Elizabeth Jeter Greene

'''Elizabeth Jeter Greene''' (1890 - February 25, 1973) was an American suffragist, and civic leader from New London, Connecticut.

== Biography == Greene was born in Arlington, Virginia in 1890.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=The War Canteen: Mutual Aid in Early 20th Century New London - Segregation and Community on New London's Hempstead Street |url=https://segregationnewlondon.digital.conncoll.edu/black-mutual-aid-in-new-london/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=Segregation and Community on New London’s Hempstead Street: A Public History Project |language=en}}</ref> She came to New London, Connecticut in 1903.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1973-02-27 |title=Elizabeth J. Greene Dies; Civic Leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-obituary-for-elizabeth/185455304/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=Hartford Courant |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Before her 18th birthday, Green married Samuel Jeter and the couple had a daughter.{{Sfn|Taylor|2022|p=24}} Later, in the 1920s, she was remarried to Isham "Erskin" Greene.{{Sfn|Taylor|2022|p=26-27}}

During World War I, in 1917, Greene created an organization of Black women called "The Canteen," to serve traveling Black soldiers with layovers in New London.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Close |first=Stacey |url=http://archive.org/details/new-london-a-history-of-its-people |title=New London: A History of its People |date=1996 |publisher=City of New London 350th Anniversary Celebration |editor-last=Kanzler |editor-first=Carmelina Como |pages=45 |chapter=African Americans in New London: A Short Perspective |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The Canteen provided incoming troops with entertainment and lodging.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Linwood W. Bland |url=http://archive.org/details/view-from-the-sixties |title=A View from the Sixties: The Black Experience in Southeastern Connecticut: A Memoir |date=2001 |publisher=New London County Historical Society, Inc. |location=New London, Connecticut |pages=21}}</ref> After WWI, the organization went through several name changes, later becoming the Negro Welfare Council and the New London Service League.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1926-04-23 |title=Chest Council's Sub-Committee Heads Approved |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/185421313/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Greene also created "bi-racial" day care centers in New London for children.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1973-02-28 |title=E. Jeter Greene |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/185460173/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1924, she opened an art school to the public.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1924-11-07 |title=New School Will Open Here Nov. 12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/185421468/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was involved with the Northeastern Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1926-07-19 |title=Mrs. Greene Is Chosen Delegate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/185421525/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Greene supported woman's suffrage and was a founding member of the New London chapter of the League of Women Voters and remained active in politics through her life.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1973-02-27 |title=Mrs. Greene, 82, Dies; Negro Suffragette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bridgeport-telegram/185420077/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=Bridgeport Telegram |pages=27 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Formerly, she was president of the Republican Woman's Club, and later switched to the Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1971-12-04 |title=200 Honor Mrs. Greene For Years of Service |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/185460357/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=D. Y. |date=1924-11-15 |title=Connecticut |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chicago-defender/185420156/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Chicago Defender |pages=23 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was recognized for her civic work by New London mayor, Richard R. Martin, in 1971, when he declared December 3 "Jeter Green Day."<ref>{{Cite news |date=1971-12-08 |title=Opinion of The Day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/185420193/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=30 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Greene died in a nursing home in Waterford, Connecticut on February 25, 1973.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=1973-02-26 |title=Obituary for Elizabeth (Jeter) GREENE |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-obituary-for-elizabeth-jeter-g/185457772/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Day |pages=29 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> She was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.<ref name=":2" />

== References ==  {{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===

* {{Cite journal |last=Taylor |first=Madison |date=2022 |title=Meeting Unmet Needs: The Evolution of Housing and Aid in New London 1910-1950 |url=https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/histhp/56/ |journal=History Honors Papers |volume=56 |via=Digital Commons @ Connecticut College}}

Category:1890 births Category:1973 deaths Category:People from New London, Connecticut Category:Suffragists from Connecticut Category:African-American suffragists Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery