For 100 years, the Junior League of Saint Paul (JLSP) has retained a rich tradition of serving the greater Saint Paul community. Established in 1917 by Saint Paul native Elizabeth Ames Jackson, the Junior League of Saint Paul was the 19th Junior League created following the inception of the first Junior League in New York City in 1901.

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Watch the Junior League of Saint Paul’s impact in our community over the past 100 years.

Read about JLSP’s 100 year history in this article published in 2017 in Ramsey County History, a publication of the Ramsey County Historical Society: Ramsey County History Article 2017

“A Legacy of Civic Engagement: The Junior League of Saint Paul, 1917-2017” by Yvonne Hundshamer and Abby Sugahara Moeller is reproduced by permission of the Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn. from Ramsey County History, vol. 52, no. 1 (Spring 2017): 3-15. Copyright (c) 2017 by the Ramsey County Historical Society.

Read about JLSP’s first 75 years in this article published in 1992 in Ramsey County History, a publication of the Ramsey County Historical Society:   Ramsey County History Article 1992

“The Junior League’s First 75 Years: Follies, ‘Friendly Visiting’ and Women’s Changing Roles” by Garneth O. Peterson is reproduced by permission of the Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn. from Ramsey County History, vol. 27, no. 2 (Summer 1992): 4-11. Copyright (c) 1992 by the Ramsey County Historical Society.

Timeline

Throughout our history, we have engaged in many community service projects, independently and in collaboration with other organizations. The focus of these projects has changed with the evolving needs of the Saint Paul community. Our legacy of community impact includes the following initiatives:

• World War I Red Cross Relief Campaign 1917
• Children’s Hospital Association Free Bed Fund 1933
• Keystone Community Services, started by JLSP in 1938
• Saint Paul Rehabilitation Center (now Lifetrack Resources) Co-Sponsor 1948-54
• Eye and Ear Alert Program (now pre-kindergarten screening, a community standard) 1961
• Community Arts Survey resulting in first Arts and Science Center which evolved into the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Saint Paul Arts Council (now United Arts) 1965
• Warner Nature Center development with Saint Paul Science Museum 1965-70
• Bucket Brigade and the Omnibus Program, early tutoring programs in the Saint Paul Public Schools for both students not achieving their potential and for high achieving students 1970s
• Hmong Art Project to help Hmong women promote and sell their needlework 1981-82
• Educational Program for Too Early Pregnancy – “Too Far, Too Fast” 1981-85
• Shaken Baby Syndrome public awareness and education project 1992-99
• DreamSacks™ to benefit homeless children in crisis shelters 1996-99
• Silent Witness – Minnesota chapter established by JLSP; League participated in March on Washington 1997
• Partnership with Women’s Advocates battered women’s shelter to renew their volunteer program 2003-07
• Extreme Home Makeover 2007 & 2009
• Building Bonds Through Reading and Play – partnership with the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation 2007-10
• Backpack Buddies with John A. Johnson Elementary School, providing weekend food to students 2010-14
• Family Food Boxes and Junior Chef Program 2015-16
• Junior Chef 2016-2018
• Human Trafficking Awareness – Blue Dress Initiative 2017-2018
• Stable Housing, Thriving Community initiative launched 2019