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Journalism

Women and the Early Press

What newspaper was the first written for and by black women?

The first newspaper written for and by black women was the Woman’s Era. It began in 1894 and published news and activities of women’s clubs throughout the country. The official organ of the National Association of Colored Women, Woman’s Era had Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842–1924) and her daughter, Florida Ruffin Ridley (1861–1943), as editors until 1900. Josephine Ruffin, a clubwoman, civic leader, and reformer, was born in Boston. She became a founding member of the Woman’s Era Club (which she, Florida Ridley, and Maria Baldwin organized), the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the National Association of Colored Women, and the Northeastern Federation of Women’s Clubs. Florida Ridley was a writer, educator, and social worker, as well as a clubwoman. She was born in Boston and educated at Boston Teachers College and Boston University. Ruffin became a teacher in Boston’s public schools. In 1890 she founded the Society for the Collection of Negro Folklore, one of the earliest groups of black folklorists. She also aided her daughter in promoting a national organization of black clubwomen.



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