Collection (1945-1987) of documents, clippings, and printed materials relating to the members, officers, organization and activities of the Greenville Council of Church Women, Greenville, North Carolina, including support of UNICEF, World Day of Prayer, World Community Day, May Fellowship, Christian Education and Christian Social Relations. Also included is a rough draft (1928 ?) of the constitution for the Woman's Club of Greenville.
The Greenville Council of Church Women (GCCW) operated in Greenville, North Carolina, from 1945 to at least 1987 and evolved under other names including United Church Women of Greenville, Greenville Council of Church Women United, and Church Women United of Greenville. The organization was created to "provide a means for Christian fellowship across denominational lines" and "to unite church women . . . through a program looking to their integration in the total life and work of the church. They were also affiliated with the United Church Women of N.C. and with the General Department of United Church Women of the National Council of the Churches of Christ. Many prominent women of Greenville resided over GCCW including Venetia Cox and Mrs. D. H. Conley and their activities centered on World Prayer Day, World Community Day, and participating in projects that improved the lives of local citizens such as clothing and blanket drives, and developing a Protestant kindergarten in the early 1950s.
The Greenville Council of Church Women (GCCW) Collection (1945-1987) contains printed materials, board meeting minutes, clippings, their constitution, correspondence, a scrapbook (photocopy due to deteriorating condition of original), annual reports and a history related to their activities in Greenville, North Carolina. Some of their activities included clothing drives (1968), participation in World Day of Prayer (1955), and creating a Protestant Kindergarten at Jarvis Memorial Methodist Church (1951-1952) with the help of "Miss Murray" of East Carolina College (ECC). Also the organization participated in the promotion of hiring more African-Americans (1950-1987) by petitioning newspapers, promoting interdenominational prayer (1950-1987), and assisting UNICEF(1950-1987).
Printed materials of interest include various newspaper clippings (1949-1987), either loose or in a scrapbook, relating to many Greenville churches such as York Memorial, Chicod, Hollywood Presbyterian and various preachers including Reverend Richard Ottaway and Reverend Roy Sharrett. Other people of import mentioned include various people from ECC including Dr. Kathleen Stokes (1950-1987), Dr. George A. Douglas (1950-1987), and Dr. Robert L. Holt (1951-1968). Also mentioned are Venetia Cox and Mrs. D.H. Conley both who served as President of the Council of Church Women (1947-1951). In addition the scrapbook often mentions Dr. Andrew A. Best (1948-1972), a local African-American doctor. Loose items from the scrapbook include a photograph, correspondence (1949, 1953), and recommendations (1952) from the Christian Social Relations Committee to the Executive Board, many of which deal with improving conditions for the African-American citizens.
Also included in this collection is a rough draft (1928?) of a constitution for the Woman's Club of Greenville (North Carolina).
Anonymous gift
Encoded by Mark Custer, March 20, 2008
Finding Aid completed April 28, 2017, by Leah Turner
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
For more information on Venetia Cox, see: