Formation NAACP

founders of naacp: moorfield storey, mary white ovington , w.e.b. du bois.

the race riot of 1908 in springfield, illinois, state capital , president abraham lincoln s hometown, catalyst showing urgent need effective civil rights organization in u.s. in decades around turn of century, rate of lynchings of blacks, particularly men, @ high. mary white ovington, journalist william english walling , henry moskowitz met in new york city in january 1909 work on organizing black civil rights. sent out solicitations support more 60 prominent americans, , set meeting date february 12, 1909. intended coincide 100th anniversary of birth of president abraham lincoln, emancipated enslaved african americans. while first large meeting did not take place until 3 months later, february date cited founding date of organization.

the naacp founded on february 12, 1909, larger group including african americans w. e. b. du bois, ida b. wells, archibald grimké, , named whites henry moskowitz, mary white ovington, william english walling (the wealthy socialist son of former slave-holding family), florence kelley, social reformer , friend of du bois; oswald garrison villard, , charles edward russell, renowned muckraker , close friend of walling. russell helped plan naacp , had served acting chairman of national negro committee (1909), forerunner naacp.

on may 30, 1909, niagara movement conference took place @ new york city s henry street settlement house; created organization of more 40 individuals, identifying national negro committee. among other founding members lillian wald, nurse had founded henry street settlement conference took place.

du bois played key role in organizing event , presided on proceedings. in attendance ida b. wells-barnett, african-american journalist , anti-lynching crusader. @ second conference on may 30, 1910, members chose new organization s name national association advancement of colored people , elected first officers:

national president, moorfield storey, boston
chairman of executive committee, william english walling
treasurer, john e. milholland (a lincoln republican , presbyterian new york city , lewis, new york)
disbursing treasurer, oswald garrison villard
executive secretary, frances blascoer
director of publicity , research, w. e. b. du bois.

the naacp incorporated year later in 1911. association s charter expressed mission:

to promote equality of rights , eradicate caste or race prejudice among citizens of united states; advance interest of colored citizens; secure them impartial suffrage; , increase opportunities securing justice in courts, education children, employment according ability , complete equality before law.

the larger conference resulted in more diverse organization, leadership predominantly white. @ founding, naacp had 1 african american on executive board, du bois. did not elect black president until 1975, executive directors, chief operating officers, african americans since 20th century. jewish community contributed naacp s founding , continued financing.

jewish historian howard sachar writes in book history of jews in america in 1914, professor emeritus joel spingarn of columbia university became chairman of naacp , recruited board such jewish leaders jacob schiff, jacob billikopf, , rabbi stephen wise.

du bois continued play pivotal leadership role in organization. served editor of association s magazine, crisis, had circulation of more 30,000. used both news reporting , publishing african-american poetry , literature. during organization s campaigns against lynching, du bois encouraged writing , performance of plays , other expressive literature issue.

moorfield storey, white attorney boston abolitionist family, served president of naacp founding 1915. storey long-time classical liberal , grover cleveland democrat advocated laissez-faire free markets, gold standard, , anti-imperialism. storey consistently , aggressively championed civil rights, not blacks native americans , immigrants (he opposed immigration restrictions).