IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
UNITED SISTERS OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
RECORDS, 1984-1996
10 linear inches
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ACQUISITION: |
The records (donor no. 431) were donated by Essie Buls in 1997. |
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ACCESS: |
The records are open for research. |
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COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa. |
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PHOTOGRAPHS: |
In boxes 1 and 2. |
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PROCESSED BY: |
Melanie
Jacobs, 1997; Kathryn M. Neal, 1998; Robert Jett, 1999 [UnitedSisters.doc] |
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History
The United Sisters of Black Hawk County (United Sisters)
is an Iowa women’s networking organization for women of color that was
established in 1987. Its charter members
were five women of color: Clozelle
Harris, Essie Johnson (now Buls), Rosalyn Middleton, Bonetta Culp, and Diana
Fortenberry. As its mission, the organization seeks to uplift the status of
women of color of all ages in the areas of economic, employment, educational,
cultural, and networking development. Local and state issues are addressed
through monthly business meetings, social projects, and an annual state
conference. The United Sisters also organize weekly exercise classes,
workshops, forums, and special events.
Examples of events sponsored include an all-male fashion show, a Miss
Black Hawk Scholarship Pageant, and an annual black history and cultural
fair. The headquarters for the
organization is the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Black Hawk
County. United Sisters also features a
branch for girls, United Teens. The teen group’s mission is to encourage girls
of color to gather to discuss the prejudices they may hold and discrimination
they may experience in their lives.
United Sisters is the Iowa state
affiliate of Networking Together, Inc., a non-profit coalition of state
networks representing American Indian, Asian-American, African-American, and
Hispanic women in seven states: Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The coalition actively addresses issues of
common concern that affect the economic self-sufficiency of women of
color. Networking Together organizes
conferences annually, which are open to all members of the state affiliates.
Scope and Content Note
The United Sisters of
Black Hawk County records date from 1984 to 1996 and measure 10 linear inches. These records were
originally organized in scrapbooks, which have been disbound. Photocopies of the scrapbooks’ original
order may be found in the collection.
The records are divided into five series: Administrative material,
Events, Historical and biographical material, Scrapbooks, and Photographs.
The
Events series (1984-1996 and
undated) includes material relating to the organization’s production of two
plays, For Colored Girls who have
considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf and The Wiz. A folder of
miscellaneous material includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, a certificate,
programs, and photographs that chronicle events for which there is little
directly related material throughout the rest of the series. This folder also contains newspaper
clippings that describe United Sisters’ members’ activities or involvement in
community issues. One folder of
material relating to the 1988 Networking Together, Inc., Conference includes
articles of incorporation, a draft of by-laws, and other documents that date
from 1984.
The Historical and biographical material series (1987-1996 and undated) consists of background material
pertaining to United Sisters, the YWCA of Black Hawk County, such as yearbooks,
brochures, and newspaper articles.
Material relating to two members of the organization, Ruth Bluford
Anderson and Billie Lloyd may be found in this series. It includes a photograph dated 1990, which
features then-Black Hawk County Supervisor Ruth Bluford Anderson participating
in a parade.
Items in the Photographs series (1987-1994 and
undated) are arranged by the events which they document. Some of the individuals who participated in
the 1989 “Hats Off to Iowa Men” fashion show are identified; their names may be
found in the box list. Additional
photographs of Ruth Bluford Anderson and Billie D. Lloyd may be found throughout
the series. A photograph of Mary
Dickens, several of Essie Johnson Buls, and photographs of Almo Hawkins are
also included. The locations of these
photographs may be found in the box list.
Related Collections
Ruth Bluford Anderson papers
Mary Dickens papers
Billie Lloyd papers
Box no. Description
Box 1
Administrative material
Correspondence, 1988-1989
Financial records, 1988-1989
Minutes and related material
1987-1988
1989-1990 and undated
Networking Together, Inc., 1988-1989
(2 folders)
United Teens of Black Hawk
County, 1988-1991 and undated
Events
Black History and Cultural
Fair, 1991 and 1993
Fashion show: “Hats Off to
Iowa Men”
1989
1990
1991
1992-1993
Iowa Women of Color
Conference
1988
1989
1990
1992-1993
Miscellaneous activities,
1986-1993 and undated
Miss Black Iowa Scholarship
Pageant, 1988-1989 (2 folders)
Networking Together, Inc.
Conference
1984-1988
1989-1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1996
Plays, 1989-1990
Box 2
Historical and biographical material
United Sisters, 1987-1996
and undated
YWCA of Black Hawk County,
1990-1992 and undated
Ruth Bluford Anderson and Billie Lloyd, 1988-1990 and undated
Scrapbooks (photocopies)
1986-1988
1989-1990
1989-1993
Black
History and Cultural Fair, 1991-1992
Fashion show: “Hats Off to Iowa Men”
1989
Includes photographs of:
Carver, Don
Elliot, Mitch
Garza, Rudy
Lowe, Russell
Prideaux, Mike
Pugh, Charles
Shipman, Bob
Shook, Roger
Shoultz, Don
Wright, Cliff
1990
Includes photographs of Ruth Bluford Anderson
1991
1992
Iowa Women of Color
Conference, 1988-1993
1989 conference photographs include photographs of
Ruth Bluford Anderson
Miscellaneous activities,
1989-1994 and undated
Includes photographs of:
Anderson, Ruth Bluford
Buls, Esie Johnson
Dickens, Mary
Hawkins, Elmo
Lloyd, Bille
Middleton, Rosalyn
Smith, Robert
Miss Black Iowa Scholarship
Pageant, 1988-1989
Networking Together, Inc.
Conference (regional), 1991-1994
Plays, 1989-1990
Includes photographs of Essie Johnson Buls