The late Emma Odessa Young, a realtor from New York City and a member of the New York Club of Business and Professional Women, conceived the idea of a national organization of business and professional women in 1934. Unfortunately, Mrs. Young became an invalid and never sought to head the organization. Although an invalid, Mrs. Young’s mind was alert and her interest keen. She was satisfied to witness the progress of the organization before her passing in 1944.
In July of 1935, Mrs. Ollie Chinn Porter, president of the New York Club, extended an invitation to local clubs, organized as Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, to join and form a national organization. The Founders were Emma Odessa Young, Ollie Chinn Porter and Effie Diton of New York City; Bertha Perry Rhodes, Josephine B. Keene and Adelaide Flemming of Philadelphia; and Goldeana Pearle Flipping of Atlantic City.
After a year of meetings, the first convention was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 9-11, 1936, at the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church on Artic Avenue. Elected as the first national president was Mrs. Ollie Chinn Porter. The aim of this newly formed national organization was then, as it is today, to attract women of high caliber to organize similar clubs within their communities. Facing the realities of the times, their daring and inspiring goals were to share their experiences and exchange information; to protect their interest and to encourage and develop opportunities for black women in businesses and professions.
During this time in our history, black people were called “Negroes”. Very few had businesses or professions. Many were still deep in the throes of the depression. The fact that these black women had the courage to found such an optimistic organization is astounding and a lasting testimony to their faith in themselves, our people, and the future.
The Founders were owners, managers, college graduates, and other professionally licensed women, who had managed to realize some measure of personal success, at a time when there was not a national movement to improve the lot of black Americans; where there was no black capitalism program, nor any black studies curricula. Still, these women felt prepared to offer leadership.
Over the years, NANBPWC, Inc. has grown in numbers and scope, conducting many needed community service activities that go far beyond the original purpose. Women have come a long way and so has NANBPWC, Inc.
The New Rochelle Club of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. was founded by 16 dynamic women (Augustus P. Turner, Pauline Flippen, Elizabeth Wilson, Ernestine Boyer, Leona Farrington, Eva Gore, Kathleen Jordan, Cecelia Williams, Julia Brown, Katherine Rhone, Corie Rutherford, Doris Wilson, Louise Smith, Loretta Madison, Beryl Cobb and Patricia Haltaufderhyde).
These very special women saw the need to create a forum in which African American women would be able to fully participate in bringing about meaningful changes in their community. According to one of the founders, “The Lincoln School integration struggle and other civil rights issues were key concerns that moved many of us to deep social commitment and to demand that democratic procedures take precedent in all areas of our lives.” All these forces were strongly reflected in the operations of this new club during those turbulent early days of the civil rights movement. The New Rochelle Club was chartered on December 6, 1955 by our National Association with Mrs. Augustus P. Turner becoming the club’s 1st president. Thus, the fledgling New Rochelle Club evolved from the participation of its charter members in the early struggles of the civil rights movement.
Through the years, the New Rochelle Club has continued the legacy of our founders to serve by focusing on issues that affect the well-being of the community in the areas of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Service (LETS) and Health, Education, Employment, and Economic Development (HEED), our National mandate.
The New Rochelle Club in 2018, jointly formed a collaborative of Northeast District clubs, who present programs in the area of LETS, to the community. The collaborative clubs are The Bronx Club, The New York Club (founding club of the association), The Riverside Club and Williamsbridge Club.
The New Rochelle Club is the recipient of National’s “Bertha Perry Rhodes Program Excellence Award", “The City of New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award” and a “Certificate of Appreciation Award from Westchester County, New York.”