WiLS September Women's Spotlight

“Stagecoach” Mary Fields

Mary Fields was born into slavery in Tenessee in 1832. When slavery was outlawed in 1865, Mary worked as a housekeeper and eventually worked in a convent, first in Ohio and then in Montana. When she was 60 she applied to work for the U.S. Postal Service and got the job because she was the fastest to hitch a team of six horses. This made her the first African-American woman to work for the USPS. She drove a particularly dangerous route in Montana but she never missed a day. This reliability earned her the name “Stagecoach” Mary. She drove this route until she was 71, sometimes having to carry the mail by foot because the snow was too deep for the horses. Mary was a greatly respected public figure in Cascade (where she lived and delivered mail), so much so that the town closed it’s schools to celebrate her birthday each year. You can learn more about “Stagecoach” Mary and how you can support the USPS through the sources below.

An article from the Cascade Community website about Mary Fields: https://archive.is/20120729174246/http://www.cascademontana.com/mary.htm

Another article about Mary Fields including anecdotes from her life: https://www.miantaemetcalfmcconnell.com/

Buy some stamps to support the USPS: https://store.usps.com/store/results/stamps/_/N-9y93lv

Or buy some USPS merch: https://store.usps.com/store/results/gifts/_/N-nnxamr#content

Frances Harper

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born in 1825 to free Black parents in Baltimore and received a rigorous education at her uncle’s school for Black youth. She went on to be many things in her lifetime, including a suffragette, abolitionist, teacher, poet, public speaker, and writer. Much of her activism centered around African-American rights which was reflected in her anti-slavery writings. She was also active in the women’s suffrage movement. She was particularly critical of the racism that existed in the movement, and in 1866 she gave a speech at the National Women’s Right Convention that sent ripples across the women’s suffrage movement. In her speech, she called out prominent white women leaders in the movement on their racism and lack of solidarity with Black women. She is quoted as saying “You white women speak here of rights. I speak of wrongs...I tell you that if there is any class of people who need to be lifted out of their airy nothings and selfishness, it is the white women of America.” Learn more about Frances Harper’s life and legacy through the sources below. Also make sure you’re registered to vote using the link below!

An article about Frances Harper’s life and work: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frances-E-W-Harper

A great read about 5 Black Suffragists: http://history.com/news/black-suffragists-19th-amendment

Multipart podcast series about the 19th amendment: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/and-nothing-less-podcast.htm#:~:text=Anthony%20and%20Elizabeth%20Cady%20Stanton,cry%20to%20demand%20voting%20equality.&text=And%20Nothing%20Less%20is%20the,women's%20constitutional%20right%20to%20vote.

Consider donating to support Black voters: https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/donate/

Register to Vote or check your voter registration here: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ Register to Vote by October 19th!!! 

Find your local polling place here: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place