Naomi Sewell Richardson
Naomi Sewell Richardson | |
---|---|
New York City Public Schools (1920-1947) | |
Known for | One of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta |
Spouse | Clarence Richardson |
Children | 1 |
Naomi Sewell Richardson (September 24, 1892 – August 5, 1993)
Early life and education
Naomi Sewell Richardson was born on September 24, 1892, in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. She was the third child born to Perry W. Sewell, a minister, and Florence Snowden Sewell.[1] She was raised in Washingtonville, New York and, in 1910, was the first African American student to graduate from Washingtonville High School.[2]
Richardson started at Howard University in 1910. Richardson, along with 21 of her classmates, co-founded the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1913 with a stated goal of "want[ing] to do more for our community".[3] All 22 founders joined the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession, marching in their cap and gowns[4] and enduring verbal and physical abuse from the larger crowd. According to Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, a past president of Delta Sigma Theta, the "founders of Delta Sigma Theta were activists before that term was popular".[5]
Richardson met her husband, Clarence, while a student at Howard. She graduated in 1914.[6]
Career
Upon graduation, Richardson taught elementary students in
In 1920, Richardson moved to New York City and taught there until 1947.[8] She remained actively involved with both the sorority and her community, and was "admired for her work with extreme activism and civic service".[6]
Death and legacy
Richardson was the last surviving founder of Delta Sigma Theta when she passed in 1993 at the age of 100, a centenarian.[8]
A biography of her life was written by her sorority sisters in 1995 titled A Life of Quiet Dignity: Naomi Sewell Richardson.[9]
The Naomi Sewell Richardson Park was built on the site of her original home in 2019.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Naomi Sewell Richardson". Biographical Database of Black Women Suffragists. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ISBN 978-0688135096. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Naomi Sewell Richardson". womenandthevotenys.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "1913 Woman Suffrage Procession". National Park Service. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ Brown, Stacy (28 August 2019). "Delta Sigma Theta Founders Were on Front Lines of Suffrage Movement". The Washington Informer. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Carson, Tabitha; Northern, Yasmine; Rollins, Perrye; Bowler, Lauryn; Parker, Skylar; Davis, Lundyn (2018). "Biographical Sketch of Naomi Sewell Richardson". Alexander Street. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ISBN 9780813138725. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ a b "NU PSI Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc". Radford University. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ a b Thorenz, Matt (23 September 2021). "Throwback Thursday September 23, 2021". Moffat Library. Retrieved 24 November 2022.