Charlotte E. Ray
Encyclopedia
Charlotte E. Ray was the first black woman lawyer. Ray was born in New York City
where her father the Reverend Charles Bennett Ray
was a prominent abolitionist. During her childhood she attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, D.C.
which was one of the few schools African American women could attend. In 1869 she was both a teacher and a student at Howard University
. While teaching at Howard, she registered in the Law Department; aware of the school's questionable policy on admitting women, she applied under the name of "C.E. Ray" and was admitted. In the law school she specialized in commercial law
, and graduated in February 1872 and was the first woman to graduate from the Howard University School of Law
.
Ray was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar on April 23, 1872. Soon after her admission to the bar, she was forced to give up her practice due to poor business, and by 1879 had returned to New York where she worked as a teacher. After 1895 Ray seems to have been active in the National Association of Colored Women
.
In 1897 she moved to Woodside, Long Island, where she died at the age of 60 in 1911.
Poet H. Cordelia Ray was her sister.
In March 2006, The Northeastern University School of Law
(Boston, MA) chapter of Phi Alpha Delta
Law Fraternity International chose to honor Ray by naming their newly-chartered chapter after her, in recognition of her place as the first female, African-American attorney. All chapters in PAD are named after lawyers and/or judges.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where her father the Reverend Charles Bennett Ray
Charles Bennett Ray
Charles Bennett Ray was a prominent African-American abolitionist, the owner and editor of the weekly newspaper The Colored American, and a notable journalist and clergyman.-Early life and education:...
was a prominent abolitionist. During her childhood she attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
which was one of the few schools African American women could attend. In 1869 she was both a teacher and a student at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. While teaching at Howard, she registered in the Law Department; aware of the school's questionable policy on admitting women, she applied under the name of "C.E. Ray" and was admitted. In the law school she specialized in commercial law
Commercial law
Commercial law is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions...
, and graduated in February 1872 and was the first woman to graduate from the Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Howard University. Located in Washington, D.C., it is one the oldest law schools in the country and the oldest historically black college or university law school in the United States...
.
Ray was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar on April 23, 1872. Soon after her admission to the bar, she was forced to give up her practice due to poor business, and by 1879 had returned to New York where she worked as a teacher. After 1895 Ray seems to have been active in the National Association of Colored Women
National Association of Colored Women
The National Association of Colored Women Clubs was established in Washington, D.C., USA, by the merger in 1896 of the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the Women's Era Club of Boston, and the National League of Colored Women of Washington, DC, as well as smaller organizations that had...
.
In 1897 she moved to Woodside, Long Island, where she died at the age of 60 in 1911.
Poet H. Cordelia Ray was her sister.
In March 2006, The Northeastern University School of Law
Northeastern University School of Law
Northeastern University School of Law is a law school in Boston, Massachusetts. From the time of its founding in 1898, the law school's mission has focused on addressing the needs of students and of society....
(Boston, MA) chapter of Phi Alpha Delta
Phi Alpha Delta
ΦAΔ , or P.A.D., is the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the United States of America. Phi Alpha Delta has members who are university students, law school students, lawyers, judges, senators, and even presidents. It was founded in 1902 and today has over 300,000 initiated members...
Law Fraternity International chose to honor Ray by naming their newly-chartered chapter after her, in recognition of her place as the first female, African-American attorney. All chapters in PAD are named after lawyers and/or judges.