Community Organizations

The YWCA of Richmond was founded in 1887, initially as the Women's Christian Association, to assist young women coming to work in the city. Its early services included a boarding house, medical care, libraries, and educational programs like sewing classes and prayer groups. In 1890, the first nursery and kindergarten for working women's children in Richmond were established. The organization rapidly grew, adding new programs such as a gymnasium for health and wellness, job training, English lessons, and social clubs.Though, segregation meant that the YWCA of Richmond initially served only white women. 

However, there was strong interest among African American women in Richmond to create an organization that could support their community, and in 1912, the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the YWCA was established to serve African American women and children. This was a significant milestone, as it provided a space where African American women could access services such as educational programs, job training, and recreational activities, which had been denied to them by the segregated YWCA. The creation of the Phyllis Wheatley Branch was part of a broader effort by African Americans to establish their own institutions and organizations in the face of segregation, providing much-needed resources and support to their communities.

On July 27, 1925, a new library branch was opened at the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the YWCA at 515 North 7th Street to serve the African American community. The branch, which operated from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, occupied two rooms on the second floor of the building, provided rent-free. The branch was staffed by two schoolteachers.

Over the years, both branches of the YWCA expanded their services, offering youth programs, day camps, and recreational activities. The two branches began collaborating more closely in the 1920s, with shared efforts to improve interracial cooperation. By the 1960s, the Richmond YWCA fully integrated its programs, and the national YWCA took an active role in addressing civil rights issues. The Richmond YWCA also began offering services for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, opening a sexual assault center and women's shelter in 1979. By 2016, the YWCA of Richmond operated a 24-hour hotline, offered counseling and housing for survivors, and ran an accredited preschool, continuing its legacy of empowering women and families in the community.

Weekly notes for the organization can be found in the Richmond Planet Archives.

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), in Richmond, was founded on December 19, 1854, with Peter V. Daniel, Jr. serving as its first president. Its initial focus was to provide young men with a safe place to stay, access to a library, and opportunities for lectures and Bible classes. By 1882, the Richmond YMCA became the sixth largest in the nation, growing to include a gym, library, classrooms, and other recreational facilities; yet these facilities were not open to the city's Black Community.

In November 1887, the Black community in Richmond established the Richmond Colored Young Men's Christian Association, creating a space for Black men in the city to engage in similar activities. The first meeting took place at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which became a hub of the Y for the next 80 years. In 1889, Rev John Milton Waldron, the first executive director, and other leaders raised funds to purchase a building at the corner of Third and Leigh Streets for $6,000, marking a significant milestone for the organization.

Rev. Scott C. Burrell, hired in 1894 as the first full-time chief executive, played a key role in the YMCA's success, holding the position until 1940. Burrell was deeply respected in the African-American community, and he worked tirelessly to provide character-building programs for young boys, teaching manners, public speaking, and religious values. Despite a lack of resources, including a gym and dormitory, the Leigh Street YMCA was better equipped than many other Black YMCAs at the time, as it owned its building and had a full-time executive director.

The early 20th century saw a nationwide effort to build Black YMCAs, fueled by philanthropists like Julius Rosenwald, who donated significant funds to African-American YMCAs. This period also witnessed the rise of African-American YMCA executives, who advocated for racial equality and integration. While Richmond’s YMCA remained segregated in the 1950s, progress began in 1955 when the Leigh Street Y joined the new YMCA of Metropolitan Richmond. After years of service, the original building was demolished in 1953, and the association moved to various locations before finally establishing the North Richmond Branch at 4207 Old Brook Road in 1974. Today, the Northside YMCA continues to serve as a beacon of hope for the community, offering programs that continue to reflect Rev. Burrell’s original mission.

Weekly notes for the organization can be found in the Richmond Planet Archives.

Richmond News Leader, Oct 17, 1949

Richmond News Leader, Oct 17, 1949

Notes and events for the organization can be found in the Richmond Planet Archives.

Notes and events for the organization can be found in the Richmond Planet Archives.

Prince Hall is widely regarded as the Father of Black Masonry in the United States, having paved the way for African Americans to participate in Freemasonry. On March 6, 1775, Hall and 14 others were initiated into a military Masonic lodge in Boston Harbor. A year later, Hall organized the first Lodge of Masons composed of Black men in America, called African Lodge. In 1784, he sought formal recognition from the Grand Lodge of England, which granted him a "Warrant of Constitution" in 1787, formally establishing African Lodge No. 459 in Boston, with Hall as the Worshipful Master. This was a pivotal moment in the history of Black Freemasonry, as it provided African Americans with the opportunity to practice Masonry openly and with the full privileges of recognized membership.

In the period leading up to the Civil War, Virginia's African American community, particularly in the Richmond area, saw the emergence of Masonic organizations despite the institution of slavery and racial exclusion from mainstream white Masonic lodges. Initially, many African Americans who were considered "free" traveled to Philadelphia to be initiated into Freemasonry, as Virginia's laws restricted enslaved and free Black men from joining. The first African American Masonic lodge in Virginia, Universal Lodge No. 1, was established in Alexandria in 1845, and other early lodges, such as Rising Sun Lodge in Norfolk, followed. These early lodges played a vital role in the formation of Masonic structures for African Americans, fostering a sense of community and identity, while also advocating for the rights of Black men during the tumultuous years of emancipation.

