NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN 1318 Vermont Avenue, N. W. Washington 5, D. C. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Miss Dorothy C. Guinn CO 5-I1U3U . ----------------- Washington, D. C. — The 21st Annual Convention of the National Council of Ne^ro Women closed Sunday morning, November 18, with the final meeting of the ■'Board of Directors. Sessions were held at the Willard Hotel in Washington. An outstanding feature of the convention was an Interracial Conference of Women with participants from many sections of the country, representing most of the national women’s organizations. They met in face to face groups and talked about what women can do to secure human and civil rights for all people in the United States, and especially for Negroes. The convention was chaired by Dr. Marjorie Parker, National Program Chairman of NCNW, who was assisted by Dr. Lorraine Williams, Convention Chairman. Dr. Williams was supported by a group of able educators, social and civic workers. The Board of Directors met Wednesday night, November 15, at Council House, with the National President, Mrs. William T. Mason, presiding. A social hour followed the Board meeting, courtesy of the Washington Council, with Mrs. Hallie Lovinggood as chairman. The convention sessions opened on Thursday morning at the ^Tillard Hotel with special devotions led by Dr. Alma Illery, National Chaplain. Mrs. Eula W. Harris, President of the CME Church Women’s Connectional Missionary Council gave the in­ vocation. Eulogy to the late Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Founder, was given by Dr. Arenia Mallory, First Vice President. Mrs. Margaret G. Simms, National Director of Junior Councils, spoke for the youth of the country. -2- Thursday sessions included reports from the presidents of twenty-one national affiliates a d the following regional directors: Mrs» Daisy S. George, Region I; Mrs. Richard Layne, Revion V; Mrs. Belzora S. Ward, Revion IV and Mrs. Ruth Caston Mueller, Region VII. Travel reports by Dp. Nancy Bullock McGhee, Second Vice President; Dr. Marguerite Cartwright of New York and Mrs. Sadie J. Carter Williams of New York were enlightening and well received. Mrs. Marian Fletcher Croson, NCNW observer to the United Nations gave a de­ tailed account of her work at the United Nations and the work accomplished by NCNW in support of the United Nations. Foreign visitors, Mrs. Gertrude Mdledle of South Africa and The Honorable Audrey Jeffers of Trinidad were warmly received and both spoke during the course of the meeting, bringing greetings from the women of their countries. A feature of the Thursday meeting was a President’s ’’Get To-Gether” — a buffet supper where Miss Margaret Rawalt, former president of the National Association of Business and Professional Women was the speaker. The affair was chaired by Mrs. Mildred Dudley, President of the Philadelphia Council. The Interracial Conference opened on Friday, November 16, in the Grand Ball­ room of the hotel. Several hundred women from various parts of the United States assembled to hear the keynoters, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Mordecai Johnson. Mrs. Roosevelt said in part that the first thing that must be done is to secure the protection of the right to vote. Dr. Johnson called upon church women to be crusaders in surmounting barriers to civil and human rights. He called on the women to ’’come out from the segregated cowardice”. He attacked real estate interests for their bad housing policies. Dr. Lorraine Williams gave the objectives of the conference and Dr. Dorothy B. Ferebee gave the conference story. Women of both races representing churches, civic and welfare groups, colleges and the home came together for round table discussions on the impediments to human and civil rights« Many ideas were advanced. They discussed separation of the races through law and custom; ignorance on the part of many, fear, greed and other fac­ tors. Following the morning session, a Friendship Luncheon was held featuring Dr. Willa Player, President of Bennett College and George S. Mitchell, Executive Director of the Southern Regional Council, as speakers. Miss Cleomine Lewis was soloist, accompanied by Mrs. Ethel Ramos Harris. The luncheon was chaired by Mrs. Montrosa Frazier, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority. The keynoter for the afternoon session was Dr. Frank Graham, United States * Representative with the United Nations for India and Pakistan, who spoke of the global concept of human rights and the urgency to revise our standards. Round table discussions were resumed until the meeting was adjourned. An International Festival of Arts was held Friday night in the Departmental Auditorium of the Department of Labor. Representatives from India, Haiti, Guam, Indonesia and the United States appeared on the program. The Honorable Mason Sears, United States Trusteeship Council, United Nations, was the speaker. Mrs. Ethel Ramos Harris, Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts was in charge of the Festival of Arts. Following the program, the President’s Reception was held in the conference room adjoining the Auditorium, where the Louia Vaughn Jones String Ensemble of Howard University rendered several selections. A special feature during the reception was an exhibition of paintings by Lois Jones Pierre-Noel. On Saturday morning, November 17? the Interracial Conference of Women closed with summations of the round table discussions by Dr. Nancy Bullock McGhee, second vice president, and Mrs. Arnetta Wallace, President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The commitment was given by Miss Lilace Reid Barnes, president of the National Young Women’s Christian Association«, The Life Members Guild met on Saturday for luncheon. Mrs. Jean Clore Jones of Vhshington presided. Guest speaker was Mrs. Mollie Moon, president of the -h- X, National Urban League Guild who spoke on "The Role of the Volunteer in Community Service”. Soloist was Miss Mae Helene Wilson of Howard University, accompanied by Miss Betty Flow. The Junior Councils, led by the National Director, Mrs. Margaret G. Simms, held a special workshop on Saturday morning on "What the Community has to offer Youth in Education, Entertainment, Employment and Community Services” with Dr. Deborah Partridge, Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority as keynoter. Speakers and discussants were Misses Phyllis Campbell of Washington, Bernice Farmer, Detroit; Margaret Johnson, Newport News and Peggy LaRue Williams of Little Rock. The Junior Council luncheon was chaired by Mrs. Eleanor Singleton, Sponsor for the Washington Junior Council. Guest speaker was Miss Vinita Lewis, Chairman of NCNW Social Welfare Departmento She spoke on "The Challenge to Youth Tomorrow”. Fashion show models during the luncheon were Misses Alexina Singleton, Jean Walburg, Shirley Minor, Faith Boswell and Darlene Williams. - Saturday night ended the formal meetings of the 21st Annual Convention when the Awards Dinner took place. Mrs. Louis Mehlinger presided. Invocation was by the Reverend Jefferson P. Rodgers and guest speaker was Mrs. Agnes E. Meyer. Soloists were Henry Blackmon, Jr., accompanied by Mrs. Alma A. Blackmon and Miss Padrica Mendez of Bethune-Cookman College, accompanied by Miss Francesca Dixon. ■x Honorees who received awards were Dr. Jane Wright of New York; Mrs. Sarah Patton Boyle of Charlottesville, Virginia and Mrs. Frankie Freeman of St. Louis. The National Council of Negro Women was also given an award for community service by the American National Red Cross. Presentation was made by George Elzy, Assistant to the President, Ellsworth Bunker. The 21st Annual Convention marked a milestone in the achievements of the National Council of Negro Women under the dynamic and able leadership of the National Presi­ dent, Mrs. William T. Mason of Norfolk, Virginia0.