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Mary Church Terrell: A Resource Guide

A lecturer, political activist, and educator, Terrell dedicated her life to improving social conditions for African-American women. This guide provides access to primary source digital materials at the Library, as well as links to external resources.

Introduction

Mary Church Terrell
Mary Church Terrell. Between 1880 and 1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a wide variety of material associated with Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954), including the Mary Church Terrell Papers from the Manuscript Division. Terrell helped to organize self-help programs promulgated by leaders such as Booker T. Washington to directing sit-down strikes and boycotts in defiance of Jim Crow discrimination. She aided in the founding of two of the most important black political action groups, the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She fought for women's suffrage and for integration in public education.

This guide compiles links to digital materials related to Mary Church Terrell such as manuscripts, letters, and images that are available throughout the Library of Congress website. In addition, it provides links to external websites focusing on Mary Church Terrell and a bibliography containing selected works for both general and younger readers.