Exie Lee Hampton (1893–1979), born Exie Lee Kelley, was an American educator, community leader and clubwoman in Southern California. She served on the national board of the YWCA during World War II, and was executive director of the Eastside Settlement House in Los Angeles after the war.
Early life Exie Lee Kelley (or Kelly) was born in Boone County, Missouri. She attended Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, Missouri,Annual catalogue of Lincoln Institute (1912–1913): 54. via Internet Archive and Kansas State Agricultural College,Annual Catalogue of the Officers, Students and Graduates of the Kansas State Agricultural College (1918): 395. earning a bachelor's degree in home economics. She pursued further training in summer sessions at Columbia University and the University of Southern California."Who's Who in California: Mrs. Exie Lee K. Hampton" California Negro Directory 1942–1943 (New Age Publishing 1942): 217. via Internet Archive
Career Hampton was a home economics teacher. By 1921, she was a teacher-trainer at West Virginia State College, at Wilberforce University, and at Branch Normal School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas."Home Economics Conference" The Southern Workman (July 1921): 328."First Federal Board Conference at Hampton" The Broad Ax (June 11, 1921): 3. via Newspapers.com She taught for five years at East Side High School in El Centro, California."El Centro, Calif." Chicago Defender (April 25, 1931): 20.
In the early 1930s, she became executive director of the Clay Street Clubs, which she developed with others into the Clay Avenue YWCA, a branch that served African-American girls and women in San Diego's Logan Heights neighborhood.Charla Wilson, "Why The Y?: The Origin of San Diego YWCA's Clay Avenue Branch for African Americans" Journal of San Diego History 62 (July 2016): 303322. She left the San Diego work to join the national board of the YWCA, in the USO division, during World War II."Former YWCA Worker Appointed House Head" Pittsburgh Courier (July 27, 1946): 8. via Newspapers.com She was also active in the San Diego chapter of the NAACP."San Diego NAACP Drive for Members Scores" California Eagle (July 9, 1942): 7. via Internet Archive
In 1946, she became executive director of the Eastside Settlement House in Los Angeles.Karin L. Stanford, African Americans in Los Angeles (Arcadia Publishing 2010): 30. "Settlement House Children Given Christmas Party" Los Angeles Times (December 10, 1949): 17. via Newspapers.com In 1961, she was leader of the Victoria Business and Professional Women's Club of Riverside, California."Riverside's First NAACP Life Membership" The Crisis (December 1961): 623. She was on the first board of directors of the Inland Area Urban League, when it started in 1966."First Urban League Meet" San Bernardino County Sun (March 25, 1966): 21. via Newspapers.com
Hampton was active in the black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha for many years. In 1937, she attended and spoke at the western regional conference of the group.Fay M. Jackson, "75 Delegates Gather at Very Successful Regional Confab" Pittsburgh Courier (July 17, 1937): 8. via Newspapers.com In 1950, she chaired the western regional conference."AKA Sorors Plan Regional" Chicago Defender (February 18, 1950): 9. Tomi Ayers, "West Coast Roundup" Chicago Defender (July 15, 1950): 9. "Urban League Re-Elects Fisk as President" San Bernardino County Sun (February 11, 1967): 25. via Newspapers.com
Personal life Exie Lee Kelley married a pastor, Charles H. Hampton, in 1929, and as the pastor's wife was active in women's groups in the Baptist churches in El Centro and San Diego.Georgia Mae Burleigh, "El Centra" Chicago Defender (October 25, 1930): 21. Rev. Hampton was president of the Western Baptist State Convention for over thirty years, before he died in 1979.Church History , Bethel Baptist Church. Exie Lee Hampton also died in 1979, in San Diego, in her eighties.
References
External links A photograph of Exie Lee Hampton in the 1940s, "Children receive food at the Eastside Settlement House, Los Angeles, ca. 1941–1950", in the Charlotta Bass / California Eagle Photograph Collection, University of Southern California Libraries. A photograph of Exie Lee Hampton with other members of the Riverside NAACP, at Riversider website.