs. Robert Pelham, Mrs. Walter Stowers, Mrs. Robert Thomas, Mrs. William Tomlinson, Mrs. Harriet (Lambert) Williams, Mrs. S. Willis, and Mrs. Frank Winborn.
They met on Thursdays, laboring to make and sell quilts to raise funds. Regardless of color or creed, the "ladies bountiful" assisted the needy and aged, individuals and families, with personal visits and provisions of food, clothing, fuel (coal), rent payments, and loans. To cover their fees, weekly dues of five cents were collected. An additional one-dollar fee covered expenses for summer months, when they did not meet.
After 1935, dues rose to five dollars annually and then gradually to fifteen dollars annually in September 1982. Over the years, other funds have been raised through assessments, raffles, white elephant sales, craft auctions, and other special events.
Meetings have involved the making of quilts and cancer pads, white elephant sales, craft auctions, and interesting programs with piano and vocal performances, poetry readings, and informative speakers.
For decades, membership was limited to direct descendants. By 1937, membership rolls had grown to 50 active members. In the late 1930's, membership was opened and four non-descendants were allowed to join the Society. They were Dora Hill, Edith Rawlings, Jean Walker, and Virginia White.
For 50 years, the OWW met weekly from the last Thursday in October until the last Thursday in April. Sometime after 1935 and until 1980, meetings were held the 2nd Thursday of the months from October through April. From 1980 through 1996, meetings were held the 2nd Thursday of the month from September through December and March through May. In 1996, meetings were switched to the 2nd Saturday of the month, in an attempt to attract younger members and to conform to modern working schedules.
Through the years, efforts of the OWW have been recognized and praised in various ways by notable members of society. In 1909, the renowned W. E. B. DuBois praised the organization's efforts, saying, "The OWW regularly supported four colored familiies in addition to giving aid to worthy white families." Various certificates and endowments through wills and other contributions have been given to the OWW. Mrs. Fannie Hutchinson, who owned the property where Music Hall now stands, and Mrs. Gladys Pelham Roscoe, were such benefactors. At one time Mrs. Dodge Wilson gave a large monthly sum to assist the OWW's efforts.
In 1937, the following organizations received contributions from the OWW: The Carver Memorial, Community Fund, Mercy Hall, Needle Work Guild, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Phyllis Wheatley Home, and YMCA.
The OWW began making cancer pads for the American Cancer Society in 1949 and continued to do so until the late 1980's.
On June 25, 1953, at the International Institute, the Detroit Heirloom Society presented "Needs and Deeds" (a humorous one-act play about women), written and directed by Arthur D. Coar and produced by Fred Hart Williams. The play was dedicated to the Original Willing Workers for their outstanding contributions from 1887 through 1953.
For several years, the organization contributed to the Women's Committee of United Community Services. Because of their contributions to the Detroit League for the Handicapped and to the Phyllis Wheatley Home in 1959, the OWW received two certificates of recognition from the United Community Services. The certificates were presented on the 25th Anniversary of the Women's Committee, of which Mrs. Edsel B. Ford was Honorary Chairman.
By 1964, the recipients of the OWW's contributions included the Delta Home for Girls, Goodwill Industries, and United Foundation. They also contributed to the Patron of the Arts, an organization that presented nationally acclaimed Black artists, such as Marion Anderson, to Detroit audiences. Mrs. Gladys Pelham Roscoe was among the founding members of the Patron of the Arts.
The OWW also contributed funds to the Detroit Association of Women's Clubs from the 1970's through the 1990's.
On May 13, 1977, the Society loaned to the Afro-American Museum of Detroit, located at 1553 W. Grand Blvd., a scrapbrook, photographs, and newspaper clippings covering the history of OWW. The materials were to be on loan for an indefinite period.
In the 1980's and 1990's, in addition to continued support of many of the previously mentioned organizations, monetary contributions were being given to COTS, Crossroads, Grace Episcopal for the Homeless, Hospice, Interim House, and St. Christopher House; toys to Children's Hospital; layettes to the House of Love and Hutzel Hospital; and food and clothing to Focus Hope families.
In February 1985, the Detroit Historical Museum presented an exhibit "Black Women in Michigan: 1785 - 1985." In conjunction with this exhibit, in April 1985, the OWW was asked to provide its history to the Resource/Study Guide. They were documenting the efforts of Black women who had sought to increase their strength through organizations and social movements. This information was to be placed in libraries and archives throughout the state of Michigan.
