422:
430:
34:
395:
According to Graham, The Links is the "most elite organization" for prominent
American black women, and is both the largest and the most influential. Membership in the organization, he writes, signals to other prominent blacks that "your social background, lifestyle, physical appearance, and family's
359:
Links has been criticized for its exclusivity; one member noted that while a woman could be nominated by any other member, for practical intents those admitted are "usually those who know at least half of the chapter's membership". Social, professional or economic prominence within a city's black
214:
Over the decades, the group transformed itself from "a group of women married to influential men, to a group of women who became influential themselves", according to one member. The evolution caused "clear conflict between the old guard and the new guard", according to another.
356:(1999). One member of a Washington, D.C. chapter describes having spent "twelve years of strategizing, party-giving, and brownnosing to get into this group." Most women do not get into Links until they are in their 40s or older, and most remain members until they die.
175:
women. Sarah
Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins recruited Frances Atkinson, Katie Green, Marion Minton, Lillian Stanford, Myrtle Manigault Stratton, Lillian Wall and Dorothy Wright. All of the women were members of prominent black professional families of
180:; six were the wives of physicians and the seventh the wife of a bank president. All had bachelor's or master's degrees from elite universities, and had been active in other elite black social organizations. These organisations included
347:
Women interested in joining any of the local chapters must be nominated by a current member; if a chapter has 55 members, no more may be accepted until one leaves. Admission is "extremely competitive", according to
437:
Members include philanthropists, college presidents, politicians, activists, judges, doctors, bankers, lawyers, executives, educators, and the wives of well-known public figures. Notable members include:
223:
As of 2021, there were 16,000 members in 292 chapters. In, 1999 each chapter membership was limited to no more than 55 women. The headquarters has been located in
Washington, D.C., since at least 1985.
1524:
1290:
207:
Other cities soon created chapters. By 1949 there were ten chapters. By 1952 there were fifty-six. In 2008 there were approximately 12,000 members in 273 chapters in 42 states
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1084:
368:
The organization requires each member to accumulate many volunteer hours. The organization raises funds for a variety of charities and causes such as the
1529:
888:
137:
women in the United States. Founded in 1946, it is the largest nationwide organization of prominent black women in the United States. Members include
916:
152:
As of 2021, there were 16,000 members in nearly 300 chapters. The organization was founded in
Philadelphia, but since 2022, it is headquartered in
201:
1534:
1407:
732:
1000:
1323:
1030:
1504:
825:
197:
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376:. The national core focuses include education, health, youth services, art, domestic legislation and international welfare.
290:
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population also may help get a candidate admitted, as members with such backgrounds help add to the chapter's prestige.
172:
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917:"Smith Memorial Playground gets $ 25,000 donation from The Links, Inc., a service organization founded in Philly"
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1085:"Civil Rights Icon John Lewis Lauds The Links, Incorporated and Issues Voting Rights Call to Action"
33:
533:
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973:"The Links, Incorporated: How African American Debutantes Shaped a New Vision of Black Womanhood"
893:
843:
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called The Links a “distinguished organization of outstanding community service and influence”.
1447:
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1448:"The Links, Incorporated, 30th National Assembly, July 1996: Celebrating 50 Years, 1946–1996"
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Thirtieth
National Assembly of Links, Inc., 1996, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
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Chapters typically also hold multiple social events for a city's black elites, such as
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1291:"Protecting Public Safety with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw"
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177:
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1135:
1348:
817:
Organizing Black
America : an encyclopedia of African American associations
573:
473:
1230:"Meharry Medical College Ventures Names Dr. Veronica Mallett President and CEO"
568:
518:
410:
189:
1302:
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204:. The group's name was suggested by Wall as a symbol of enduring friendship.
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722:
1154:"Myron B. Pitts: Sen. Kamala Harris, VP-elect, shines light on The Links"
815:
1473:
1205:"Many Lavish Social Events Highlight Links' Twelfth National Assembly"
862:
889:"The Links, Inc., 'committed to service in the community' in Detroit"
133:
is an
American, invitation-only, social and service organization of
947:
232:
As of 2024, the organization has had eighteen national presidents.
403:
called The Links "the most prominent" of the black women's clubs.
1372:
977:
872:
Retrieved April 17, 2008, from The Links, Incorporated Web site.
400:
797:
766:"The Links, Incorporated | American organization | Britannica"
793:"The Links, Incorporated Celebrates 75 Years Of Excellence"
1478:
Central New Jersey (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
396:
academic and professional accomplishments passed muster".
387:, gala fund-raisers, balls, luncheons and formal parties.
407:
called it "one of the most influential and prestigious".
119:
1181:"Collection: Papers of Mary Gibson Hundley, 1910-1985"
820:. Nina Mjagkij. New York: Garland. 2001. p. 308.
1031:"America's black upper class and Black Lives Matter"
16:
U.S. social and service organization for black women
114:
101:
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83:
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58:
40:
1525:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.
1280:Parthenon (TN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
631:"Black History Month and the Power of Remembrance"
188:as well as other prominent organizations like the
941:
939:
1111:"Keisha Lance Bottoms sworn in as Atlanta mayor"
1001:"Meet the Women Bringing Weed to the Deep South"
1136:"Houston Chapter of The Links Chapter Members"
8:
1324:"Robinson, Jo Ann Gibson | Encyclopedia.com"
1255:"Annette R. March-Grier's Worldwide Profile"
26:
1057:"Hannah Atkins Obituary (2010) - Oklahoman"
971:Bythewood-Porter, Taylor (July 22, 2021).
32:
25:
810:
808:
629:Griffin, Anne-Marea (February 17, 2022).
