The collection contains materials relating primarily to the social and civic activities of Dr. Fredda Witherspoon. There are some personal items relating to both Fredda and her husband, attorney Robert L. Witherspoon. The collection spans from 1950 to 1996 with the bulk of the materials dating from 1981 to 1996. It is arranged alphabetically by topic and is divided into two series: Personal and Organizations. The Personal series dates from 1950 to 1996 and includes greeting cards, some correspondence, a few photos, and materials about the Witherspoons. The Organizations series relates to the many organizational affiliations maintained by Fredda Witherspoon and dates from 1961 to 1996. Gaps in the collection include 1951 to 1957, 1959, and 1962 to 1964. The Personal series contains materials about the Witherspoons, including newspaper clippings and their funeral programs (B1/f.8, f.13). There are many greeting cards, correspondence, and various invitations to wedding and community events received by Fredda Witherspoon. There are a few unidentified group photographs which include Fredda. There are also two studio photographs of Robert Witherspoon, including the photograph used on his funeral program (B1/f.13). The Witherspoons hosted an annual Labor Day “Party with a Purpose” that served as a membership drive for the Urban League and the NAACP. Fredda continued the tradition, which began in the Witherspoons' backyard, after Robert’s death. Newspaper clippings and flyers explain that 1995 marked the 28th event (B1/f.11, B2/f.19). Several award certificates and memorials presented to Fredda Witherspoon reveal her impact in community groups (B1/f.1). For example, in 1977, she and Robert were awarded the Ernest & DeVerne Calloway Award by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and she also received the St. Louis Sentinel's 4th Annual Signal Honor for Community Service. The Organizations series is arranged alphabetically by name of organization. It contains newspaper clippings, newsletters, some correspondence, certificates, and assorted records relating to the numerous social and civic organizations and offices held by Dr. Fredda Witherspoon. She either organized or founded more than fifteen civic organizations in St. Louis, but only a few of these are represented in the collection (see B1/f.9 for a list). Witherspoon held positions in established organizations such as the Saint Louis Ambassadors, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the NAACP (local, state, and national levels), and the United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF). She was appointed to the St. Louis Commission on Crime and Law Enforcement where she served as chairman of the juvenile delinquency subcommittee in 1970 (B3/f.12). Dr. Witherspoon organized and served as the first president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter in 1984. The chapter was affiliated with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW), which was incorporated in 1981 as a “leadership forum for black women of professional and personal diversity” (B2/f.16). Witherspoon served on the NCBW board of directors in 1987 and as local chapter president again in 1990. Items relating to the chapter include early brochures, members’ certificates of appreciation, a calendar of events and event flyers, and newspaper clippings. There are also items concerning the Third Biennial Convention, which Witherspoon attended, and miscellaneous items relating to the NCBW at the national level, including its Candace Awards. The Candace Awards are “a tribute to the breadth and diversity of achievement among black American women.” There are two programs for the awards, 1987 and 1990, which include biographies for all the recipients. In 1987, Katherine Dunham received the Bailey’s Trailblazer award (B2/f.19). The Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter of the Continental Societies, Inc. is another local organization founded by Dr. Witherspoon in approximately 1981. There are newspaper clippings and programs from its annual Black History Month Awards cosponsored by Anheuser-Busch. There is one 1990 letter from the national society informing the St. Louis Chapter that it was fined $100 for failing to send a delegate to its 35th Conclave in Bermuda. The Alpha Zeta Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. was established in St. Louis in 1937. Dr. Witherspoon served Iota Phi Lambda as national vice president (1975-1976) and as national president (1977-1981). The sorority awards the annual Fredda Witherspoon National Scholastic Scholarship to a female high school senior wishing to pursue a college degree in business-related fields. There are materials from Witherspoon’s national office tenures, which include directories and programs from events that she attended. The 1985 Central Region Yearbook contains information about the Alpha Zeta Chapter and a chapter photograph (B1/f.15). Materials devoted to the St. Louis chapter include "An Apple for the Teacher Award Luncheon" programs (transferred to MHS Library), Business Week event programs, and a registration booklet for the 64th national convention held in St. Louis in 1993 (B1/f.18). The Gateway Chapter of Links, Incorporated became the 24th affiliate chapter in May 1986. It included women on both sides of the Mississippi River. Lillian Parks was the first Gateway Chapter president and noted St. Louis attorney Frankie Freeman was the first vice president. There are two other local chapters of the Links: the St. Louis Chapter (4th chapter in 1948) and the Archway Chapter (248th in 1993). Background on founding the Gateway Chapter is located in programs relating to its weekend celebration for installing officers (B2/f.1). Dr. Witherspoon served as chapter secretary in 1991; therefore, there are bylaws, minutes from a few meetings, and financial reports from the early 1990s along with an events calendar and flyers (B1/f.20-21). There are also two issues of the chapter newsletter Linknotes (1994-1995), a 1986 members' directory, newspaper clippings about members, and a chapter manual. The Gateway Chapter held a memorial ceremony for Dr. Witherspoon at the Cunningham & Moore Funeral Home on August 18, 1996 (B2/f.21). Some of the Links, Inc. materials relate to the national organization. Dr. Witherspoon participated in the Links Choir at annual conferences in 1992 and 1994. She also saved manuals issued by the Links, Inc. for its chapters, various brochures and flyers, and newspaper clippings about other chapters’ activities. Throughout her life, Dr. Witherspoon held offices at the local, state, and national levels in the NAACP. However, there are few items relating to her work with the NAACP. A 1993 luncheon program reveals that Witherspoon was chair of the National Life Membership Committee. There are also newspaper clippings about policies eschewed by the national NAACP. In 1995, she served as a representative for her church on the NAACP St. Louis Branch Religious Affair Committee, and in 1992 Witherspoon had business cards that listed all of her positions with the organization. The NAACP awarded her several awards, which included the Outstanding Services Award in 1960 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992 (B2/f.12). In June 1972, Dr. Witherspoon joined the Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD) at its convention in Dallas and was asked to establish a chapter in St. Louis. The St. Louis Chapter held its initial ceremony inducting 36 members in January 1973 with Dr. Witherspoon as president. She held several offices with the national TLOD: Area III Director, 1973-1975; Area Director-at-Large (established 21 new chapters), 1976-1979; and second national vice president, 1980-1982. The TLOD presented Witherspoon with several awards and a memorial (B3/f.2). There are newspaper clippings, event programs and flyers, and some correspondence relating to the national TLOD. There are assorted records from the TLOD St. Louis Chapter along with event programs and brochures. The program for the Founder’s Day Observance banquet includes histories of both TLOD and the St. Louis Chapter (B3/f.6). One of the purposes tied to the TLOD was to sponsor a youth organization called the Top Teens of America (TTA), which the St. Louis chapter did in January 1974. There is an invitation to the first induction luncheon and also newspaper clippings about the 58 teenagers, male and female, comprising the membership and programs for later events (B3/f.7). [See also the 1981 and 1986 TLOD Annual Humanities Luncheon programs in MHS Library (St.L / 367 / T673s).] While Dr. Witherspoon was active in and founded several civic organizations, there are only a few items relating to these organizations included in the collection. She founded the National Barristers’ Wives, presently the National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses, Inc., in 1951. The 1990 annual convention program lists her as the founder and consultant of the organization (B2/f.20). Dr. Witherspoon also founded the Metropolitan Saint Louis Inter-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund in October 1982. There are newspaper clippings and a program for the Miss U.N.C.F. Scholarship Pageant in 1984 (B3/f.9). For many years, Dr. Witherspoon led the youth programs at West Side Baptist Church. There are several newspaper clippings and event programs concerning youth activities. There are also certificates presented to Dr. Witherspoon by West Side Baptist Church. In 1995, the church hosted a benefit for the West Side Christian Academy in Dr. Witherspoon’s honor as an “outstanding educator, civic leader, and humanitarian” (B3/f.14). Other organization for which there are a few items such as programs, newspaper clippings, memoranda, or event brochures/invitations include St. Louis Ambassadors, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, Annie Malone’s Children’s Home, CASA, Forest Park Association of Black Collegians, Jack and Jill of America, Junior League of St. Louis, Metropolitan St. Louis AIDS Program, National Council of Negro Women (Bertha Black Rhoda Section), Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Institute, Mound City Bar Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Women of Achievement.