Activities Among Negroes
Miss Ruth Moore of Pasadena, the new secretary for the Linden Street Branch, Y. W. C. A., was given a reception by the Hostess Club Friday evening. It was attended by a large number of the bay cities representative colored people who are interested in racial uplift. Miss Moore has been educated for the position. She is a graduate of the Pasadena High school at the University of CamMack's female college at Salem, Mass., majoring in social science; after attended Harvard summer school at the University of Cambridge, where she studies physical training and completed her education with a thorough course in the New York training school for Y. W. C. A. secretaries.
Miss Moore was appointed as girls' secretary for the colored branch, Y. W. C. A., located at Dayton, Ohio, serving for two years, when she was appointed executive secretary to the Wylie Avenue branch, Y. W. C. A., of Pittsburgh, Pa., from which place she was transferred to Oakland. When asked if she found any difference between the colored people of the East and the West, she replied "Oh, the westerners are so warm-hearted. They make you their friends, and afterward ask whence you came. The East have their traditions. In the West all are made welcome."
She was then asked if it was not because she was a native daughter that she loved the West and she replied: "I was born in Knoxville, Tenn., but my parents brought me into California at the age of two. Of course, I have been in this part of the state but a few days, even so I admire immensely the spirit of good will manifested toward our group by the citizens of this city."
Mrs. Frank Henry of Oakland, who during the past year has been acting as secretary for the Linden Street Branch, Y. W. C.A., has rendered the organization valuable services. It was through her efforts a group of colored girls a number of years ago were organized into a club, with the one thought that some day this club would merge into a colored branch Y. W. C. A. in Oakland. Mrs. Henry worked against many odds, but held their interest, and the Linden street branch is the realization of this dream. The colored people appreciate her services. The Fanny Coppin Club, of which Mrs. Henry is the retiring president, presented her at their last meeting with a beautiful leather pocketbook with gold lettered initials as a token of appreciation for her work in the community.
The negro race has many artists of whom the reading public knows very little. Many have won fame as painters in both oil and water colors, and a few have distinguished themselves in the more difficult art known as etching. Through the kindness of William M. Kelley1, a white newspaper man [I believe he was African-American. - MF] of New York City, who is also an art connoisseur, the world of art has recently given recognition to a negro artist who has produced some fine etchings. This artist, a negro by the name of Albert Smith of New York City, [See also this. - MF] was invited, through his white friend, Mr. Kelly, to make an exhibit of his work at the art gallery of Robert B. Miscman of New York City. This negro artist has used for his subjects the busts of distinguished negroes such as Toussaint L'Ouverture, Booker T. Washington and Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Albert Smith was born in New York City in 1896. He was attending DeWitt high school at the age of 15 when he won a scholarship at the Ethical Culture Art School of New York, Four years later he won the Suydam bronze medal for two consecutive years - the first for studies in "still life" and the second from life. Later he studied under Douglass Volke [Douglas Volk] and Charles C. Curian, [Charles C. Curran] white painters of note, and later under Auerbach Leng2, [Auerbach-Levy] portrait etcher, and Kenyon Cox, mural decorator. He volunteered his services to the United States government and served in France during the entire World War. Returning to America, he re-entered the Academy of Design, where he soon distinguished himself by winning the much coveted John Armstrong Chaloner prize for painting from life. He then returned to France and entered the Academy of Beau Arts. His etchings have brought him high compliments from some of the greatest artists in New York City.
The following distinguished colored visitors have been guests of friend in Oakland during the past ten days: Dr. Charles Steward [Stewart] of Chicago, the only negro member of the Associated Press; Attorney J. Vanc [Vance} Lewis, from Houston, Texas; J. D. Wilson, Shreveport, LA., Mr. and Mrs. Arron Wilson, Omaha, Neb.; Mrs. Thrash, Memphis, Tenn.: Mrs. C. R. McDowell A. M., Kansas City, Mo., president of women's district convention of Northern Missouri, corresponding secretary Women's State Convention and second vice-president National Baptist Women's Convention; Sergeant and Mrs. J. C. Smith of Los Angeles.
The following persons have been visiting members and friends of North Oakland Baptist church: Dr. and Mrs. Martin, of Chicago; Rev. and Mrs. Homs, Kansas City, Mo.: Rev, Dudley, Chicago, and Rev. Dr. Gralum from Philadelphia, the highest salaries negro minister in the United States.
Mrs. G. C. Coleman, during the past ten days, has entertained 24 friends from the East. Her husband, Rev. Coleman, has just returned from an extensive eastern trip.
1 Read about his son, William Melvin Kelley, Jr.
2 Smith, Albert Alexander - African American National Biography
