Black civic clubs have long been important to Black communities. Richard Williamson formed the Booker T. Washington Progressive Club of Zion in 1935. The organization “promoted equality and goodwill.” Their mission was to unite individuals “interested in promoting the cause of good citizenship, better civic relations and any topic that improved local relationships.”
Bill Meehan and several other Maywood families were Club members, including the Browns and Bufords. Dad was the Club president during its early years.
Club meetings were held in member homes until their clubhouse was acquired. The two meeting pictures were taken at the Clubhouse. Seated on the left is Mrs. Naomi Marshall, daughter of the club's founder and first woman president. Mr. Dodge is seated second from the right, and Bill Meehan is speaking.
Banquets were held at the historic Zion Hotel. After the hotel was razed, the Dome was moved to the roadside at Route 32 in Zion, where it can be viewed.
The photographs and documents on this page are from my dad's collection. All were donated to the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County in honor of my dad, William Meehan. The museum houses a fantastic collection of Club memorabilia. Click on the link on the right to view a short video about the Club and its history.
Photograph colorized using MyHeritage.
Click the link below to view the Dunn Museum's Historymakers video about the Booker T. Washington Club, one of the "longest running community-based organizations in Lake County, Illinois.
BTWPC Membership Card 1943
Letter from Naomi Marshall to Bill and Jean Meehan in May 1944. Page 1
Letter from Naomi Marshall to Bill and Jean Meehan May 1944. Page 2
Mothers Day Tea Flyer, 1944
October 31, 1944, the Clubhouse went up in flames. Mrs. Marshall writes a letter to Bill and Jean Meehan, sharing the news.
Fortunately, the Club rallied and the Clubhouse was later restored.
~Page 2~
Mrs. Genieva Smith shared the 1969 obituary of Mrs. Naomi Marshall with the Meehan family.
Genieva Smith and her husband, Charles, were lifelong Club members and Meehan family friends.