ABOUT
Learn more about the Delver Woman's Club including a message from our president, who we are, what we do, about our founder, accomplishments, and more.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
The Delver Woman’s Club was founded in 1945 by, the late, Mrs. Blanche Coles Case. Today, it continues as an organization dedicated to the betterment of social and civic activities in the
Richmond community.
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The club has seven (7) interest groups. Meet people of like interest – Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Social and Civic Affairs or Youth Conservation. The club seeks Christian women who are registered voters. Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of September, October, January, March, and April. An Annual Vesper Service, in honor of our deceased members, is held at the April meeting. A Breakfast of Celebration is held in December, and our Annual Luncheon is held in May.
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Our club’s involvement in community service has earned numerous commendations and awards. This is true also of individual Delver members and interest groups. Today, we are reaping the rewards of the work and sacrifices of previous Delvers. Delver has a proud history. We will continue to honor our past while we purposefully move forward.
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Sincerely,
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Lolita S. Moses
Lolita S. Moses
OUR STORY
More than a century ago, the National Association for Colored Women was founded by African American women leaders in response to a vicious attack on the character of African-American women. A few decades distant from the abolition of slavery, the intensification of poverty, discrimination, and segregation impelled these women to action in defense of their race. Their motto was “Lifting as We Climb,” signaling their understanding that no individual woman of color could rise, nor did they want to rise, without the improvement of the whole race. At the top of their agenda were job training, wage equity, and child care: issues that, if addressed, would lift all women, and all people of color.
OUR FLOWER
White Carnation
OUR COLORS
Purple and Gold
OUR MOTTO
" Lifting as We Climb."
WHO ARE WE?
The Delver Woman‘s Club is an organization of women drawn together by common interest in civic, cultural, educational, economic and social activities.
The Club was organized in 1945, but had an earlier beginning in 1917 with the formation of a study group for Black college women, the Delver Literary Club.
The name Delver came from the group’s motto, “We must Delve for Knowledge.” The emphasis of this early organization was cultural appreciation and development.
The Delver Literary Club disbanded in the early 1940’s. In 1945, a group of women was assembled by Mrs. Blanche Coles Case to expand on the foundation of the earlier club. The women agreed to retain a portion of the Literary Club’s name and to enlarge the membership to include all women interested in the civic and cultural betterment of the Richmond community. The idea of a club for “every woman” evolved, hence the name, “The Delver Woman’s Club”. The Club was incorporated in 1949.
In 1950, members were presented with the proposal of organizing a Junior Delver Woman’s Club. The first group of young women was brought together under the supervision of the Youth Conservation Interest Group. By 1951, the sister group was established as a separate entity with officers and interest group activities. Later, they became incorporated as The Delver Junior Woman’s Club, which has since disbanded.
WHAT WE DO
The Delver Woman’s Club is divided into seven interest groups, which enables each woman to engage in activities she most enjoys while contributing to the organization as a whole. The Interest Groups are Art, Drama, Economic, International Relations, Music, Social and Civic Affairs, and Youth Conservation.
In 2008, Social Welfare and Civic Affairs were combined into Social and Civic Affairs.
We seek to enhance cultural appreciation through our art exhibits, concerts and dramas provided by our Art, Music and Drama Interest Groups, respectively. We endeavor to inspire our young people and give them meaningful goals with our scholarship and emergency assistance programs and our Youth Conservation activities. The Social and Civic Affairs Interest Group addresses the needs of our community and promotes increased voter activity and education.
Through an awareness of sound business practices, the Economic Interest Group fosters a greater knowledge of the economic world. To that end, they provided an opportunity for participation in an investment club. Promoting better understanding among world peoples through knowledge of customs and life styles of other lands is the goal of our International Relations Interest Group.
As an organization, we sponsor “The Delver Project” an enrichment program for girls. Scholarships and educational assistance awards are given to deserving students chosen by the Scholarship Committee. We have an “Annual Luncheon Meeting” each May, during which recognition is accorded Delver members for service to the Club. Also, an agency or individual may be cited for outstanding community service.
Our projects, programs and activities incorporate all facets of the Richmond community.
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Black History Museum
Living the Dream, Inc.
(formerly, Community Learning Week)
NAACP (Golden Heritage Life Membership)
National Council of Negro Women
Richmond Council of Women’s Organizations
United Negro College Fund
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
OUR FOUNDER
Mrs. Blanche Coles Case
Our Delver Woman’s Club Founder, Mrs. Blanche Coles Case, led a life of service. She was born in Liberia, West Africa to missionary parents, Reverend and Mrs. J. J. Coles. Blanche was brought to Richmond as an infant. She graduated from Virginia Union University and received a Master’s Degree from Columbia University.
Mrs. Case had been a member of the Delver Literary Club, an organization for college women organized in 1917. Although membership was always held to twelve, their programs provided a far-reaching impact for community service.
In 1945, with the literary Club disbanded, Mrs. Case challenged and rallied a group of interested women to organize a larger, more encompassing organization for the civic and social betterment of the Richmond community (The Delver Woman’s Club). From that date, throughout her lifetime, in health and during her long illness, she was a constant inspiration to the women whose standards she first waved and lifted. In addition, she also served a period as advisor and director of the Delver Junior Woman’s Club.
Her dedication and service to the Delvers is but one example of the many ways Blanche Coles Case touched the lives of people of Richmond. For 40 years she was a science teacher for Richmond Public Schools, spending most of these years at Armstrong and Maggie L. Walker High Schools.
She was an active member of the Girl Scouts from childhood, and served for 30 years as a Leader of Girl Scouts of Ebenezer Baptist Church. In conjunction with the scouting program, she organized an effective Scout Mothers Club. For several years, she chaired the Girl Scout Camp Committee, and re-established a local camping program which gave camperships to numerous worthy Scouts.
Mrs. Case was a member of the Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and served the organization in several official capacities. She was a charter member of the Mary C. Stewart Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, in which she was a Past Matron and Secretary. She served as president of the Richmond Branch of the National Association of College Women, and also held office with the national body. Her other affiliations included memberships on the committee on Administration of the Phyllis
Wheatley YWCA and the National Council of Negro Women.
Blanche Coles Case died on August 2, 1967. But it can truly be said that she will never die. She is remembered as a friend, teacher, worker and innovator. She lives in the programs she fostered and the lives that she guided and brightened. Her monuments are enduring and, to paraphrase Lockhart, she is her own biographer.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Tribute to our Founder, "This is My Life", Mrs. Charles Case; sponsored by the Delver Jr. Women and Delver Woman's Club (Seniors)
• Celebrated "The First Twenty-Five Years" in 1970; pageant depicting the Club's history was written by Dr. Elizabeth Bouey Yates and directed by Miss Zemoria B. Wood of the Drama Interest Group; Mrs. Mozelle Thomas Sallee Baxter, President. Membership grew to 450 strong. (Refer to the publication, The First Twenty-Five Years (1945-1970).
• Memorial Day Service on May 29, 1970 in Tribute to our Founder, Mrs. Blanche Coles Case—Wreath Laying Ceremony, at Woodlawn Cemetery.
• First African American group member of the Richmond Council of Women’s Organizations.
• A Founding Member of Meals on Wheels and continues to provide volunteer service.
• Sponsored first "Seniors Dinner" for citizens of the community at Slaughter's Hotel.
• First presented world notables Dr. Roland Hayes, Ms. Camilla Williams, Mr. Todd Duncan and Ms. Marian Anderson to Richmond audiences.
• Sponsored an African Soiree to benefit drought victims in Senegal.
• Awarded Delver Plaques to the Reverend Irving Elligan, Attorneys Oliver Hill, Martin A. Martin, and Spotswood Robinson, Dr. Ruth Harris, Dr. and Mrs. Neil Sullivan, Dr. Thomas Henderson, Mayor Henry L. Marsh, Mr. Scott Henderson, Mr. Robert Gray, Councilwoman Willie Dell, Ms. Bernadine Simmons, Mrs. Charlene Warner, the Rev. Leontine Kelly, Mr. Frank Crawley, Senator Benjamin Lambert, Dr. Willis Barnett, and others for outstanding community contributions.
• Sponsored showings by local artists including George H. Ben Johnson, and Phillip Cox.
• Commissioned Mr. Charles Baker, a local artist, to paint a portrait of James
Armstead Lafayette, a Black seaman, which is on display on the Destroyer SS Virginia.
• Stimulated interest in Drama with many dramatic productions by the Delver Players.
• Promoted voter registration and voter education and provided annually a forum for city and state candidates for political offices.
