The Pasadena Branch has a more than 100 year history in Pasadena. It was charted by the National Office on September 8, 1919, and was the 16th charter issued by the National NAACP. The Branch was founded when a small group of citizens answered the call of John Wright to respond to the needs of minority people in Pasadena. Their first step was to build an organization which served as the voice of all those denied the basic dignities rightfully due human beings, especially African American citizens in the City of Pasadena.