User:Kbell1990

Introduction
Elizabeth Keckley, seamstress and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln, founded the Contraband Relief Association in August of 1862. The organization changed its name in July of 1864 to the Ladies’ Freedmen and Soldier’s Relief Association to “reflect its expanded mission.” The CRA provided food, shelter, clothing, and emotional support to recently freed slaves and/or sick and wounded soldiers. The organization was based in Washington D.C., but the funds distributed and the services provided surpassed county lines. Although the Contraband Relief Association has been disremembered, the organization set the standards and exposed the need for relief organizations in the realm of providing aid to the economically deprived and physically displaced black community. The Contraband Relief Association networked rigorously within the black community and this yielded black independence. Through intra-ethnic networking the Contraband Relief Association was able to achieve their mission of creating an organization by and for African Americans. Since this organization was founded on the idea of creating black solidarity, they were able to achieve black autonomy.