WESTERN DISTRICT
Western North Carolina and the Federation Story: 1909–Present
Shelby Negro Woman’s Club
The Shelby Negro Woman’s Club exemplifies the Federation’s early grassroots model—women organizing locally to address education, health, civic responsibility, and the moral development of their communities. Clubs such as Shelby’s formed the backbone of the Federation’s statewide reach, translating collective ideals into daily service.
Mary McLeod Bethune Civic Club
National Influence
Mary McLeod Bethune’s leadership extended across the South through national women’s networks, faith-based organizing, and civic institutions. Her influence reached North Carolina through conference circuits, club collaboration, and shared strategies that linked local women’s work to national advocacy. Bethune’s legacy underscores the Federation’s place within a broader Southern and national movement of Black women’s leadership.
Asheville Women’s Clubs
Black women in Asheville organized within a distinct social and economic environment shaped by tourism, labor, and segregation. Their club work emphasized community stability, public health, housing, education, and cultural preservation. In these efforts, respectability functioned not as performance, but as protection—an essential strategy for survival and advancement.