Antoinette Tubman

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Antoinette Tubman
Liberian First Lady being led into dinner by Israeli politician, both wearing evening dress.
First Lady of Liberia
In office
17 September 1948 – 23 January 1971
PresidentWilliam Tubman
Preceded byEuphemia Barclay
Succeeded byVictoria Tolbert
Personal details
Born
Antoinette Louise Padmore

(1914-02-24)24 February 1914
Monrovia, Liberia
Died18 May 2011(2011-05-18) (aged 97)
SpouseWilliam Tubman (1948–1971; his death)
Children1

Antoinette Louise Padmore Tubman (24 February 1914 – 18 May 2011) was the wife of the

First Lady
of Liberia from 1948 to 1971.

Biography

Antoinette Padmore was born in Monrovia on 24 February 1914.[1] Her parents were James Stanley Padmore and Mary Louise Barclay-Padmore, who has both emigrated from Barbados.[2] Her mother died when she was young, as a result she was brought up by her aunt Elizabeth Barclay-Sherman.[2] She was educated at Bromley Mission, an episcopal school, then moved to Paris to study fashion.[2] On her return she opened the first school of fashion and modelling in Monrovia.[2] She married William Tubman on 17 September 1948.[2] She was his third wife.[3] They had one daughter, Wilhemina Tubman-Tucker.[2]

Work as First Lady

Tubman was First Lady of Liberia from her marriage in 1948 to the death of her husband in 1971.[1] In the Executive Mansion she set up a museum with artefacts relating to her husband's presidency as well as previous ones.[2] More significantly, Tubman used her influential role as First Lady raise funds and awareness for philanthropic and humanitarian causes, including: orphans, the homeless, the mentally ill.[2] In August 1957, a new orphanage funded by the Antoinette Tubman Children's Welfare Foundation was opened in Virginia.[4] In 1958 she set up a charity dedicated to fund-raising for a new hospital for the mentally ill in Monrovia.[4] She was president of the Social Services Association.[2] She was noted for her involvement in political life.[5]

After her husband's death in July 1971, his estimated fortune of $220 million (~$1.27 billion in 2023) made her one of the richest women in the world.[6] She established the William V S Tubman Memorial Museum on their estate, east of Monrovia in Totota, based on the collection she founded early in their marriage.[7]

As well as being First Lady, Tubman also ran two businesses: a motel and restaurant called Coocoo's Nest; a plantation and roasters called Wilmetco Coffee.[2]

She died on 18 May 2011.[1] She was buried on 11 June 2011 at the United Methodist Church, Monrovia.[8]

Legacy

Antoinette Tubman Stadium, Monrovia

The sports stadium in Monrovia was named the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in her honor.[8]

Awards

1956 - Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mrs. Antoinette Louise Tubman, Former First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, is dead". www.mofa.gov.lr. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. ^
    OCLC 860625596
    .
  3. ISBN 9780876632758
    .
  4. ^ a b Liberia Today. Liberian Embassy in Washington. 1956. p. 4.
  5. S2CID 154658084
    .
  6. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 18 November 1971.
  7. ^ Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 1974.
  8. ^ a b "'A Woman of Noble Character': Antoinette Tubman, Former First Lady, Buried :: FrontPageAfricaonline.com - All Things Africa 24/7". 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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