The post-war period saw further divisions and reorganizations among Black Masons in Virginia, notably between two Grand Lodges: the Union Grand Lodge (aligned with the National Compact) and the Ancient York Grand Lodge. This schism stemmed from disagreements over racial exclusion within Masonic orders and the broader social changes following emancipation. Prominent Masonic leaders, such as Rev. M. F. Sluby and Rev. J. B. Trust, facilitated the growth of Masonic membership by founding new lodges and securing charters from out-of-state lodges, particularly in Maryland and Pennsylvania. This period culminated in the formal unification of the two Grand Lodges in 1875, leading to the establishment of the United Grand Lodge of Virginia. Richmond, as the new Grand East, became the heart of Masonic activities for the state.

In the 20th century, significant administrative changes occurred within Virginia's Masonic community. A key event was the relocation of the Grand Lodge's office from Lynchburg to Richmond in 1982, a move driven by operational inefficiencies and a desire to consolidate Masonic leadership in the state's capital. The decision, made after heated discussions and a tie-breaking vote by the Grand Master, marked a significant shift. Later, in 1989, the Grand Lodge purchased a permanent building at 906 N. Thompson Street in Richmond, symbolizing the organization's growth and stability. These developments reflect the ongoing evolution of African American Freemasonry in Virginia, rooted in both the social struggles of the 19th century and the organizational needs of the 20th century.

The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows was founded in England in the mid-1700s as a philanthropic organization that embraced both white and black membership. However, a significant split in 1813 led to the creation of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), which sought to expand in America. By 1819, the I.O.O.F. established its first American chapter in Baltimore but explicitly excluded African Americans, refusing to grant official charters to black or mixed-race groups. As a result, African Americans, determined to maintain the principles of inclusion and mutual support, sought recognition from the original Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. In 1843, Peter Ogden, a black British member of the Grand United Order, successfully petitioned for a charter, leading to the establishment of the first African American Odd Fellows lodge in New York. However, these efforts were largely ineffective in the South, where laws severely restricted black public gatherings, forcing African American Odd Fellows to operate in secrecy.

In Richmond, Virginia, the I.O.O.F. gained a strong following by 1841, with a dedicated meeting hall used for various public events, including auctions of enslaved individuals. These auctions, held in the basement of the Odd Fellows Hall, were a grim feature of the institution, where families were torn apart as slaves were sold to the highest bidder. This dark chapter in the history of the Odd Fellows highlights the stark contrast between its philanthropic ideals and its complicity in perpetuating slavery, underscoring the complexities of race and fraternal organizations during the antebellum period.

For African Americans, membership in the Odd Fellows served multiple purposes. It provided economic and social support, especially in a time when racial segregation and discrimination were rampant. The organization facilitated the establishment of schools, orphanages, and other charitable institutions that directly benefited the black community. Furthermore, the Odd Fellows also provided a network for black men to gain respectability, status, and influence, which were otherwise difficult to attain due to systemic racial barriers. Through its principles of friendship, love, and truth, the Odd Fellows became an important avenue for black social cohesion and collective action, empowering members to support each other and work toward improving the conditions of their community

In 1893, a Black counterpart to the Shriners was established by John G. Jones and other Prince Hall masons, initially named The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions. Although the white order initially succeeded in halting the activities of the Black temple, a ruling was overturned on appeal in 1929, affirming the right of Black Shriners to continue their practices and fundraising efforts across the country. 

Today, the Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family has 35,000 members across 227 shrines, including its own women's auxiliary organizations. The primary beneficiaries of their charitable contributions include the NAACP, the National Urban League, the UNCF, various hospitals and universities, and youth organizations.

The Astoria Beneficial Club, Inc., founded on August 8, 1901 by 22 men, is a significant institution in Richmond’s history, rooted in values of religious faith, moral integrity, intellectual growth, and civic responsibility. Its founders envisioned a society where barriers to full citizenship could be dismantled through patience, strategic planning, and timely action. This vision guided the club’s efforts in championing civil rights, advocating for equal opportunities, and addressing issues of segregation. Over the years, Astoria has inspired countless individuals to strive for higher standards in morality, intellect, and civic engagement, thus earning its place as a pivotal force in the city’s progress.

The club’s accomplishments reflect its commitment to both civil rights and community betterment. Astoria played a key role in securing employment opportunities for African Americans in the Richmond City workforce, advocating for equal pay for public school teachers, supporting voter rights, and facilitating the inclusion of African American officers in the Richmond Police Department. In addition to its civil rights efforts, the club has contributed to education and charitable causes, awarding annual scholarships, supporting organizations like the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund, and erecting public monuments such as the Bill "Bojangles" Robinson statue. Furthermore, Astoria continues to engage in meaningful community projects, including contributions to Richmond Community Hospital and local landmarks. Through initiatives like the Parental Assistance Leadership Service (PALS) Program, the club fosters youth development, mentoring students to become engaged, responsible citizens and future leaders.

Some influential members of this society include Benjamin A. Graves and Ethel T. Overby.