In the Christmas season of 1945, shoppers at Gilchrist's brought their gifts for wrapping to a young female employee who stood out among the holiday help. Cynthia Belgrave was the first Black clerk ever hired in a downtown department store in Boston. This hiring came from pressure exercised by Boston's Urban League 'to get into downtown somebody besides elevator operators at Filene's.' After Christmas eight more Black women, along with Belgrave, were hired as retail clerks at Gilchrist's.