Detroit's Elliottorian Business Women's Club and Black History

As February draws to a close, so does Black History Month. It's important to remember that before it became a month-long celebration, it was observed as Negro History Week. In 1926, historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History designated the second week of February to recognize and teach Black history.

In Detroit, the mission of recognizing and teaching Black history was championed by the Elliottorian Business Women's Club. Founded in 1928 by Elizabeth Nelson Elliott and a group of educated Black women committed to the advancement of their race, the club aimed to 'stimulate interest in businesswomen and build a program on sound educational principles emphasizing fellowship, charity, and leadership.' In 1930, the club organized Detroit's first Negro History Week, and in 1938, it hosted Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois as the guest speaker for the occasion.