34: Lifting as She Climbed: The Unyielding Legacy of Mary Church Terrell

Date: August 20, 2025 Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons Title and Show Info Episode #34. Lifting as She Climbed: The Unyielding Legacy of Mary Church Terrell Featuring: Toni Davis (Host & Storyteller). Summary 🎙️ Lifting as She Climbed: The Unyielding Legacy of Mary Church Terrell What do you get when you cross fierce intellect, linguistic fluency, and an unshakable moral compass? You get Mary Church Terrell. An educator, orator, organizer, and certified barrier-breaker. Born in 1863 amid war and unrest, Mary was destined not only to witness history, but also to write it in bold ink. From mingling with Frederick Douglass at age 17, to publicly outwitting white supremacists in three languages, she didn’t just demand a seat at the table. She built new ones. In this episode, we trace Mary’s life from the grand porches of Memphis to the picket lines of Washington, D.C., and from founding the NACW to fighting segregation in court in her 80s. A pioneer in civil rights, women’s suffrage, and education, Mary’s story is one of grit wrapped in grace and resistance, and fueled by intellect and progress powered by purpose. She sued racists, marched with Delta Sigma Theta, dismantled Jim Crow one law at a time, and didn’t stop until everyone could sit at the lunch counter. Whether addressing world leaders or starting kindergartens, Mary lived her motto: Lifting as we climb. Tune in for a tale of courage, clarity, and class. This isn’t just history. It’s a masterclass in how to change the world without ever losing your fire. 🕊️ Because Mary Church Terrell didn’t just open doors. She kicked them off the hinges. #LegacyMakers #PodcastEpisode #MaryChurchTerrell #BlackSuffragist #VotesForWomen Highlights: 00:57- INTRO. 01:04- MARY CHURCH’S BIRTH AS A FREE PERSON OF COLOR. 01:32- HER FATHER ROBERT REED CHURCH. 02:28- HER MOTHER LOUISA AYRES CHURCH. 02:52- HER BROTHER THOMAS CHURCH. 02:58- ANTIOCH COLLEGE’S MODEL SCHOOL. 03:38- OBERLIN COLLEGE. 04:30- EARNS A BA DEGREE IN CLASSICS. 04:43- TEACHES LANGUAGES AT WILBERFORCE COLLEGE. 05:03- EARNS A MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATION. 05:13- TRAVELS ABROAD. 05:22- RETURNS TO DC. 05:30- MARRIES ROBERT HEBERTON TERRELL. 05:49- THOMAS MOSS. 06:18- CO-FOUNDS THE COLORED WOMEN’S LEAGUE. 06:47- THE FEDERATION OF AFRO-AMERICAN WOMEN. 06:56- TWO UNIONS MERGE INTO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN. 07:22- PURCHASE A LOT IN HIGHLAND BEACH, MD. 07:37- SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DC BOARD OF EDUCATION. 07:49- ESTABLISHES FREDERICK DOUGLASS DAY. 07:53- FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE NACW. 07:59- CELEBRATES THE FIRST ANNUAL FREDERICK DOUGLASS DAY IN DC SCHOOLS. 08:14- GIVES BIRTH TO THEIR DAUGHTER, PHYLLIS, AND ADOPTS HER NIECE. 08:23- SPEECH, “THE PROGRESS OF COLORED WOMEN”, AT THE NAWSA. 08:50- PUBLISHES, “LYNCHING FROM A NEGRO POINT OF VIEW”. 09:02- DELIVERS AN ADDRESS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN. 09:18- JOINS THE DC CHAPTER OF THE AAUW. 09:36- DELIVERS AN ADDRESS TO THE SENECA FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 09:44- CO-FOUNDS THE NAACP DC BRANCH. 09:57- ALLOWS HER AAUW MEMBERSHIP TO LAPSE. 10:05- CO-FOUNDS THE COLLEGE ALUMNAE CLUB LATER RENAMED THE NAUW. 10:22- ROBERT IS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE IN DC. 10:36- ENDS SERVICE WITH THE DC BOARD OF EDUCATION. 10:42- WRITES THE OATH FOR DELTA SIGMA THETA AND BECOMES AN HONORARY MEMBER. 10:55- DESEGREGATES THE NEW YORK SUFFRAGE PARADE LED BY ALICE PAUL. 11:04- THEIR COTTAGE, VILLA AHOLA, IS BUILT NEXT DOOR TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS IN HIGHLAND BEACH, MD. 11:37- PICKETT’S THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE NATIONAL WOMAN’S PARTY. 11:48- WAR CAMP COMMUNITY SERVICE. 12:02- INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE. 12:10- WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM 12:19- 19TH AMENDMENT. 12:53- PURCHASES A MODEL-T CAR AND TAKES MECHANIC CLASSES. 13:02- WRITES HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 13:07- PUBLISHES HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 13:13- SERVES ON THE HIGHLAND BEACH CHARTER COMMITTEE. 13:21- INCORPORATES HIGHLAND BEACH, MD. 13:34- HER BELOVED HUSBAND, ROBERT, PASSES AWAY. 13:45- BURIED AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN SUITLAND, MD. 13:54- CAMPAIGNS FOR RUTH HANNA MCCORMICK. 14:07- ADVISES FOR HERBERT HOOVER’S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. 14:16- HONORED BY OBERLIN COLLEGE AS ITS “TOP 100 OUTSTANDING ALUMNI” 14:27- WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF FAITHS. 14:35- DENIED REINSTATEMENT WITH THE AAUW, DC CHAPTER. 14:58- FILES A LAWSUIT THE AAUW AND WINS. 15:19- FILES A LAWSUIT AGAINST THOMPSON’S RESTAURANT IN DC AND WINS. 15:55- CELEBRATES HER 90TH BIRTHDAY. 16:12- HER BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON. 16:23- MARY CHURCH TERRELL FUND. 16:30- BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION. 16:42- PASSES AWAY IN HIGHLAND BEACH, MD. 17:06- HONORED BY THE FIRST LADY MAMIE EISENHOWER. 17:25- HER DAUGHTER PHYLLIS BECOMES POSTMISTRESS OF HIGHLAND BEACH. 17:35- ACCOLADES. 18:27- CONCLUSION. Subscribe to the podcast. Links To Additional Resources: Mary Church Terrell | National Women's History Museum ...