A small group of young black women residing in Baltimore City became members of the Continental Society of the Virgin Islands and
were sponsored by the Washington, D.C. chapter. The original organization had begun five years earlier in New York when Ms.
Marie Poston introduced a “hands-across-the-sea” concept. The installation ceremony was performed at the then-fashionable Blue
Room of the York Hotel on Madison Avenue. The Baltimore Chapter’s co-founders Helen Quarles, Helen Gattis, and Lillie Branch,
along with charter members Frances Branch, Margaret Turner, Emily Peck, Susan Jones, Margaret Mason, Jean Harris Ashburn, Doris Cole,
Frankie Hinchen, Arnetta Lottier, Doreva Stanley, Ethel Saunders, Bernice Watson, and Delores Young made up the 16 members installed.
Just one year after its installation, Baltimore, along with sister chapters in Philadelphia, PA, Newport News, VA. and Washington,
D.C. withdrew from the National organization to focus on local children’s needs. Then local group adopted the name and was incorporated
as “The Continental Society for the Children of Baltimore”.
Today, there are 41 Continental chapters in the United States,
the District of Columbia, and Bermuda. Continental women represent a variety of professions and interests, all committed to
contribute their time, service and funds to sponsor activities that will fulfill our organization’s goals. We also work in other
child-oriented programs and projects by networking with other organizations which serve children and youth.
More about the history of the Baltimore Continental Societies, Inc.
©2007 Continental Societies, Inc.
PO Box 67843-0020
Baltimore, MD 21215
Last Date Modified: October 5, 2007
