population of African Americans in Middlesex County grew from 1,625 in 1880 to 2,815
this period.
to become active in movements to improve housing, sanitation, and factory conditions,
other’s homes to study and discuss the issues of the day.
organized in the 1860s. Clubs soon sprang up in the cities
and suburbs of New Jersey, beginning with the Woman’s
who was a founder of the El Mora Woman’s Literary
African American women also participated in the club
movement, usually through separate organizations.
from the outset.
By far the largest women’s organization in New Jersey was the Woman’s Christian
Temperance window
Courtesy the East Brunswick Museum
17