Montana's Black Social Clubs

Displayed on Level 3 of the Maureen & Mike Mansfield Library, January-February 2023

Stephanie Hohn

February 12, 2023

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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

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.

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:

Hiding in Plain Sight: St Paul A.M.E. Church & Missoula's Forgotten Black History

"I don't think I've ever heard that church so quiet." By 1923, Missoula's St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) had already endured resistance and resentment toward its mere existence on the 1400 block of Phillips Street. But members of the Black church were likely unprepared for what was about to come through their doors on the evening of July 29th.

https://medium.com

Missoula man seeks recognition for city's 1st black church

When Greg Martin set out to research Missoula's black history, the last thing he expected was to find its early epicenter next door to his Westside home. Now he's urging the city to find a way to recognize the 1427 Phillips St. address as the site of St.

https://missoulacurrent.com

To learn more about the A.M.E. Church:

African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church

Introduction: The vision of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church has remained consistent throughout its existence and is a strongly social and service-oriented spiritual community. Its early history in Philadelphia is filled with legal and financial difficulties which the congregation overcame. An integral part of the A.M.E.

https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu

African American Churches of Montana

There is perhaps no fuller representation or more significant example of the legacy of Montana's African American community than can be found in the stones, bricks, and stain-glass of its historic black Churches. In all, six African Methodist Episcopal congregations, and about a half dozen or so black Baptist churches, established permanent locations of worship in Montana between 1889 and 1950.

https://mhs.mt.gov

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:

MHS Collections

Preservation AfricanAmericans Resources & Research MHS Collections Research Center The Colored citizen. (Helena, Mont.) sn84036198 Digitized, keyword-searchable newspaper "It cannot be denied that our people, through force of circumstance, occupy a peculiar status in this country. We are not thoroughly known. Our better qualities are not presented fairly to the public..."

https://mhs.mt.gov

Montana Memory Project

Montana Federation of Colored Women's Clubs Women--Societies and clubs

https://www.mtmemory.org

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.

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

Butte, Montana, May 27, 1921. Dear Co-Workers: Woman has taken her place in all things political, indus trial and social. She can only hope to retain that high posi tion and keep apace with the rapid advancement of human endeavor by bringing together, under one big union, the best minds of our noble womanhood. The women of all races are being called upon to do their part in reconstruction. This cannot be done as individuals, but as a body of women banded together, with but one thought uppermost in the minds of each-"Uplift." So, women of the race, be alive to the issues of the day; take recognition of the fact that home-builders are needed. Montana, as a State, needs to be identi-fied in the great cause of "Lifting as we Climb." In almost every State of the Union the women are gaining prestige. We, the women of the Pearl Club, feel that the women of this grand and noble State should be united into an organization to do our part in solving the problems that confront us as a race. Effective recognition can only be gained by unity at home. It is alright to be a leaf on a limb, but we feel that it is bet ter to be a limb on the tree. We earnestly appeal to you in the name of the Pearl Club of Butte, to realize the importance of a State Federation and begin preparations now to send one or two delegates to repre sent your Club August 3rd to 5th, inclusive, to this city, full of determination and enthusiasm to federate our State. Trusting you will give us an early reply, Yours for "Lifting as we Climb," ARMETA DUNCAN. FRANCES MAYFIELD. LOTTIE FOREMAN. Reception Committee. Ten Women's Clubs throughout the State responded to this appeal, and thus The Montana Federation of Negro Women's Clubs. — 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.

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.

More information about the MFCWC:

"Lifting as We Climb": The Activism of the Montana Federation of Colored Women's Clubs

In 1921, the Montana Federation of Colored Women's Clubs (MFCWC) organized "to encourage true womanhood . . . [and] to promote interest in social uplift." While its members engaged in many traditional women's club activities-raising money for scholarships, creating opportunities for children, and providing aid to the sick-advancing the cause of civil rights in Montana was one of the organization's most important legacies.

https://montanawomenshistory.org

Women's group advanced standing of Black people in Montana

BOZEMAN - Bozeman was a scrappy upstart wild West town in the fall of 1864 when Richard and Mary McDonald, a Black couple, arrived and decided to set down roots here. They had somehow left slavery in Missouri in 1863, whether by being freed after the Emancipation Proclamation or simply escaping, no one knows.

https://www.greatfallstribune.com

MFCWC records and publications:

Montana Federation Of Colored Women's Clubs Records> - Archives West

Archives West provides access to descriptions of primary sources in the western United States, including correspondence, diaries, and photographs. Digital reproductions of primary sources are available in some cases. Archives West was formerly known as the Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA).

https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org

Montana Federation of Negro Women's Clubs cook book (1926)

No description

https://mtmemory.recollectcms.com

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

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:

Montana Newspapers

This full-text searchable database contains 821,927 pages from 140 Montana town, county, school and tribal newspapers dated 1873-2018. We are continually adding new titles. To see all titles on this site, click Browse by Title above. You can also Browse by Location or Browse by Date above.

http://montananewspapers.org

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:

Breaking Racial Barriers

'Everyone's Welcome at the Ozark Club,' Great Falls, Montana's African American Night Club by Ken Robinson

https://mhs.mt.gov

The Ozark Club - The History Museum

"As was true for many Americans in the years following the Civil War, large numbers of black Americans began moving westward for a variety of reasons. Some were sent by the U. S. Army; others joined the developing cattle industry in the West.

https://www.greatfallshistorymuseum.org

Items included in the January & February 2023 physical display at the Mansfield Library: