Wilfandel Club
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The Wilfandel Club is the oldest African-American women's club in Los Angeles. Established in 1945 by black women active in the community, the Wilfandel Club’s goal is to promote civic betterment, philanthropic endeavors, and general culture. They maintain a clubhouse, sponsor a scholarship, and hold monthly meetings, which feature speakers.
The Wilfandel Club provided people of all races with a public meeting place in Los Angeles during the 1950s.
The Historic Wilfandel House, which is located at 3425 West Adams Blvd Los Angeles CA 90018, an area commonly known as Arlington Heights, is said to have been built in 1922 by silent film star Ramon Novarro for his brother.
Once the Wilfandel Club members purchased the Wilfandel house, The Wilfandel Club house rapidly garnered a reputation as the place to hold farewell parties for the young African-American men who went off to fight America’s wars, or for the sons and daughters who were leaving to attend college. The Wilfandel Club house provided people of all races with a public meeting place in Los Angeles during the 1950s.
Over the years, the Wilfandel Club house has been one of the primary venues for thousands of wedding ceremonies, numerous community meetings and forums, teas, showers, art exhibits, and dinners.
Wilfandel members also have raised thousands of dollars to support the American Cancer Society, the Exceptional Children’s Foundation, the Foundation for the Junior Blind, as well as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP].
Today, Wilfandel Club members total more than 60 African-American women, all of whom share a vision and commitment to the goal of enhancing and strengthening the image of African-American women in our society, and in promoting peace, happiness, and personal growth for black women everywhere. For its contributions to the community, the club is the recipient of the Community Service Award, presented by the California State Attorney General.
From humble beginnings, its members have shepherded the club to an enviable place in the Los Angeles community, as an exemplary organization dedicated to service and empowerment. The Wilfandel Club continues to live up to the legacy envisioned by its founders.
It is still used today by the members of the Wilfandel Club for meetings, weddings and other functions. The Wilfandel Club house is equipped with a full kitchen and has a must see garden.
Bessie Bruington Burke was a Wilfandel Club member. She received her teaching credentials in 1911 and soon became the first Black teacher in the Los Angeles Public School system.
External links
- Wilfandel Club
- Public Radio
- African American Registry
- USC News
- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks