A View from the Vault: State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs of Delaware
by Kallie Comradelle, doctoral student from the Department of English
The State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs of Delaware was one of many chapters of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACWC), which concerned itself with a range of social causes including civil rights and women’s suffrage. The Delaware chapter was particularly interested in education as a means of social welfare, as the chapter’s members were largely associated with Howard High School – the first, and for a long time only, high school for Black students in the state of Delaware. The Delaware chapter also was responsible for the creation and establishment of the Industrial School for Colored Girls, which helped to house and educate “delinquent” African American girls, as well as those who were orphaned or impoverished.
While doing research for the current Special Collections exhibition Lifting As We Climb: Churches, Schools and the Formation of Delaware’s Free Black Communities, I was particularly excited to find this pamphlet for the 1926 annual convention of the State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs of Delaware in the Alice-Dunbar Nelson papers. From the moment we started planning our exhibition, I was drawn to stories of the African American women who shaped Delaware society in the early 20th century. From my research, I knew that women’s clubs like the Delaware chapter of the NACWC existed, but I struggled to find evidence of their history and activities. Locating this pamphlet amongst the many folders of ephemera in the Dunbar-Nelson papers felt like a triumph and an important step towards recovering and repairing historical silences about the history of Black Americans and, more specifically, Black women.
The pamphlet is simple, outlining the schedule for the 1926 annual convention, which was held at Ezion M.E. Church in Wilmington. The cover features the quote we used as inspiration for the title of our exhibition, “Lifting As We Climb,” which also was the motto of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. Mrs. Alice Dunbar-Nelson, who taught at Howard High School and helped establish the Industrial School for Colored Girls, is listed as a member of the convention’s “Program Committee.” The pamphlet also credits a “Group of Girls from the Industrial School” as providing the music for the event.
You can see this pamphlet and other materials from Special Collections in our current exhibition Lifting As We Climb: Churches, Schools and the Formation of Delaware’s Free Black Communities, on view from February 2 through August 7, 2026 in the Morris Library Information Room. We also hope you’ll join us for a special exhibition tour and panel discussion on February 26 from 4:00-6:00 pm.
“A View from the Vault” showcases some of the unique, notable or rare items that are a part of the Special Collections and Museums holdings at the University of Delaware. Each month, we highlight a different work and share interesting facts or intriguing histories about it. If you are interested in seeing any of the materials featured in person or want to learn more about any work showcased in the series, please contact Special Collections and Museums at AskSpec or AskMuseums.