The Links

The Links, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation,^[1] was founded in 1946 in Philadelphia by seven prominent Black women.^{[2]: 102 [3]} Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins^[3][4] recruited Frances Atkinson, Katie Green, Marion Minton, Lillian Stanford, Myrtle Manigault Stratton, Lillian Wall, and Dorothy Wright. All of the women were members of prominent Black professional families of Philadelphia; six were the wives of physicians and the seventh the wife of a bank president.^[2]: 103 All had bachelor's or master's degrees from elite schools and had been active in other elite Black social organizations such as Jack and Jill and Alpha Kappa Alpha and other prominent organizations such as the NAACP,^[3] the League of Women Voters, and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company.^[2]: 104 Most were members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.^[2]: 104 The group's name was suggested by Wall as a symbol of enduring friendship.^[5]

Other cities soon created chapters. By 1949, there were ten chapters and by 1952, there were 56 chapters.^{[3][2]: 105} As of 2008 there were approximately 12,000 members in 273 chapters in 42 states^[6][2] Greater Detroit had four chapters in 2021.^[7]

Over the decades the group transformed itself from "a group of women married to influential men to a group of women who became influential themselves", according to one member; the evolution caused "clear conflict between the old guard and the new guard", according to another.^[2]: 108

As of 2021, there were 16,000 members in 292 chapters.^[7] As of 1999 each chapter membership was limited to no more than 55 women.^[2]: 102 The headquarters has been located in Washington, D.C., since at least 1985.^[8][5]

As of 2022, the organization has had seventeen national presidents.^[9]

• Sarah Strickland Scott, 1949–1953
• Margaret Rosell Hawkins, 1953–1957
• Pauline Weeden Maloney, 1957–1961
• Vivian J. Beamon, 1962–1970
• Helen Gray Edmonds, 1970–1974
• Pauline Ellison, 1974–1978
• Julia Brogdon Purnell, 1978–1982
• Dolly Desselle Adams, 1982-1986
• Regina Jollivette Frazier, 1986–1990
• Marion Elizabeth Schultz Sutherland, 1990–1994
• Patricia Russell-McCloud, 1994–1998
• Barbara Dixon Simpkins, 1998–2002
• Gladys Gary Vaughn, 2002–2006
• Gwendolyn B. Lee, 2006–2010
• Margot James Copeland, 2010–2014
• Glenda Newell-Harris, 2014–2018
• Kimberly Jefferies Leonard, 2018–2022

Women interested in joining any of the local chapters must be nominated by a current member;^[2]: 109 if a chapter has 55 members, no more may be accepted until one leaves.^[2]: 102 Admission is "extremely competitive", according to Lawrence Otis Graham, author of Our Kind of People (1999).^[2]: 109 One member of a Washington D.C. chapter describes having spent "twelve years of strategizing, party-giving, and brownnosing to get into this group."^[2]: 103 Most women do not get into Links until they are in their 40s or older, and most remain members until they die.^[2]: 109

Links has been criticized for its exclusivity; one member noted that while a woman could be nominated by any other member, for practical intents those admitted are "usually those who know at least half of the chapter's membership".^[2]: 109 Social, professional, or economic prominence within a city's Black community also may help get a candidate admitted, as members with such backgrounds help add to the chapter's prestige.^[2]: 109

The organization requires each member to accumulate many volunteer hours.^[2]: 103 The organization raises funds for a variety of charities and causes such as the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.^[2]: 102 The national core focuses include education, health, youth services, the arts, domestic legislation, and international welfare.^{[2]: 107 [3]}

Chapters typically also hold multiple social events for a city's Black elites, such as debutante cotillions, fashion shows, gala fundraisers, balls, luncheons, and formal parties.^{[2]: 103, 107}

According to Graham, The Links is the "most elite organization" for prominent American Black women,^[2]: 102 and is both the largest and the most influential.^[2]: 102 Membership in the organization, he writes, signals to other prominent Blacks that "your social background, lifestyle, physical appearance, and family's academic and professional accomplishments passed muster".^[2]: 102

Los Angeles PBS station KCET called The Links "the most prominent" of the Black women's clubs.^[10] Rolling Stone called it "one of the most influential and prestigious".^[11]

John Lewis called The Links a “distinguished organization of outstanding community service and influence”.^[7]

Members include philanthropists, college presidents, politicians, activists, judges, doctors, bankers, lawyers, executives, educators, and the wives of well-known public figures.^{[12][2]: 105} Notable members include: