OUR HISTORY
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A century ago, amid the creative frenzy of the American Jazz Era, the women’s suffrage movement celebrated a milestone victory – the passing of the 19th amendment – buoyed by women determined to shape their world. With plenty yet to accomplish, the movement grew stronger, finding power in groups of women who would form that backbone in Baltimore. Out of this era, our beloved Girl Friends organization was born and created a legacy of philanthropy and civic agency that lives on today.
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The Girl Friends, Incorporated was founded in New York during the Harlem Renaissance in 1927 by 11 young women based on friendship and community involvement. It is one of the oldest and most highly respected organizations of African American women in the United States. The second Chapter, Philadelphia, was founded in 1928, followed by Baltimore (1930), Boston (1931), New Jersey (1932) and New Haven (1932), all based upon the connections of friends. The first Conclave, the National meeting of chapters, was hosted by New York in 1933, and is documented in the organization’s official magazine, The Chatterbox, a biennial publication. Since those formative years, the chain of friendship has grown to 48 chapters across the country and over 1800+ members.
In 1930, The Baltimore Bugs became the Baltimore Chapter of The Girl Friends®, Incorporated, the third chapter invited to join the Girl Friends. Due to the efforts of Boyfriend Thurgood Marshall, United States Supreme Court Justice and the husband of GF Vivian “Buster” Marshall (the 3rd National President), the national body was incorporated in Baltimore on September 23, 1938.
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Since those early years, the Baltimore Chapter has hosted three National Conclaves, the last in 1975. We have held 50th, 75th, and 90th Anniversary celebrations. An exhibit of the 75th Anniversary, which was held at The Reginald Lewis Museum of African American History, was designed and displayed by archivists from the museum. Our 80th Anniversary was held at Pier IV in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and we will host our 90th Anniversary in 2022 and the next conclave in Baltimore in 2024, “Charm on the Chesapeake”.
