Uncrowned Community Builders

Amelia Grace Anderson was a member of a prominent African American family that settled in Buffalo as early as 1832. Her grandfather, Benjamin C. Taylor was the first African American doctor in Buffalo. He is said to have traveled to California during the 1849 gold rush with his good friend, Robert Talbert. The two struck it big and returned to Buffalo wealthy men and invested in real estate.

Amelia was born March 27, 1883 although there are conflicting records that put her birth date as 1881. Her parents were Elnora Taylor and Gustavus Anderson, Jr. Amelia was one of the first blacks to graduate from Syracuse University where she earned a Doctorate in Liberal Arts. She can be found in two publications listing University students in 1903 and 1904, when presumably she graduated with an undergraduate degree. She is listed among alumni in another University publication that cites her PhD and a 1907 date. Ms. Anderson taught school in Buffalo and was an active member of a number of community organizations.

She was a member of the Buffalo Phyllis Wheatley Club as well as the Empire State Women's Association. In 1938, she was elected president of the Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs. She also was a co-founder, along with Florence Lee of the Lit-Mus Study Club in 1922. This group, as well as the others, was affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, which had as its motto, "Lifting as we climb".

During the early period of her women's club movement, Amelia was also engaged in advocating for the civil rights of African Americans. She was a founding member and leader of the Buffalo Branch of the NAACP. Organized in 1915, the Branch elected Amelia as its secretary in 1917. In 1928, she was elected President of the Buffalo NAACP. Ms. Anderson is also reported to have been involved in the Marcus Garvey Movement in Buffalo.

Ms. Anderson died on May 13, 1950, and is interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

She was the aunt of Uncrowned Queen, Ora Anderson Curry, and the sister-in-law of Ora L. Anderson.

Ms. Anderson died on May 13, 1950, and is interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery.