Montana's Black Social Clubs
Displayed on Level 3 of the Maureen & Mike Mansfield Library, January-February 2023
St. James A.M.E.
Established in 1888, for more than four decades St. James was home to nearly every black organization in Helena, including the Pleasent Hour club. Remodeled without its steeple, it is now a private residence.
Union Bethel A.M.E.
Built in 1891 as a one-story frame church, the Union Bethel church held the largest black congregation in Great Falls. A 1920 survey of 183 black residents found that out of 86 religious respondents, 71 were A. M. E. members. Today the church houses the largest A.M.E. congregation in Montana and continues to hold services.
Wayman Chapel, A.M.E.
Built between 1895-1896 on North 24th Street, the Wayman Chapel building was purchased outright by its congregation in 1916 and moved to a new location on Billings' Southside. Home to the Phillis Wheatley club until the 1950s, the building continued to house a small congregation until water damage made the church structurally unsound in 2013.
Allen Chapel, A.M.E.
Constructed in 1888 as the Carroll school house, Rev. Jordan Allen laid the cornerstone for the Allen Chapel in 1903. Sold in 1947, the building is now a private residence.
Shaffer's Chapel, A.M.E.
Built in 1901 by copper king William Clark for a small congregation of 20, by 1915 the congregation doubled. Shaffer's Chapel hosted both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Dubois, and was home to the Pearl Club. Services continued until 1964.
The Ozark Club
Operating from 1909-1962, boxer Leo LaMar's Ozark Club began as a colored bar and gaming club. After the 1936 death of Leo's first wife Garneil (an A.M.E. church member and MFCWC historian) the Ozark went on to supply licit and illicit entertainment to all races until Leo's death in 1962 was followed by a fire that burned the club to the ground.
St. Paul A.M.E. Church
Purchased in 1910, the former Lowell school building had an active congregation and black women's club until the mid-1930s. Now a residential building, the church site is currently unrecognized by the Montana Historical Society.
Group photograph of attendees of the 1st convention of the Montana Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Butte, prob. Schaffer A.M.E. Chapel, 1921
The six African Methodist Episcopal churches mapped above were significant social hubs for black Montanas. The A.M.E.'s tradition of missionary travel meant that pastors frequently moved between congregations, forging strong community connections throughout Montana. A.M.E. churches across the state nurtured black social and political clubs, including the Montana Federation of Colored Women's Clubs (right). Of the six A.M.E. buildings still standing in Montana, five are recognized historic sites, and one still holds services today.
Missoula's St. Paul A.M.E. Church: An Unrecognized Historic Site
1427 Phillips Street
The Montana Historical Society recognizes the still-standing A.M.E. church buildings in Great Falls, Helena, Anaconda, Butte, and Billings, but no efforts have been made to preserve the St. Paul church building. It has undergone extensive renovations for residential use.
1921 Sandborn Map
Following the 1910 purchase of the old Lowell School building on Phillips street that would become the St. Paul church, white neighbors attempted to prevent the purchase through real estate boycotts and intimidation. Deed records for the lot show two transfers in April of 1910 among white proxy buyers, who transferred the lots to the church in 1911.
Identified in Missoulian clippings as "The Martha Washington Club," The National Federation of Colored Women's Clubs' National Notes publications report meetings of the Margaret Washington Club at private homes and the St. Paul A.M.E. until at least 1931
Further information on Missoula's St. Paul A.M.E. can be found at the following sources:
To learn more about the A.M.E. Church:
MFCWC 1921 State Journal, colorized with club colors blue & gold
Following a call to federate by Butte's Pearl Club in 1921, the Montana Federation of Colored Women's Clubs (then the Montana Federation of Negro Women's Clubs) met annually for 51 years. Disbanded in 1972, the federation's remaining assets and monies in the Claudia Bivens Scholarship Fund were given to the University of Montana, Missoula, for a commemorative scholarship.
Group photographs of the MFCWC from 1935 (top left) to 1971 (bottom right)
Photo sources with further information:
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
While black women's organizations were formed as social clubs, literary societies, or art clubs, their mottos illustrate a common focus on personal and social improvement.
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
- NFCWC: "Lifting as we Climb"
- MFCWC: "Unity and Perseverance"
- Clover Leaf Art Club: "Onward and Upward"
- The Good Word Club: "We see only the good in others"
The Pleasant Hour Club's picnic in Colorado Gulch near Helena, Montana c. 1926
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
In their own words:
In 1918, the call was given to the women of America to do Red Cross work. A group of women in Butte came together and formed a Unit. Then the question arose, by what name shall we be known? The women decided that no greater honor could be conferred upon them than to be called the Pearl Unit, after one of our Butte boys (Dr. Pearl), who was overseas and had been raised to the rank of Captain. This band of women worked diligently for a great number of months, turning in work which stood one hundred percent. In February, 1919, orders were given to close their quarters and disband. This was a much dreaded hour, for that happy and harmonious band of women. Many asked the question: "Can we afford to let such pleasant relationship end?" On March 11th, Mrs. M. B. Chappell celebrated her birthday with a party, having for her guests her co-workers in the Red Cross Unit; on which occasion the Pearl Social Club was formed. The club was perfected a few weeks later, at the home of Mrs. W. M. Howard. The social club was short lived. The women realized in these days of serious-mindedness and reconstruction that they could not afford to spend their time in idle social gatherings. Then the Pearl Social Club was turned into a woman's federated club, joining the National Federation in August, 1920.
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
Phyllis Wheatley Club was organized in August, 1918, by Mrs. John E. Mapps, then President of the Washington 4 Federation. The club was organized with twenty charter M members, with Mrs. Mattie Hambright the first president.During the four years of its existence, the club has assumed progressive and tentative work along all lines of social uplift. This club has endeavored to keep in touch with all work of the National Federation. The past year a new department was undertaken in department work, which greatly increased the usefulness of the club.
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
More information about the MFCWC:
MFCWC records and publications:
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
While ten women's clubs joined the MFCWC in 1921, fraternal organizations also allowed female members. Wives, daughters, and widows of Odd Fellowship members could be awarded a Ruth Degree and participate in the organization's charitable work. Benefits of membership included defraying the costs of illness, disability, burial, and widowhood. The first Household of Ruth was established in 1858.
Tea given by the "Sisters of Ruth" Chapter 21 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows c. 1965
Black men's social clubs included business associations, athletic clubs, saloons, and fraternal organizations like the Freemasons and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.
Two men wearing fraternal aprons, Helena c. 1890
MFCWC 1921 State Journal
King Johnson's Republican club closure in October of 1906 and George Lucas's Eagles club closure in June of 1912
Democratic candidate Dan J. Heyfron takes credit for closing Lucas's club c. 1912
Clubs with a physical location were subject to frequent closure and often moved to new locations. Despite city saloon licenses not being a legal requirement for social clubs, both of Missoula's early "colored clubs" were targeted by then-conservative Democratic politicians for closure as saloons.
Montana newspaper clippings from 1894-1925
While "wholesome" clubs like the Belmont occasionally received positive media attention, reporting on colored clubs in most Montana newspapers was limited to violent crimes.
Clippings source:
Leo LaMar c. 1940 & as "Kid" Leo c. 1921
Operating from 1909-1962, boxer Leo LaMar's Ozark Club began as a colored bar and gaming club. After the 1936 death of Leo's wife Garneil (an A.M.E. Church member and MFCWC historian), the Ozark supplied licit and illicit entertainment to all races. Leo's second wife Bea ran a brothel out of the LaMar Hotel between 1948-1957; meanwhile, Leo became president of the Great Falls NAACP and ran illegal games of chance.
House band the Ozark Boys entertained crowds from the 1940s until a few years before the club's closure
More information about the Ozark Club:
Items included in the January & February 2023 physical display at the Mansfield Library: