FH, Coffee Hours, Melnea Cass
A founding figure in Boston's civil rights movement, Melnea Cass was a charter member of Freedom House and played a pivotal role in shaping its early initiatives. In the 1950s, she worked closely with co-founder Muriel S. Snowden to organize women-only coffee hours—safe, welcoming spaces designed to bring women in the community together for conversation, mutual support, and civic engagement. These gatherings not only strengthened community bonds but also nurtured a new generation of Black women leaders, empowering them to take active roles in shaping the future of Roxbury and beyond. Cass’s efforts at Freedom House reflected her lifelong commitment to justice and education. Below please see documents and photos as well as a link to Melnea Cass's oral history.
Title: Mrs. Foster Furcolo and Mrs. Melnea Cass during presentation ceremony.
Type: Image
Creator: Prendiville Photographer (Photographer)
Date: October 1, 1957
Description: (l to r) Mrs. Foster Furcolo and Mrs. Melnea Cass during ceremony presenting Mrs. Cass with a certificate of appreciation from the Freedom House Coffee Hour Committee.
Language: English
Format: Image
Place: Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Box 67, Folder 2747
Contributor: Freedom House
Rights Holder: Freedom House
Title: Dr. Veeriah Kota, Melnea Cass, and unidentified guests at Coffee Hour, 14 Crawford Street.
Type: Image
Creator: Roberts, Frank E. (Photographer)
Date: Janurary 1, 1955
Description: Guests at Freedom House Coffee Hour held at the 14 Crawford Street building. Handwritten note on back of the print reads: "Visitor from India Speaks. Dr. Veeriah Kota, speaker." Melnea Cass is seated second from right.
Language: English
Format: Image
Place: Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Box 67, Folder 2747
Contributor: Freedom House
Rights Holder: Freedom House
Title: Portrait of Melnea Cass
Type: Image
Date: 1903-2009
Description: Melnea Cass was a charter member of Freedom House and a member of Mayor's Citizens' Advisory Committee on Minority Group Housing. She was chairman of Community Service, Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs and received a Doctor of Humanities in 1969 from Northeastern.
Language: English
Format: Image
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (A103)
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title: Muriel Snowden and Mrs. Melnea Cass and unidentified women at Freedom House Coffee Hour.
Type: Image
Date: March 1st, 1960
Description:Muriel Snowden (second from left) and unidentified women at table during Freedom House Coffee Hour. Cups, saucers, candles are on the table in front of them.
Language: English
Format: Image
Place: Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Box 67, Folder 2749
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title: Melnea Cass Obiturary
Type: Image
Date: 1978
Language: English
Format: Image
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (M16) Box 26, Folder 828
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title: Melnea Cass Oral history interview
Link: https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/news-and-ideas/melnea-a-cass-oral-history-interview
Type: Website
Date: July 22nd. 2020
Language: English
Format: Website
Place: Havard Radcliffe Institute
Contributor: Havard Radcliffe Institute
Rights Holder: Havard Radcliffe Institute
Title: Letter from Muriel Snowden to Elwood S. McKenney in the Office of the Governor about award for Melnea Cass
Type: Letter
Date: Sep 25nd. 1957
Language: English
Format: Letter
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (M16) Box 26, Folder 812
Creator: Snowden, Muriel S. (Muriel Sutherland), 1916-1988 (Creator)
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title: Flier for Freedom House event series : Women are important
Type: Flier
Date: 1953
Language: English
Format: Flier
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (M16) Box 26, Folder 797
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title: Flier for Freedom House Coffee Hour : Dr. Mary Ellen Goodman, Assoc. Prof. Sociology and Anthropology, Wellesley College
Type: Flier
Date: Oct, 1953
Language: English
Format: Flier
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (M16) Box 26, Folder 797
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title:Photocopy of article Freedom House Coffee Hour : talented actress guest
Type: Photo
Date: Oct 2nd, 1958
Language: English
Format: Image
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (M16) Box 26, Folder 802
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University
Title:Flier advertising Freedom House Coffee Hour featuring Cynthia Belgrave-Jones
Type: Flier
Date: Oct, 1958
Language: English
Format: Flier
Place: Northeastern University Library, Archives and Special Collections (M16) Box 26, Folder 802
Contributor: Northeastern University
Rights Holder: Northeastern University