Artha Woods
Artha Woods (died May 10, 2010) was an American businesswoman and politician who served as a Cleveland City Council member and clerk.[1]
She was born Artha Mae Bugg in Atlanta. She was valedictorian of Central High School and attended the Western Reserve School of Education.[2]
She managed boxers,[2] owned a millinery shop,[3][4] and in 1984 she founded the Artha-Jon Junior Models' Guild, one of the first modeling and charm schools for black women.[5][6] She would later be inducted into the Models Hall of Fame.[2]
Woods was elected to Ward 18 in 1977. She helped the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Playhouse expand and pressed for minority contractors.[7] As a means to reduce graffiti, she proposed legislation that would require people to register when they purchase cans of spray point.[8][9] To reduce prostitution, she wrote down license plate numbers and made personal phone calls to talk to the wives of men interacting with the prostitutes.[10][11]
Woods worked for Ohio Bell Telephone Company, first starting as a typist,[12] and then later becoming the first black switchboard operator.[3][13] She retired in 1982 and upon her death, AT&T established the "AT&T Artha Woods Scholarship Award" to honor her work in the community.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ "ARTHA WOODS-BLUBAUGH Obituary (2010) - Cleveland, OH - Cleveland.com". Legacy.com.
- ^ a b c Grant Segall, The Plain Dealer (10 May 2010). "'Lady Artha' Woods served on Cleveland council, managed boxers and more". cleveland.
- ^ a b Stokes, Louis (2016). The Gentleman from Ohio. Internet Archive. Chicago : Ohio State University Press. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-8142-7424-8.
- ^ Mountain, Martha S. (1975-02-04). "Hats Off to Model Lady". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ Patmon, Bill (1 August 1996). "Artha Woods, Cleveland clerk of council, leagership defined". Call & Post; Cleveland, Ohio. pp. A2 – via Proquest.
- ^ "Top junior model can't wait for '66". The Plain Dealer. 1965-09-20. p. 47. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ Oldenburg, Chloe Warner (1985). Leaps of Faith: History of the Cleveland Play House, 1915-85. C.W. Oldenburg.
- ^ George Hayduke (1988). Spite, Malice and Revenge: The Complete Guide to Getting Even - An A-Z Collection of Every Trick in the Book - Paladin Press. pp. 423–424.
- ^ "Cleveland studies law to stifle graffiti artists". The Newark Advocate. 1985-11-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ Feagler, Dick (1978-09-29). "Public service has its limits". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ "Tattling councilwoman dares ACLU wrath". The Tampa Tribune. 1978-09-29. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ "Promoted at Ohio Bell". The Akron Beacon Journal. 1967-11-03. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ James W. Wade III, Call & Post (12 May 2010). "Artha Woods, political and civic leader dies". cleveland.
- ^ "AT&T to honor "Lady" Artha Woods with scholarship". Call & Post, All-Ohio edition; Cleveland, Ohio. 29 September 2010. pp. C2 – via Proquest.