Kick-Off Message,

]> org_womeninaction Finding Aid of the Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and its Causes, Inc., Durham Chapter Records, 1968 - 1973 Processed by: Ellen Z. McGrew; machine-readable finding aid created by: Fran Tracy-Walls, Ashley Yandle &hdrNcDncsa; 2007 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: June, 2003 Description is in English June, 2007 moved from v.1 to v. 2002 Finding Aid of the Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and its Causes, Inc., Durham Chapter Records, 1968 - 1973 State Archives of North Carolina &tpNcDncsa; Descriptive Summary State Archives of North Carolina. Women-in-Action for the Prevention of Violence and Its Causes, Inc. Durham Chapter (Durham, N.C.) Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and its Causes, Inc., Durham Chapter Records, 1968 - 1973 Org.195 Materials in English 2 For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Public Services Branch, State Archives of North Carolina. Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and Its Causes, Inc. was founded by Elna B. Spaulding on September 4, 1968, shortly after a public appeal was made to women of the Durham community to form a civic coalition of African-American and white women from all levels of society to work toward the prevention of violence. At that time, Durham was in the throes of a black buying boycott, and tensions were mounting. The new organization worked with the principal groups involved (Black Solidarity Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Bureau), held open forums on the grievances, and contributed to a settlement which was effected in February, 1969. Anticipating public unrest over the court-ordered school desegregation plan, Women-In-Action opened a Center for School Support on July 29, 1970. The role Women-In-Action played in helping to foster a healthy climate for the transition was cited by state and local officials. This group of general records of Women-In-Action dates from 1968 to 1973. Materials relate to the organization's work to prevent violence in the Durham, N.C., area during the 1960s and 1970s including boycotts, school desegregation, providing a problem clearinghouse to serve as an independent ombudsman for Durham citizens and serving as a rumor control center investigating complaints, rumors, and problems dealing with unemployment, drug abuse, medical care, substandard housing, consumer affairs, and other issues. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Org.195, Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and its Causes, Inc., Durham Chapter Records, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Placed on loan by Elna Bridgeforth Spaulding (Mrs. Asa Spaulding), president and founder of the organization, Durham, N.C., 1974.

Processing Information

Processed by Ellen Z. McGrew, November, 1974

Encoded by Fran Tracy-Walls, June, 2003

Additional encoding by Ashley Yandle, June, 2007

Historical Note

Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and Its Causes, Inc. was founded by Elna B. Spaulding on September 4, 1968, shortly after a public appeal was made to women of the Durham community to form a civic coalition of African-American and white women from all levels of society to work toward the prevention of violence. At that time, Durham was in the throes of a black buying boycott, and tensions were mounting.

The new organization worked with the principal groups involved (Black Solidarity Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Bureau), held open forums on the grievances, and contributed to a settlement which was effected in February, 1969. Anticipating public unrest over the court-ordered school desegregation plan, Women-In-Action opened a Center for School Support on July 29, 1970. The role Women-In-Action played in helping to foster a healthy climate for the transition was cited by state and local officials.

As an outgrowth of the school support center, Women-In-Action established a Problem Clearinghouse in October, 1970, to serve as an independent ombudsman for Durham citizens. The program was expanded the following year to encompass a branch of the national Call for Action program. Activities in 1970 and beyond reflected the group's involvement in a variety of issues in the Durham community and beyond. These areas included civic improvement, education, communications, housing, human relations, police-community relations, and welfare.

The organization's first affiliate was founded in Raleigh in September, 1971, stemming from a two-day statewide workshop for women's organizations held in Durham in April, 1971.

Collection Overview

This group of general records of Women-In-Action dates from 1968 to 1973. Materials relate to the organization's work to prevent violence in the Durham, N.C., area during the 1960s and 1970s including boycotts, school desegregation, providing a problem clearinghouse to serve as an independent ombudsman for Durham citizens and serving as a rumor control center investigating complaints, rumors, and problems dealing with unemployment, drug abuse, medical care, substandard housing, consumer affairs, and other issues. Includes records of subcommittees dealing with problems in the areas of civic improvement, education, communications, housing, human relations, police-community relations, and welfare. Principal groups involved with the group during the boycott include Black Solidarity Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Bureau. There are also clippings and material relating to the Raleigh chapter of the organization. Persons represented include Elna B. Spaulding, founder and president.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is organized into 6 series by year:

