Baltimore Branch History

The Baltimore Branch of the NAACP was founded on April 4, 1912, by a group of influential community leaders. It has the noteworthy distinction of being the second branch chartered in the United States. Among the founding members were the Reverend Dr. Harvey Johnson, who was described as leading the branch's establishment, and the Reverend Dr. Garnett Russell Waller, who served as the Branch's first president. Other notable leaders instrumental in starting the Baltimore Branch of the NAACP included Mr. William Ashbie Hawkins, who served as legal counsel for the Branch for nearly 50 years, and Dr. Charles E. Watts, who served as the Branch's treasurer for approximately 25 years. Under this dynamic leadership, the Branch had a tremendous impact in the community and experienced many significant successes.

By 1935, interest in the organization began to dwindle. As a result, it was determined that the ailing Branch needed to be revitalized. Dr. Carl Murphy, Ms. Lillie Carroll Jackson, Ms. Juanita Jackson Mitchell and Ms. Enolia McMillan successfully spearheaded this revitalization. They each played a significant role in changing the image of the organization and getting the Branch to function more effectively. Each demonstrated a tremendous amount of commitment, loyalty, and courage, which took the Branch to new heights of commitment and service.

Mrs. Lillie Carroll Jackson was one of the front-runners who not only dedicated her time as a volunteer, but she also served as president of the Baltimore Branch from 1935 until 1970. She was also the founder of the Maryland State Conference of the NAACP and other organized branches throughout the state.

Under Mrs. Jackson's tenure, Baltimore City became the first southern city to comply with the Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. the Board of Education, when it desegregated its public school in 1954. Moreover, Baltimore City also desegregated the municipal swimming pools and several beaches, including Sandy Point State Park Beach and Fort Smallwood Municipal Beach.

The Freedom Fighting torch was later passed onto her daughter, Mrs. Juanita Jackson Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell was the first black woman to practice law in the State of Maryland, and in 1935, she founded and organized the NAACP Youth Council at the Branch.

Mrs. McMillan served as President of the Baltimore Branch for twenty years and concurrently served as President of the NAACP National Headquarters for three years. Mrs. McMillan has implanted a landmark in history as a vigorous, loving, hardworking civil rights activist who truly represented the civil and human rights for the constituents of Baltimore City.