The National Smart Set, Inc. is a women’s organization that was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1937 by a group of close friends to maintain and deepen their friendships throughout and after college, while focusing their resources to help ‘under-privileged’ African American children. When members of the original club graduated and settled around the country, chapters began forming across the United States with ties to the original circle of friends. As the organization grew, chapters expanded upon the practice of local giving established by the founders and began contributing annually to a national project in addition to supporting local causes.
From 15 friends who got together in college, The National Smart Set, Inc. has grown into an organization of over 700 women in 26 chapters nationwide. Formalized as a 501(c)(7) private, women’s social club, we continue our mission to bring together accomplished women with similar cultural, social and charitable interests. Our members share a profound appreciation for the joy of friendship, using our network for the betterment of society. Members of The National Smart Set, Inc. are women of influence—distinguished leaders in government, business, philanthropy and our communities.
We are proud of our long history of friendship and giving, and the positive impact we have made supporting causes that inform people of all stripes and help those in need. As such, The National Smart Set, Inc. is the first organization of its kind to preserve its archives in the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, which houses one of the most comprehensive collections of African American history and memorabilia found anywhere in the world. This was an important step to documenting our legacy and our part in the history of African American women.