Ruth Logan Roberts (1891 – 1968) was a

suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to vo ...

, activist,

YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

leader, and host of a salon in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

, New York City.

Early life

Ruth Logan Roberts was born in 1891 as the daughter of suffragist Adella Hunt Logan. Sourced from Roberts studied physical therapy at Boston's Sargent School of Physical Education, graduating in 1911. Roberts later served a physical educator for the

Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a Private university, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was f ...

. In 1917, she married the physician Eugene Percy Roberts, and the couple moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Activism

Ruth Logan Roberts began her work as a

around 1913 in Tuskegee. She continued her activism after her move to New York City, notably serving on a number of boards and actively advocating for women's suffrage and against racial discrimination. Roberts was a member of the boards of directors of national and local

as well as board of the Katy Ferguson Home for Unmarried Mothers. She also served on the New York State Board of Social Welfare. While at the YWCA, Roberts helped organize women in the sale of war bonds through the Liberty Loan program. She also served on the New York State Board of Social Welfare, a position that she was appointed to by Governor

Thomas E. Dewey Thomas Edmund Dewey (March 24, 1902 – March 16, 1971) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 47th Governor of New York from 1943 to 1954. He was the Republican Party's nominee for president of the United States in 1944 and ...

. Her health education led her to serve on the boards of New York Tuberculosis and Health Association and the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.

Salon

Roberts hosted a regular

salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...

at her home at 130 West 130th Street in Harlem, New York City, that brought together major figures active in Harlem at the time in politics, community service, and the arts.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Ruth Logan 1891 births 1968 deaths Suffragists from Alabama People from Tuskegee, Alabama African-American suffragists Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College) alumni 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people Suffragists from New York City

Early life

Activism

Salon

See also

References