Adult Education Activities of 111 Year History of One National Colored Women's Club

1. The Adult Educational ActivitiesThe Adult Educational Activities
of theof the
National Association of ColoredNational Association of Colored
Women’s Clubs, IncorporatedWomen’s Clubs, Incorporated
inin
St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
Presented by Arthelda M. BuschPresented by Arthelda M. Busch
July 10, 2007July 10, 2007

2. Purpose:Purpose:
To illustrate how the NationalTo illustrate how the National
Association of Colored Women’sAssociation of Colored Women’s
Clubs has been involved in adultClubs has been involved in adult
education for more than 111education for more than 111
years.years.

3. Significance
National League of Colored Women
National Federation of Afro-American Women
2.) The National Association of Colored
Women’s Clubs, Incorporated (NACWC).
1.) The study

4. James Jacks’ degradingJames Jacks’ degrading
remarksremarks
“the Negroes of this country are wholly devoid“the Negroes of this country are wholly devoid
of morality, the women are prostitutes, andof morality, the women are prostitutes, and
are natural thieves and liars”are natural thieves and liars”
(Valk as cited in Corbett, 1999, p. 164)(Valk as cited in Corbett, 1999, p. 164)

5. Founders and Members -The EducatedFounders and Members -The Educated
EliteElite

6. Lifting as We ClimbLifting as We Climb

7. Education of Women
The Jim Crow Era
Lynching in the United States
Woman’s Suffrage Movement
The Black Migration
Responded to Social Conditions
1896 - 2007

8. Research Question: What are theResearch Question: What are the
adult educational activities of Africanadult educational activities of African
American women through the work ofAmerican women through the work of
the NACWC in St. Louis, Mo?the NACWC in St. Louis, Mo?
a) What, if any, changes have there been in the focus of thisa) What, if any, changes have there been in the focus of this
organization over time and why?organization over time and why?
b) As original goals were met by the organization,b) As original goals were met by the organization,
how if at all, was its focus changed to be responsive to the needshow if at all, was its focus changed to be responsive to the needs
of the community? andof the community? and
c) What benefit, if any, did the efforts of the NACWC have on itsc) What benefit, if any, did the efforts of the NACWC have on its
members and the larger African American community?members and the larger African American community?

9. MethodologyMethodology
Interviewed six St. Louis club womenInterviewed six St. Louis club women
and one participant observer withand one participant observer with
25+yrs club experience.25+yrs club experience.
Triangulation of methods – dataTriangulation of methods – data
Applied Knowles’ (1980)Applied Knowles’ (1980)
Six Aspects of Adult EducationSix Aspects of Adult Education
- knowledge, understanding, skills,- knowledge, understanding, skills,
attitudes, interests, or values,attitudes, interests, or values,

10. Themes from InterviewsThemes from Interviews
6. Supporting youth
1. Black History – preserve and inform
2. Teaching and learning
3. Mentoring
4. Churches support the work of clubs
5. Collective efforts

11. LimitationsLimitations
Documents
Subjectivity - Interviews
Self -Reports
Coding Process – Knowles (1980)

12. ResultsResults
All of the 34 identified educational activities of theAll of the 34 identified educational activities of the
SLACWC were indeed Adult Education ActivitiesSLACWC were indeed Adult Education Activities
a) Multiple adult educational aspects.a) Multiple adult educational aspects.
b) Change has not occurred in the major focus ofb) Change has not occurred in the major focus of
the organization on Mother, Home and Child – butthe organization on Mother, Home and Child – but
in type of activitiesin type of activities
c) Multiple benefits for all participants.c) Multiple benefits for all participants.

13. Links With Adult EducatorsLinks With Adult Educators
• WashingtonWashington
• ToughTough
• LindemanLindeman
• FriereFriere
• MezirowMezirow
• HouleHoule
• HenschkeHenschke
• LockeLocke
• Jesus ChristJesus Christ

14. NACWC and the SLACWC responded to needs in 8
Categories using Adult Educational Activities
1. Political Action Initiatives1. Political Action Initiatives
2. Health Initiatives2. Health Initiatives
3. Child Advocates3. Child Advocates
4. Employment and Training4. Employment and Training
5. Cultural Enrichment5. Cultural Enrichment
6. Black History Preservation6. Black History Preservation
7. Collaborations7. Collaborations
8. International Influence8. International Influence

15. ConclusionConclusion
• 1. Synergy and collaboration1. Synergy and collaboration
• 2. Focus on mother, home and child2. Focus on mother, home and child
• 3. Focus on unmet welfare needs3. Focus on unmet welfare needs
• 4. Adult education for mature adults4. Adult education for mature adults