[AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS - PITTSBURGH 1961]. Application for Charter of the Negro Licensed Beverage Association of Western Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh: Shields, Watson & Washington, Attorneys at Law, 1961. Very good. Together 4 leaves (7 pp.), the first two legal-size (14" x 8 1/2"), the others slightly shorter; brad bound inside a 14.74 x 9" printed chemise folded to 9" x 3.75". Creases at folds; chemise moderately worn; leaves lightly dust-soiled with one small stain. APPLICATION TO CHARTER AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NON-PROFIT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. IT WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO JIM CROW LAWS THAT REMAINED IN FORCE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND ELSEWHERE. THIS SCARCE PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL DOCUMENTS THE NEEDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNERS TO UNITE IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

Our (truncated) charter shows that the "Negro Licensed Beverage Association of Western Pennsylvania" (NLBAWP) was a group of African American hotel owners, restaurant owners, and tavern owners. Lingering Jim Crow laws and other societal forces made it exceptionally difficult for such businesses to succeed in the Pittsburgh area (and of course elsewhere). The late 1950s and early 1960s saw the development of similar organizations in Philadelphia (National Negro Licensed Beverage Association) and New Orleans (Negro Tavern Owners Association).

Importantly, this document lists the goals of the NLBAWP organization:

"To foster, strengthen, and improve business within the Negro community."
"To advance the cause of the Negro tavern and hotel owner as a whole."
"To give service to members to do things for them which they cannot do for themselves or which can be done better or less expensively if done collectively."
"To create and project the proper image of a tavern or hotel owner in the community."
"To sponsor, aid, and assist any charitable or civic project approved by the members."

One noteworthy incorporator listed here was Vivian Mason Lane. Lane owned four Pittsburgh taverns in the 1960s and was a community leader through at least the 1980s. She led a neighborhood Chamber of Commerce and ran (unsuccessfully) for County Commissioner and the State House.

The 1966-67 Negro Traveler's Green Book ("For Vacation Without Aggravation!") lists a grand total of eight suitable motels, tourist homes, and restaurants in Pittsburgh. In any event, we have been unable to determine what -- if anything -- became of the Negro Licensed Beverage Association of Western Pennsylvania. (Inventory #: 3987)