1510:Upper class culture in the United States
428:
420:
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1540:African-American women's organizations
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1424:"Yvonne Walker Taylor, Educator born"
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1515:1946 establishments in Pennsylvania
291:Marion Elizabeth Schultz Sutherland
1520:Women's clubs in the United States
999:McFadden, Syreeta (July 1, 2021).
14:
1530:Organizations established in 1946
198:Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
887:Talley, Scott (June 26, 2021).
87:Social and service organization
1185:hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu
721:Graham, Lawrence Otis (2014).
1:
1535:African-American upper class
1234:www.nashvillemedicalnews.com
338:Ethel Isaacs Williams, 2022–
1396:Moore, Gina Ruffin (2007).
1218:– via Newspapers.com.
727:. : HarperCollins e-Books.
211:had four chapters in 2021.
202:St. Thomas Episcopal Church
163:The Links, Incorporated, a
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1089:Congresswoman Joyce Beatty
333:Kimberly Jefferies Leonard
18:
1428:African American Registry
1259:www.worldwidebranding.com
1159:The Fayetteville Observer
370:United Negro College Fund
285:Regina Jollivette Frazier
167:, was founded in 1946 in
31:
1505:African-American culture
604:Susie Ione Brown Waxwood
399:Los Angeles PBS station
374:NAACP Legal Defense Fund
297:Patricia Russell-McCloud
68:Margaret Roselle Hawkins
1211:. 1960-07-07. p. 7
243:Margaret Rosell Hawkins
200:. Most were members of
27:The Links, Incorporated
1402:. Arcadia Publishing.
848:: CS1 maint: others (
524:Pauline Weeden Maloney
434:
426:
303:Barbara Dixon Simpkins
249:Pauline Weeden Maloney
237:Sarah Strickland Scott
194:League of Women Voters
65:Sarah Strickland Scott
46:; 77 years ago
922:Philadelphia Inquirer
868:May 16, 2008, at the
863:About the Links, Inc.
509:Eddie Bernice Johnson
479:Marian Wright Edelman
432:
424:
321:Margot James Copeland
273:Julia Brogdon Purnell
165:nonprofit corporation
143:Marian Wright Edelman
44:November 9, 1946
1353:diversity.gatech.edu
1328:www.encyclopedia.com
599:Yvonne Walker-Taylor
464:Keisha Lance Bottoms
381:debutante cotillions
350:Lawrence Otis Graham
327:Glenda Newell-Harris
279:Dolly Desselle Adams
19:For other uses, see
801:. November 9, 2021.
594:Pat Timmons-Goodson
534:Annette March-Grier
499:Mary Gibson Hundley
28:
1349:"About Angela Rye"
894:Detroit Free Press
724:Our kind of people
589:Evelyn Reid Syphax
504:Sheila Jackson Lee
484:Helen Gray Edmonds
449:Etta Moten Barnett
435:
427:
354:Our Kind of People
309:Gladys Gary Vaughn
261:Helen Gray Edmonds
1474:"Chapter History"
1409:978-0-7385-5144-9
1278:"Charter Members"
1037:. August 22, 2020
734:978-0-06-187081-1
539:Eugenia L. Mobley
186:Alpha Kappa Alpha
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173:prominent black
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1481:. Retrieved
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1236:. 2021-05-10
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1117:. 2018-01-03
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1059:. Legacy.com
1051:
1039:. Retrieved
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1010:. Retrieved
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951:
948:"Leadership"
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544:Sharon Pratt
514:Elaine Jones
454:Joyce Beatty
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169:Philadelphia
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92:Headquarters
79:Philadelphia
1483:February 9,
1458:February 9,
1377:Tami Sawyer
1333:February 9,
1308:February 7,
1165:February 7,
1095:February 9,
1012:February 7,
984:February 7,
928:February 9,
900:February 7,
777:February 7,
574:Tami Sawyer
474:Val Demings
343:Exclusivity
335:, 2018–2022
329:, 2014–2018
323:, 2010–2014
317:, 2006–2010
311:, 2002–2006
305:, 1998–2002
299:, 1994–1998
293:, 1990–1994
287:, 1986–1990
281:, 1982-1986
275:, 1978–1982
269:, 1974–1978
263:, 1970–1974
257:, 1962–1970
251:, 1957–1961
245:, 1953–1957
239:, 1949–1953
103:Membership
1499:Categories
1433:2022-02-13
1399:Cincinnati
1382:2022-01-21
1358:2022-02-15
1264:2020-04-20
1240:2023-08-22
1215:2022-02-11
1190:2022-02-25
1121:2022-02-15
1063:2021-01-20
957:2024-07-18
640:2022-02-23
635:UNICEF USA
616:References
569:Angela Rye
519:Ann Jordan
411:John Lewis
391:Importance
228:Leadership
196:, and the
190:N.A.A.C.P.
76:Founded at
51:1946-11-09
1303:0190-8286
844:cite book
743:877899803
171:by seven
131:The Links
41:Formation
1041:July 21,
866:Archived
836:44720533
372:and the
120:linksinc
59:Founders
946:admin.
433:Edelman
425:Shabazz
159:History
115:Website
49: (
1454:. 1996
1406:
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192:, the
110:16,000
105:(2022)
952:Links
1485:2022
1460:2022
1404:ISBN
1335:2022
1310:2022
1299:ISSN
1167:2022
1115:WTXL
1097:2022
1043:2021
1014:2022
986:2022
978:KCET
930:2022
902:2022
850:link
832:OCLC
822:ISBN
779:2022
739:OCLC
729:ISBN
401:KCET
364:Work
184:and
122:.org
84:Type
21:Link
798:BET
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