National League for the Protection of Colored Women

The League was founded in 1906 by S. W. Layten, a Black Baptist activist, and Frances A. Kellor, a white reformer. Its purpose was to help Black women emigrating from the South to understand the realities of life in the North and to aid those who emigrated in finding suitable lodgings and employment (and thereby avoiding disreputable employment agencies which would steer them into prostitution).

Members of the League met the women as soon as they arrived by boat or train, thereby keeping them out of the hands of unscrupulous men and houses. They made sure the women knew where they were going and had the means to get there.

The League was one of three organizations (Committee for Improving the Industrial Condition of Negroes in New York and the Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes were the others) which came together in 1911 to form the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes (in 1920, the organization's name became the National Urban League).

Wood is listed as treasurer on 1911 letterhead of the Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, assistant treasurer on 1911 letterhead of National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes and 1912 letterhead of National League for the Protection of Negro Women "A Federated Organization of the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes."

[see: "The National Urban League, 1910-­1940" by Nancy J. Weiss, E185.5 N33 W44]