Geneva Valentine papers

Geneva Kent Valentine (1901-1971), a prominent businesswoman and community leader in Washington, DC, was the first African-American to gain membership in the National Association of Real Estate Boards, among many other achievements. Mrs. Valentine was born in Northumberland County, Virginia on August 15, 1901. She graduated from Washington DC's Dunbar High School in 1922, and graduated from Hartshorn Memorial College's Normal School in Richmond, Virginia before attending law school at American Uniersity. Mrs. Valentine worked as a secretary before going into business. She was president of Equitable Realty Co. (which she helped found in 1931) and managed several other companies in addition to her real estate career, including the first Western Union branch on the east coast to be owned by an African-American.

Mrs. Valentine was well-known as a civic leader in professional clubs and local organizations who demonstrated significant involvement in causes related to education, housing, and urban poverty. She served as National President of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs and was a member of the Century Club. She contributed to community initiatives as President of the Adams-Morgan Federation and an organizer of Positive Action Against Crime, as well as through the events and services she helped provide at Inspiration House (a black cultural center), the Guy T.O. Hollyday House (a community revitalization and redevelopment organization), and her work on education and library resources through the M.C. Terrell Fund. She also worked with the Mayor's Economic Development Committee on initiatives to foster police-community relations.

Mrs. Valentine was highly involved in Civil Rights movements through the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and her efforts as Legislative Chairman of the national Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Her opinions have been solicited regarding Civil Rights legislation, and the organizations with which she was involved prepared reports and commentaries on these issues. Mrs. Valentine was a registered Republican and served as Chairman of the Assembly of Women's Organizations for National Security. She has corresponded with Civil Rights activist A. Philip Randolph, DC's Mayor Walter E. Washington, U.S. Senators including Edward Kennedy and Gaylord Nelson, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Richard Nixon, and other ambassadors, dignitaries, and high-ranking officials. She met with former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, and entertained prominent individuals such as Lady Astor, whom she met at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Geneva Valentine died in Washington, DC on April 10, 1971.