1968: News Articles 1969: Administrative and Miscellaneous Records 1970: Administrative and Miscellaneous Records 1971: Administrative and Miscellaneous Records 1972: Administrative, Biographical, and Miscellaneous Records 1973: Conference, January Agenda

Series 2-5, containing the largest quantity of material, include folders arranged by topic and type of material. At the end of each series there is a sub-series entitled Non-Women-In-Action Materials.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Subject Terms African Americans--Civil rights--North Carolina--Durham. African Americans--North Carolina--Economic conditions. Black Solidarity Committee (Durham, N.C.) Boycotts--North Carolina--Durham. Civic improvement--North Carolina--Durham. Consumer protection--North Carolina--Durham. Discrimination in housing--North Carolina--Durham. Drug abuse--North Carolina. Education--North Carolina--Durham. Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. Housing--North Carolina--Durham. Medical care--North Carolina. Merchants Bureau (Durham, N.C.) Ombudsman--North Carolina--Durham. Police-community relations--North Carolina--Durham. Race relations--History--20th century. School integration--North Carolina--Durham. Unemployment--North Carolina. Welfare recipients--North Carolina. Women--Societies and clubs--North Carolina--Durham. Geographic Terms Durham (N.C.) Raleigh (N.C.) Wake County (N.C.) Related Collections

Additional information on topics found in this collection may be found in the Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS) http://www.ncarchives.dcr.state.nc.us.

Container List News Articles, 1968

This small series gives a glimpse of the beginnings of the organization, Women-in-Action, that would be formally established the following year. It contains Kick-Off Message, September 4, Asa Spaulding, Durham Morning Herald, 1 page, December 29.

1 Spaulding, Asa T. (Asa Timothy), News Article, 1968

Like his wife, Elna Spaulding, Asa T. Spaulding had many civic, religious, educational, policial interests. He was also a prominent businessman and associated with two successful Durham establishments, the North Carolina Mutal Life Insurance Company and the Mechanics and Farmers Bank. While Asa T. Spaulding was author of the article, Elna Spaulding is credited with the vision of the Women-In-Action organization. This vision took on concrete shape in 1968 after Mrs. Spaulding attended a national conference on What Women Can Do to End Violence in America.

Administrative and Miscellaneous Records, 1969

Women-in-Action was registered on June 19, 1969 as a non-profit corporation through the office of the North Carolina Secretary of State. This series reflects the following activities during that period: establishment of by-laws, guidelines, etc., and formation of an executive committee and a number of sub-committees. These sub-committees began to explore problems in areas of education, civil improvement, communications, housing, human relations, police-community relations, welfare, etc. The series also contains some correspondence, workshop material, clippings, material concerning its first anniversary celebration, along with miscellaneous and non Women-In-Action materials.

By-Laws Articles of Incorporation Guidelines; Bibliography; Literature Executive Committee, Steering Committee, Agenda General Meeting, Program Sub-Committee Reports, Opinionnaire, etc. Civic Improvement Committee Police and Community Relations-Equal Protection Under the Law Employment Committee Communications Committee General Correspondence Workshop, July Workshop, July First Anniversary Dinner Program Address Correspondence Newspaper Clippings Miscellaneous Summary, September 1968 - August, 1969 Resolutions and Insights, The McCall Forum Conference Revisited, n.d. Notes on the nature of violence, n.d. Answers to Questionnaire on directions for second year Statement on major cause of tension in our society, addressed to Durham County Board of Commissioners, n.d. Non Women-In-Action Materials News Release, Human Relations Commission, Durham Capital Briefs, Washington Office of National Board of YWCA's, November-December Who's Who in Housing, League of Women Voters Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings Minutes, Joint Meeting (Minority Group Housing Committee, Housing for Displaced Families Committee, Urban Renewal Committee), October 16 Administrative and Miscellaneous Records, 1970

This series includes agendas, minutes, program information, some correspondence. The records of 1970 reflect the addition of a board of advisors, board of directors, and standing committee. Sub-committees continued to explore problems in areas of education, civil improvement, communications, housing, human relations, police-community relations, welfare, etc.

Board of Directors, Executive Committee Memoranda Agenda Minutes Advisory Board Minutes and Agenda General Meetings Minutes Programs Center for School Support

Anticipating public unrest over the court-ordered school desegregation plan, Women-In-Action opened a Center for School Support on July 29, 1970. Women of both races manned telephones, answering questions of harried parents worried about school assignments and busing, stifling rumors, etc. In addition, PTA conferences, parent-teacher-student seminars, and informal social gatherings were held during the transition period. The Durham public schools opened in the fall without major incidents and the Center was able to close September 4, 1970. The role Women-In-Action played in helping to foster a healthy climate for the transition was cited by state and local officials.

