Our History

The Links, Incorporated, founded in 1946, is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry…On the evening of November 9, 1946, Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott, two young Philadelphia matrons, invited seven of their friends to join them in organizing a new type of inter-city club.  The two women envisioned an organization that would respond to the needs and aspirations of Black women in ways that existing clubs did not. It was their intent the club would have a threefold aim–civic, educational, and cultural. Based on these aims, the club would implement programs, which its founders hoped would foster cultural appreciation through the arts; develop richer inter-group relations; and help women who participated to understand and accept their social and civic responsibilities.

The idea behind the creation of the Annapolis chapter developed in the summer of 1961, when a group of like-minded friends and neighbors gathered for various cultural celebrations occurring in the “Arundel on the Bay” area of Annapolis. This community of African-American professional women wanted to align themselves with an organization that promoted the same ideals and visions that they had for their community.  Mrs. Vandola King, the group organizer, knew of The Links, Incorporated through close friends who were members of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Chapters. The Baltimore Chapter served as the group’s sponsors and the Annapolis Chapter of the Links, Incorporated was installed on August 20, 1962.  The twelve charter members built the chapter’s foundation on their pursuit to ensure a circle of friendship while supporting the needs of the community.

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