Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 4-30-21

Feature
Tampa Chapter Of The Links, Inc. Established Archival Repository At USF
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Friday, April 23, 2021, the Tampa (FL) Chapter of the Links, In- corporated celebrated its legacy by es- tablishing an archival repository at the University of South Florida (USF).
Honored at the archival ceremony was Mrs. Gloria Adams Andrews, the first President of the Tampa Chap- ter.
The ceremony was held on the front lawn of the USF Library in compliance with recommendations from the CDC.
Christina Wisz, Associate Direc- tor of Development for USF Libraries, accepted the archives and Gift of Deed. Wisz spoke about the importance of the Links archive and the library’s goal of diversity and inclusion. She thanked Dr. Juel Shannon Smith, the Archive and History Chairperson for se- lecting USF.
President Marsha Lewis Brown stated, “The Tampa (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is the first African American women's organization to es- tablish our archival repository at the University of South Florida Library Col- lections. As time passes, historical doc- uments can be lost or forgotten. Our Archives and History Committee,
Marsha Lewis-Brown and Gloria Andrews. Lewis-Brown is the outgoing president of the Tampa Chapter. Mrs. Andrews was presented a plaque of gratitude for being the first president of the Tampa Chapter and her 55 years of service to the organization.
chaired by Dr. Juel Shannon Smith, researched several options for our permanent archived documents. The chapter voted to establish a Gift of Deeds for our repository at the Univer- sity of South Florida. With their archival expertise in mind, the chapter
selected USF.”
“Today, five former Chapter Presi-
dents joined me as the outgoing chapter President to present the first set of doc- uments to the USF Library.”
Mrs. Andrews, a 55-year member of The Links organization and the first President of The Tampa Links Chapter, provided a moving history of the chap- ter, starting from when it was the St. Petersburg-Tampa chapter. Mrs. An- drews was thanked and given a beau- tiful, framed mural of her 55-year tenure.
Mrs. Andrews states, “My life has been blessed with some of the most amazing Link sisters in the Links, In- corporated. My journey began in the St. Petersburg-Tampa Chapter in 1966 and continued in the Tampa Chapter for 55 uninterrupted years to the present. It is with deep humility and gratitude that I express my thanks to Juel Smith and all of my sisters for bestowing such a great honor on me.”
The chapter’s Archives and History chair, Dr. Smith provided closing re- marks.
Dr. Smith has had 2 Tampa Links history books published. Her commit- tee included: Links Yolanda Amos, Gloria Andrews, Kay Andrews, Ruth Bell, co-chair; Marsha Lewis
Brown, Teresa Brown, Janice Carter-Collier, co-chair; Joan Daw- son, Phyllis Lee, Atty. Renee Lee, Brenda McKenzie, co-chair; Atty. Kim Price, the Honorable Julie Sneed, Monique Stamps and Ozepher Wilds.
The Tampa and St. Petersburg Links split in 1987.
The 12 Tampa chapter presidents in order of leadership were: Gloria Adams Andrews, Marie Beard, the late Frances Carr Sykes, Joan Dawson, Barbara Harvey, the late Ollie Hunter, Demoris Rhodes, Janice Carter-Collier, Ruth Bell, Kay Andrews, Atty. Renee Lee and Marsha Lewis-Brown. Each have historical documents for perpetuity, al- lowing for future generations to learn about the Tampa Links.
Present at the ceremony were past Presidents Demoris Rhodes, Janice Carter Collier, Joan Dawson, and Marie Beard.
The Links, Incorporated is an inter- national, not-for-profit corporation, es- tablished in 1946. The membership consists of over 15,000 professional women of color in 288 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom.
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