Correspondence, etc. Clearinghouse

In October, 1970, as an outgrowth of the school center, Women-In-Action established a Problem Clearinghouse to serve as an independent ombudsman for Durham citizens. It served as a rumor control center, investigating complaints and rumors and handling problems dealing with unemployment, drug abuse, abortions, medical care, substandard housing, consumer affairs, etc.

General Correspondence Sub-Committees Reports, etc.

Women-In-Action continued its sub-committees charged with exploring problems reflected by their various names.

Civic Improvement Communications Committee Human Relations Committee List of Standing Committee Chairmen Finances Newsletters; News Releases Membership and Officers Awards George Washington Honor Medal, Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge, June 8 [1970] Distinguished Service in the Field of Human Relations, National Conference of Christians and Jews, October 6 [1970] Newspaper Clippings Organizations, List of Miscellaneous (Women-In-Action) Non Women-In-Action Materials Call for Action Perspective, 1970, Vol. 2, No. 1 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (founded 1915 by Jane Adams), November bulletin Invitation,Action '70 Day, Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council, Inc., Greensboro, September [1970] Program: Forum, N.C. Council of Women's Organizations, Women-In-Action--1970, Meredith College, September [1970] Newsletter, Link,, Housing Authority, Durham, Vol. X, No. 2, December [1970] Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings Report on successful integration of schools in Hoke County, text delivered before Select Committee on Equal Educational Opportunity : in Washington, D.C., June 17, [1970] Program, World Understanding Workshop , n.d.

Topic and panelists only.

Administrative and Miscellaneous Records, 1971

This series includes a president's report on Highlights of 1970; minutes and agendas of the main organization and executive committee, with amendments to by-laws; some correspondence, financial, workshop, and Clearinghouse material; clippings. Also, there is an awards folder, with a National Volunteer Award citation. A folder is devoted to the formation of the organization's first affiliate, founded in Raleigh in September, 1971. The series ends with the president's third anniversary report.

2 Report of the President, Highlights of 1970 Board of Directors Executive Committee Agenda Minutes Amendments to By-Laws General Meetings Agenda Minutes General Correspondence Membership, Officers Sub-Committees Reports Clearinghouse

On November 1, 1971, the Clearinghouse project was expanded to encompass a branch of the national Call for Action program.

Call for Action

The Call for Action program provided help by telephone for individuals who are unable to have grievances settled through normal channels. This telephone service was sponsored and partly funded by Raleigh radio-television station WRAL.

Workshop Workshop Newspaper Clippings Award Citation, National Volunteer Award Finances Raleigh Chapter President's Third Anniversary Report, September 4, 1972 Administrative, Biographical, and Miscellaneous Records, 1972

This series includes minutes and agendas of the main organization and its executive committee; some correspondence and Clearinghouse material; newsletters; clippings, and related, but non-Women-In-Action materials. Special projects include a workshop with the PTA and a concern with Christmas toys with violent themes. A folder on Special Projects, 1970-72 provides some biographical information on Mrs. Spaulding.

Executive Committee, General Meetings Minutes, Agenda General Correspondence Membership, Officers Clearinghouse Workshop with PTA Newsletter (March) Newspaper Clippings Tax Status, United Fund Finances Violent Christmas toys Report on Special Projects, 1970-1972 Spaulding, Elna B. (Elna Bridgeforth) Biographical Information

Mrs. Spaulding was also known as Mrs. Asa Spaulding, as wife of Asa T. Spaulding (1902-1990), Afro-American actuary and insurance company executive. As noted earlier, Mrs. Spaulding was president and founder of Women-In-Action for the Prevention of Violence and Its Causes, Durham Chapter.

Non-Women-In-Action Materials Duke University, Letter, Department of Education, funds for school program, n.d. Duke University, Fact Sheet regarding Duke and OEO health care for poor, n.d. Lincoln Community Health Center, Overview and program Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, The Information Center Women-In-Action Conference, 1973

This small series gives a glimpse of an organization broadening beyond its original purpose of easing racial violence surrounding school desegregation.

January Agenda, 1973