Women – The Arkansas Colored Auxiliary Council: Black Activism during World War I, 1917-1918

Portraits of the women of the Arkansas Colored Auxiliary Council of Defense

Correspondence from the Council of National Defense, 1918 October 8

The National Council of Defense sent a letter to the Southern State Division of the Woman’s Committee letting them know that the National Council did not want a separate organization for black women as was done for white women. The National Council felt that if a separate organization were formed, that it would put an overemphasis on black people

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_08, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

Rights: Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.

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Correspondence from Judge G.B. Ewing to Arkansas State Council of Defense, 1918 October 23

This document was written by Judge G.B. Ewing from Desha County, Arkansas to the Council of Defense asking about black labor shortages. Ewing is claiming that white women were suffering for the war effort while black women are refusing to work as domestic help. He claims that black women were being supported by their male military members and refusing to work as domestic help for white women. Ewing wants to know what legal options are available to force these women to work for white women.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_03_13_64, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

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Council of Defense Registration Cards, Mrs. A. Henry

The Women’s Council of Defense registration card for enrollment to work in the war effort. Information includes name, age, address, marital status, country of birth, color, time that could be devoted for service, occupation, education, physical health, and information about what kind of work each woman was qualified to do. This card was filled out by Mrs. A. Henry from Van Buren, Arkansas registering for the Women’s Council.

Source: Council of Defense Records, MS.000490, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rights: Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.

Correspondence to J.L. Bond, 1918 October 31

The director was asking about a woman reported to have taken money from the black community in the name of patriotism.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_15, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

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Monthly Report, September 1918

This document is one of the Monthly Reports on the activities of the Colored Auxiliary Council by P.L. Dorman. Dorman is reporting on his travels to remote areas of Arkansas where many Black communities were isolated from the wider population of Arkansas. He points out that this isolation often limited their ability to get information about the war. Dorman states that the counties he visited had the highest number of deserters due to a lack of receiving the right information not from unpatriotic behavior.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_11, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas

Correspondence Council of National Defense, 1918 February 23

Arthur Fleming, with the Council of National Defense in Washington D.C., is requesting the organization of the Black community in southern states in the war effort during World War I.

Source: Arkansas State Council of Defense, MS.000490, ASA_CouncilDefense_MS490_08_20_01, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas