Jack and Jill is a family organization dedicated to the purpose of developing our children and fostering life-long friendships with other families in the community. We provide cultural, educational, recreational and community service opportunities aimed at enhancing and enriching the lives of our children.
NATIONAL HISTORY
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. was founded by Marion Stubbs Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 1, 1938 and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, on August 28, 1941. From a meeting of 20 mothers in Philadelphia, the idea of bringing together children in a social and cultural relationship has spread to over 216 chapters in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Nigeria, Africa. Today, the National headquarters is located in the historical Strivers District in Washington, D.C. Click here for background information on the headquarters.
REGIONAL HISTORY
The development of the regional structure was discussed by the organization from 1948 until 1957 when the Regional Plan of the organization was adopted at the annual convention held in San Francisco, California. However, as early as 1956, each of seven regions held Teen Conferences guided by seven elected or appointed Teen Regional Directors. Beginning in 1959, annual conventions were abolished and Regional Conferences alternated with bi-annual national conventions.
There are seven regions: Central, Eastern, Far West, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Western, South Central and Southeastern. Each region is led by a Regional Director and has a Secretary-Treasurer and Member-at-Large. The Regional structure was last amended during the convention in 1996.
CHAPTER HISTORY
Emily Brown Portwig, Ph.D., a pharmacist, was the impetus for the formation of the Los Angeles chapter of Jack and Jill. It was 1948 when Emily learned of the Jack and Jill organization while visiting her good friend Emilie Pickens, the second National president, in Brooklyn, New York. Although she did not have any children of her own, her sister, Josephine Brown had two children and Dr. Portwig felt that her niece, Emily and nephew, Conklin would benefit greatly from an organization like Jack and Jill.
Mrs. Marjorie Bright Mc Phearson, a local school teacher, hosted the first interest meeting with over 50 mothers in attendance. Followed by a series of small meetings, 79 mothers met for the first chapter meeting on the tennis court at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Davis. The officers elected were Mrs. Elois Davis, President; Laurene Rodgers, First Vice President; Emily Brown Portwig, Second Vice President; Marjorie McPherson, Treasurer; Sydnetta Smith, Recording Secretary; Lady George Munchus Forde, Corresponding Secretary; Dorothy Rowland, Financial Secretary; Marzella Johnson, Parliamentarian; Bettye Bratton Scott, Chaplain; Vivian Dunning, Activity Chairman; Charlene Johnson, Sunshine Chairman; Louise Arnold, Dancing Chairman; Vera Jackson, Publicity Chairman; and Ouida Williams, Membership Chairman.
At the Fourth National Convention - a one day affair - held at the Hotel Theresa in New York City on May 21, 1949, the Los Angeles chapter was inducted as the twentieth chapter together with Cleveland, Ohio; Gary, Indiana; Petersburg, Virginia and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Los Angeles became the first chapter on the west coast, Jack and Jill was eleven years old and there were twenty-two chapters. Los Angeles, together with the remaining chapters in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington constitute the Far West Region.
Chapter members elected as National officers were Muriel Spaulding, Vice President 1976 - 1970; Ruth M. Spencer, Corresponding Secretary 1970 - 1972 and Gertrude Paxton, Corresponding Secretary 1978 - 1982. Barbara Wilson has served as the Foundation’s Far West Member at Large and National Associate Chairperson. Bunny Withers was elected as the Foundation’s Far West Member at Large 1996 - 1998 and Far West Regional Director 1998 - 2000.
On its Twenty-fifth anniversary, the chapter hosted the Twenty-first National Convention, July 17-24, 1974 at the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel with the theme "Developing Positive Attitudes and Meaningful Values in the Family." Throughout the years, the chapter has also served as the host chapter for the Far West Regional Conference, Cluster Day, Teen Regional Conference and Children’s Cluster Day. In 1986, the chapter received a Jack and Jill Foundation grant to provide support of the Young Black Scholars (YBS) program. The chapter continues to actively support the goal of the YBS program to motivate and prepare African-American high school students to enter the University of California system.The chapter celebrated their Fiftieth Anniversary on February 27, 1999 at its annual fundraiser held at the El Capitan Entertainment Center. Throughout the years, fundraising activities have help to support many local and national organizations such as the NAACP, United Negro College Fund, Legal Defense Fund, Crystal Stairs, Urban League, Sickle Cell Research Foundation, UCLA SAT workshops, local public elementary schools, community outreach seminars, the Thompson quintuplets and annually to Jack and Jill Foundation.
The Los Angeles Chapter has grown to a maximum membership of 150 mothers. With the support of this strong chapter, the Los Angeles Chapter served as the host for Jack and Jill chapter across the country at the thirty-fifth National Convention in 2002.
Today, the chapter continues its committment to all children, while explanding its community service reach to include issues surrounding foster care and health related concerns affecting children. A very special thank you to early members Charlene Johnson, Josephine Smith, Bernice Smith and Laura Wiltz for sharing their memories and recollections of the early years of the Los Angeles Chapter. A large portion of this history was taken from the memoirs of Jessie Mae Beavers, 14th chapter president and a past editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel.
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