Evening star., 1937-12-26
Z. Regular provisions for the build
ing up Of substantial reserves.

.AI1ss MAMIE BURROUGHS,
president of Cooperative Indus
tries, Inc, is also its guiding spirit.
She Is better known perhaps as the
founder, builder and president of the
National Training School for Women
and Girls, an institution which Is Of
prime importance to Washington's
colored population. Her unselfish de-
votion to the cooperative ideal, cou-
pied with her ambitions for the down.
trodden if her race. runs through the
story of Cooperative Industries, Inc,
like a bright, strong thread holding
together the pattern of a tapestry.
1t Is her sincere belief that through
cooperative organization the men,
bers of Cooperative Industries, Inc,
and other members of her race will
find self-improvemen and self-made
security.
Under the guidance of Miss Bur-
roughs a sewing relief project was
organized in 1888. Approximately 200
women residing in Deanewood were
aided. The District Public Assistance
Division supplied materials. Miss
Burroughs furnished meeting quar-
ters for the group in the training
school. The women made clothing.
mattresses, mattress covers, bed sheets
and pillowcases. They took their
wages in the form of finished goods,
their services rated at 80 cents an
hour. In addition, the group re-
ceived surplus commodities from the
assistance division. Into the routine
of the sewing project Miss Burroughs
introduced baking day. One day a
week was set aside for the sale or
exchange OF baked goods brought in
by the women Later handicraft
month was instituted. During this
month the women exhibited. for sale
or for exchange, articles they had
made at home of their own ma
terials.
WITH the gradual withdrawal Of
Government aid the exchange
Of services of goods increased. The
Northeast Self Help Cooperative came
into existence. A major activity OF
the group was the manufacture and
sale of utility chairs The chairs,
made of barrels. were exhibited IN
several downtown Washington stores
In July, 1884, the group organized
formally. Several month later it
applied for and received, through the
District relief offices. grant Of s19,-
633 from the p w. A. self-help CO.
operative division. With this grant
as its capital. the cooperative reor-
operative. Today the total paid men,
bership is more than las, and is
steadily growing. Among the new
members are residents Of other Sec
tons of the District.
The activities of Cooperative In
dustries, Inc, are centered at Ffftieth
and Grant streets NE, at the foot
of the National Training Schools
grounds A freshly painted. white.
two-story building houses two of the
most important units, clinic and
grocery store. The clinic. Maternal
and Child Welfare Center, was be-
gun with volunteer services through
out. Just as it was beginning to func-
ton smoothly, the local medical aSso
citation forced the doctors to suspend
their activities with the threat of dis
barment. The volunteer nursing staff
continued as much of the work as
possible. The clinic seemed doomed
Before the death knell was sounded
however, the District Public Health
Service stepped into the picture. There
was no public health clinic in or near
Deanewood. Although the service did
not possess the funds to take over the
Maternal and Child Welfare Center
entirely, it was able to furnish new
equipment and complete staf1. The
cooperative furnished the housing,
the upkeep, the clerical and non-pro-
fessional aides. These aides con-
trlputeQ Cnelr services gratlS. NOW the
clinic is in full operation 1t is open
three days a week Hundreds visit it
weekly. Membership in the society
is not qualification for clinical treat
ment. All residents of the area have
access to this enterprise, supported by
cooperative funds. Miss Burroughs
is proud of the services the clinic
gives. and proud of its being the first
clinic begun by cooperative society.
THE grocery store, downstairs from
the clinic, is managed by Chan
cellor Williams. He is also vice presi-
dent Of the society. The store is oper-
ated according to the principles and
standards which characterize cooper
ative stores whether they be in Green