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Birth of Charlotte E. Ray
Charlotte E. Ray was born January 13th, 1850 in New York City to Rev. Charles Bennett Ray and Charlotte Augusta Burroughs Ray. -
Early Life
Charlotte's early life was normal. She spent the early days of her life in NYC. Her father was a Reverend. She was the youngest of seven children. Her family moved to DC in 1850. -
Early School
Charlotte went to the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth. It was the only school in DC African American girls could attend. -
High School Graduation
Charlotte graduated high school from the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in 1869. -
First Job
The same year Charlotte graduated high school, she got her first job teaching at Howard University. At the time, Howard University was only four years old and a very new institution -
Attending Howard Law School
Charlotte found a way into the Howard Law School. The University discouraged women from enrolling at the University's law school. Charlotte applied as "C.E. Ray" to hide her gender and spent the next four years preparing to earn her degree! -
Charlotte Graduated from Howard Law School
In 1872, Charlotte became the first woman to graduate from Howard Law School and the third American woman of any race to graduate law school. -
Bar Requirements Development
The same year Charlotte graduated from Howard Law School, luckily the District of Columbia Bar Association removed the requirement to be a male. -
Charlotte's Admission to the Bar
Charlotte was admitted to the bar, approved, and was legal attorney! She was the first African American woman to become a lawyer in the United States of America! -
Charlotte Opened Up Her Own Law Firm
Around 1875, Charlotte opened up a commercial law firm in Washington D.C. She attracted customers by advertising on Fredrick Douglas's newspaper. She eventually had to close it down due to racial bias and very few clientele. -
Advocate for Women's Suffrage
In 1875, Charlotte became an advocate for women's suffrage. According to source, as a woman, she believed it was her duty to fight for women's rights. -
First Case
On June 3rd, 1875, Charlotte took a case to the Supreme Court and was the first woman to argue and practice in the District of Columbia's Supreme Court. In this case, she was helping an uneducated woman break free from her marriage and divorce her abusive husband. -
Delegation in NWSA
In 1876, Charlotte was declared a delegate in the National Woman's Suffrage Association. -
Moving Back to New York
In 1879, Charlotte moved back to New York and settled for being a teacher at a Brooklyn school. -
Marriage
Although little is known about Charlotte's life after she returned to New York, she did get married in 1886 to a man named Fraim. According to sources, they had no children. -
National Association of Colored Women
In 1895, Charlotte joined the NACW. -
Moved to Suburbs
In 1897, it was reported that Charlotte moved to a Long Island, NY suburb called Woodside. -
Death of Charlotte E. Ray
On January 4th, 1911, Charlotte E. Ray died in her suburban home Woodside, NY. According to sources, she died from a bronchitis infection.
