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The Political Activities of African American Women in Philadelphia, 1912-1941

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The Political Activities of African American Women in Philadelphia, 1912-1941 ‘Our girls can match ‘em every time’: The Political Activities of African American Women in Philadelphia, 1912-1941 A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSPHY by Jennifer Reed Fry January, 2010 ii © by Jennifer Reed Fry 2010 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT ‘Our girls can match ‘em every time’: The Political Activities of African American Women in Philadelphia, 1912-1941 Jennifer Reed Fry Doctor of Philosophy Temple University, 2010 Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas This dissertation challenges the dominant interpretation in women’s history of the 1920s and 1930s as the “doldrums of the women’s movement,” and demonstrates that Philadelphia’s political history is incomplete without the inclusion of African American women’s voices. Given their well-developed bases of power in social reform, club, church, and interracial groups and strong tradition of political activism, these women exerted tangible pressure on Philadelphia’s political leaders to reshape the reform agenda. When success was not forthcoming through traditional political means, African American women developed alternate strategies to secure their political agenda. While this dissertation is a traditional social and political history, it will also combine elements of biography in order to reconstruct the lives of Philadelphia’s African American political women. This work does not describe a united sisterhood among women or portray this period as one of unparalleled success. Rather, this dissertation will bring a new balance to political history that highlights the importance of local political activism and is at the same time sensitive to issues of race, gender, and class. iv Central to this study will be the development of biographical sketches for the key African American women activists in Philadelphia, reconstructing the challenges they faced in the political arena, as feminists and as reformers. Enfranchisement did not immediately translate into political power, as black women’s efforts to achieve their goals were often frustrated by racial tension with white women and gender divisions within the African American community. This dissertation also contributes to the historical debate regarding the shifting partisan alliance of the African American community. African Americans not intimately tied to the club movement or machine politics spearheaded the move away from the Republicans. They did so not out of economic reasons or as a result of Democratic overtures but because of the poor record of the Republicans on racial issues. Crystal Bird Fauset’s rise to political power, as the first African American woman elected to a state legislature in the United States, provides important insight into Philadelphia Democratic politics, the African American community, and the extensive organizational and political networks woven by African American women. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DEDICATION It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. I have found that to complete a dissertation it takes a small town of friends, family, and colleagues. This achievement is as much yours as it is mine. First, and most importantly, I thank my mom and dad, Carol and Ted Reed, for constant support, encouragement, and always feeding my love of history. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me over the years, I love you both. Throughout the years I’ve been fortunate to have many wonderful teachers and professors who challenged me, pushed me, and always met my questions with good humor and patience. The directors of the Bloomsburg University Upward Bound Program, Ruth Ann Bond and Maureen Mulligan, encouraged my scholarly pursuits, and helped prepare me in so many ways for college. Thank you both for giving me the confidence to succeed in academics. King’s College was both my undergraduate alma mater and first academic teaching job. To the faculty, staff, and administration- thank you for introducing me to the world of academia and cultivating my love of learning. I cannot begin to thank my dissertation committee, Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, Dr. Susan Klepp, Dr. Elizabeth Varon, and Dr. Randall Miller, for all their support and patience throughout this process. Thank you for your knowledge, insightful advice, and willingness to share your time and expertise. I was fortunate to start my graduate career at Temple with a wonderful cohort of friends. These colleagues were always there to push my analysis, challenge my vi conclusions, provide support, and most importantly help me keep perspective. Thank you to Diana Reinhard for always pushing my research and encouraging me to move forward. John Fred Saddler deserves much gratitude for being a friend, confidant, and a wonderful scholar in his own right. Getting to know you was an unexpected blessing of starting graduate school. Most importantly, Janet McShane Galley was one of my greatest supporters and friends during this process. She read multiple drafts and provided feedback, provided much needed diversions, and a constant stream of supportive emails. Thank you so much for everything. Each summer I was fortunate to have a group of summer colleagues at the Advanced Placement United States History reading. This unique group of historians (both high school and college-level) is a wonderful network of scholars. Their passion for history and yearly discussions about my work always sent me back home reinvigorated about both my dissertation and my craft. Many thanks go out to Dr. Julie Smith, Steve Kramer, Dr. Mary Evins, Dr. Thomas Slopnick, Tom Steele, Mike Klapka, Deborah Pettingill, and other colleagues who supported and inspired me throughout the years. All historians are beholden to a multitude of librarians and archivists who make their research possible. Major thanks go to Thomas Ruddy and Linda Pawlowski at King’s College who weathered a storm of interlibrary loan requests and did their best to find everything I needed. Thank you also to the archivists at Temple’s Urban Archives, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania Archives, and the Pennsylvania State Archives. My greatest debt is to vii the archivists and staff at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library who shared their passion for the Roosevelt era and encouraged my research. The summer I spent as an intern at the library was one of the most important of my life and helped develop my love of the era. Financial support in the form of grants was provided by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, thank you for making numerous research trips possible. While I was writing my dissertation I was employed as an adjunct at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. During my time there I was blessed with many supportive colleagues and friends. Dr. Donald Stevens, Dr. Daniel Curran, and Dr. Paul Zbiek of the history department helped me make the transition from student to colleague and were always there with advice and guidance. Dr. Nicholas Holodick, Theresa Holodick, and Teresa Peck provided constant support, encouragement, and much needed laughter. Dr. Terrence Mech was my “nudge,” checking on my progress daily and consistently counseling me to “get er done!” Betty Didgeon and Donna Kazmierski provided patient good humor as I requested multiple copies of dissertations and articles. Robert Bergstraasser was a constant supporter, beating up on me at chess and keeping me focused. Other faculty and staff members at King’s who are too numerous to mention provided encouragement and kind words as I finished. More than anyone, Howard Fedrick and Dr. Mary Anne Fedrick were my mentors. They kept me focused, were incredible colleagues and became my biggest supporters and best friends. Thank you for everything. viii In the final stages of my dissertation, the entire Reboli family did everything they could to help me finish. They opened their home, kept me on task, and did everything possible to assist me. Lorraine and Dennis Reboli were my “jailers” when they allowed me to work at their dining room table and kept me focused on the last few chapters. Mark and Anita Reboli and their sons, Evan Peter and Teagan Joseph, were a wonderful source of encouragement and much needed hilarity. It is hard to not be motivated when a nine year old asks Santa Claus for a completed dissertation and a four year old states that a small mishap would not have occurred “if Jen was working on her dissertation.” Finally this dissertation would not have been completed without my partner in crime, Denise Reboli. There aren’t enough thanks in the world for the past few years of support, travel, and encouragement. Thank you for being you. This dissertation is dedicated to my grandparents- George Reed, Eva Reed, and John Sapp but especially my grandmother, Alma Sapp, who passed away before I could complete my degree. Growing up she was always there for me, and some of my fondest memories are of our times together. You believed in me, encouraged me, and most of all taught me how to enjoy life, travel, and be resilient. While I’m sorry I didn’t finish in time for you to celebrate at my graduation party, I know you’ve been watching over me. I miss you every day Grammam. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………… iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DEDICATION……………………………. v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS………………………………………………….. x LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………….. xi INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………….. xii CHAPTER 1. PROLOGUE: BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION: PHILADELPHIA’S AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN FROM 1787 TO 1910……………………. 1 2. WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE, THE ELECTION OF 1920 AND THE PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE : FIGHTING FOR A PLACE IN POLITICS BETWEEN 1910 AND 1920………………………………………………… 63 3. “THERE WILL BE NO BED FELLOWS IN POLITICS NOW THAT LADIES ARE IN THE GAME”: FIGHTING FOR POLITICAL POWER IN THE EARLY1920s……………………………………………………….. 111 4. LOYAL TO LINCOLN OR FOLLOWING FDR?: A NEW DEAL AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES…………………………………………………….
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