Artha Woods

Artha Woods (died May 10, 2010) was an American businesswoman and politician who served as a Cleveland City Council member and clerk.

She was born Artha Mae Bugg in Atlanta, Georgia. She was valedictorian of Central High School and attended the Western Reserve School of Education.

She managed boxers, owned a millinery shop, and in 1984 she founded the Artha-Jon Junior Models' Guild, one of the first modeling and charm schools for black women. She would later be inducted into the Models Hall of Fame.

Woods was elected to Ward 18 in 1977. She helped the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Playhouse expand and pressed for minority contractors. As a means to reduce graffiti, she proposed legislation that would require people to register when they purchase cans of spray point. 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.

Woods worked for the Ohio Bell telephone company, first as a typist, and later becoming the first Black switchboard operator. 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.