What is the Junior League of Bristol?

On February 18, 1948, 25 women gathered in the living room of a Bristol, Tennessee home and discussed what they could do to make a difference in our community. They agreed that through their interests in social, economic, educational, cultural, and civic conditions, they could make a difference through voluntarism. Thus the birth of Border Guild, Incorporated.

Border Guild, Inc. Charter Members:

Jean Atrim, Polly Bridges, Nina S. Burke, Betty Brown Caldwell, Elizabeth Wall Cash, Charlotte Crenshaw, Marjorie Freels, Emalee Caldwell Godsey, Anne Goodpasture, Roasalie Hairston, Julia V. Harkrader, Louise Harkrader, Anne Hillman, Melissa Horton, Bette Hutcheon, Anne Hill Kelly, Jean Walker King,  Lucy King, Louise Martin, Jean Boyd McIntyre, Margaret Parks, Nancy Jane Parks, Lucille W. Perkins, Evelyn Stant, Mary Widener

After applying to the National Association of Junior Leagues organization and completing extensive interviews and reviews, the Border Guild Charter was amended on January 30, 1980, and was renamed the Junior League of Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, Incorporated. 

This corporation is an organized not for profit (501(c)(3), and the purposes for which it is formed are:

To foster interest and prepare its members for intelligent citizenship through volunteer services and education in social, economic, educational, cultural, civic, and welfare fields and to make efficient their volunteer service; specifically, to promote voluntarism, to develop the potential of its members for voluntary participation in community affairs, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of trained volunteers.

Since its founding in 1901 by social activist Mary Harriman, The Association of Junior Leagues International has evolved into one of the oldest, largest, and most effective women's volunteer organizations in the world, encompassing more than 140,000 women in 291 Leagues in four countries.

In 2019, the Junior League of Bristol celebrated its 71st birthday!

As more and more women moved to the Bristol area from cities that offered a Junior League, more interest in joining the Association of Junior Leagues was evident.

Thirty-two years and millions of volunteer hours later, Border Guild, Inc. became the 239th League of the Association of Junior Leagues International on February 25, 1980.

Eventually, all area Tri-Cities formed Junior Leagues.

Since becoming the Junior League of Bristol, we have grown exponentially and carried on the dreams of those 25 visionary women. Join us in furthering this legacy in Bristol Tennessee and Virginia for years to come!