• Sponsored “Miss Future Delver” pageants with proceeds going for scholarships to deserving young high school graduates. This project was a template that has been
used by community organizations.
• Contributed to Black economic development by sponsoring Business Exhibitions, featuring Black merchants.
• Annually commemorate Black History Month and provide financial assistance to Living the Dream. Inc., formerly Community Learning Week.
• Contribute to education through donations to the United Negro College Fund, Virginia Union University and financial assistance to students.
• Tutored youngsters from Creighton Court, who helped police officers through the S.N.A.P. Program. At our Annual Banquet in 1988, we honored and presented
trophies to these youngsters for their dedicated service to the community.
• Celebrated 50th Year- Golden Anniversary Celebration - "Women of Vision- Making A Difference; a historical and accomplished celebration on October 22, 1995. Club membership was 208 strong. Dr. Norma Goode served as Program Chairman; Mrs. Jean T. Williams, President. (Refer to publication, 50th Anniversary Souvenir Journal, September - October 1995).
• Presented Community Service Awards.
• The Delver Foundation was established in 1995; Founder, former Delver President, Mrs. Jean T. Williams. At present, it is used to distribute scholarships and educational assistance.
• Recognized Delver of the Year for Outstanding Service to Club and Community. The current award design was initiated at our 50th Golden Anniversary Celebration.
• Delver Donation of Love (DDOL) Fund, initiated by Mrs. Martha Puryear to finance our 50th Anniversary Celebration.
• A historical drama of the Delver Woman’s Club was written by Mrs. Evelyn S. Rodriquez and performed by the Drama Interest Group (The Delver Players).
• Supported Comfort Miller Anderson African Project.
• Aided victims of Hurricane Katrina.
• Supported Homeland Singers Mission.
• Interest Groups sponsoring successful fundraisers to support programs.
• Presented Virginia Union University with a $25,000 Scholarship donation at our Sixty-eighth Annual Luncheon Meeting- May 2013. Funds were derived from monies invested from the sale of our former Delver Club House on Edgewood Avenue.
• The Delver Woman’s Club concluded its project of Backpacks for Liberia on March 15, 2014. Twenty-six (26) backpacks were filled to capacity with school supplies for elementary students in Liberaia.
• The Black History Museum Donor Wall – In 2016, the name of the Delver Woman’s Club became a part of the history of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The Club made a donation to become a part of the vision of the Museum as it relocated to the Leigh Street Armory. Our name is listed
on the BHMVA Donor Societies, which will become a Donor Wall erected on the Leigh Street side of the building. At present, the register is located at the front of the museum.
• Through a “Legacy Community Service Project” in 2020, the Delver Woman’s Club, Inc. provided over $6,000 to Feed More, providing approximately 20,000 meals.
MEMBERS
Charter Members
Mrs. Mozelle Thomas Sallee Baxter
Presidents
Mrs. Blanche Coles Case
Mrs. Henrietta Barrett Segar
Mrs. Blanche Coles Case
Mrs. Mozelle Sallee Baxter
Mrs. Lessie M. Parker Blake
Dr. Norma Montague Goode
Mrs. Esther Dungee Reid
Mrs. Elizabeth McDaniel Thompson
Mrs. Grace Rice Williams
Mrs. Jean Thompson Williams
Mrs. Lucy Cordell Wells
Mrs. Goldie White Settles
Miss Charleta Francenia Shorts
Mrs. Gloria Thompson Redmond
Mrs. Theo S. Jones
Mrs. Lolita S. Moses
1945- 1950
1950- 1951
1951- 1960
1960- 1973
1973- 1978
1978- 1980
1980- 1984
1984- 1987
1987- 1990
1990- 1996
1996- 1999
1999- 2005
2005- 2011
2011- 2017
2017- 2020
2020- Present
Officers, 2023-2026
President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Recording Secretary
Assistant Recording Secretary
Financial Secretary
Assistant Financial Secretary
Treasurer
Chaplain
Assistant Chaplain
Historian
Lolita S. Moses
Celia Suggs
Evelyn S. Rodriquez
Vivian A. Minor, CAP
Elaine Satchell
Laneuville Walker
Paula K. Missouri
Carrie G. Crushshon
Goldie W. Settles
Bettie L. Gentry
Vera P. Ryan