| ProclaimHer |  |
 Newsletter of the Boston's Women's Heritage Trail (BWHT) — Spring 2004 |
|
An accurate history of twentieth century Boston would be incomplete without including the words and accomplishments of two stalwart and impassioned leaders, RUTH BATSON and ELMA LEWIS. Both were compelling speakers and courageous, determined advocates for social and cultural enrichment of the Greater Boston community as well as for the full educational development of African- American children. Both, born in Boston of West Indian parentage, were proud of their Barbadian roots-and they were good friends as well. These two community icons died in Boston earlier this year at the age of 82.
Among her many organizational memberships Ruth Batson was an active member of the Boston Branch N.A.A.C.P. for many years and became chairman of its Education Committee in 1964 and served in this capacity through the tumultuous years of school boycotts, Boston School Committee and administrative indifference and the frustrating pursuit of quality education for Black children in the Boston Public
Schools.In December of 1965 at a meeting with Dr. Trilling, Chairperson of the Brookline School Committee, and Dr. Robert Sperber, Superintendent of the Brookline Public Schools, Mrs. Batson was disarmed and impressed by the initiative these two men were planning to take in support of her efforts in the Boston schools. They were proposing a plan to transport Boston school children to suburban school systems, beginning with Brookline. With the additional support and firm resolve of the Massachusetts Federation for Fair Housing and the involvement of other suburban schools (in addition to Brookline) in the metropolitan busing program, METCO was born, and Ruth Batson was named its first director.
As the METCO program became established more and more school administrators and teachers requested curriculum materials about Black history and contributions of Black Americans. METCO responded to these requests by initiating a conference on Curriculum Materials, coordinated by Dr. Vivian Johnson, a professor at the Boston University Graduate School of Education.—click here to continue.
I was newly arrived in the Boston area in the mid fifties and knew few Boston personalities. I did have a distant cousin who lived in Cambridge. During one of her dinner parties, I was introduced to Elma Lewis as an owner of a school of dance. Little did I know at that time that I was in the presence of a person who would become a phenomenal woman and an icon in the cultural life of Boston.
Later in my informal cultural network, I learned about Elma Lewis’ devotion and commitment to her students’ growth and advancement in the arts. I learned that those who had truly professional ambitions were “sent” to New York and were assisted financially by Miss Lewis from her personal resources. She had no or little philanthropic support, but her personal guidance and determination guided her ambition for the students. Her students repaid her support by returning to Boston and performing as guest artists in local performances sponsored by her School of Fine Arts.
She was committed to using performing arts as a mechanism for societal unity and she had great persuasive powers with donors allowing her to achieve her visions. Her school was in the center of the African-American community during the sixties. Also located in that community was the vast Franklin Park. During the summer months, Miss Lewis convinced the administrators of the park to allow her to offer city residents performances by noted entertainers—click here to continue.
 
 |