Tanya Teat Foreman, Author at Family Matters Genealogy

Biddy Mason: From Enslaved to Empowered

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Jun 25, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

Bridget “Biddy” Mason was an extraordinary figure in American history, Despite the challenges of her early life, she became a renowned midwife, a California real estate entrepreneur, and a philanthropist.

Biddy’s Early Life in Bondage

Bridget “Biddy” Mason was born into slavery on August 15, 1818, in Hancock County, Georgia. She moved to several states, including Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi. Her last enslaver, a Mississippi Mormon convert named Robert Marion Smith, decided to move his family and his enslaved persons to Salt Lake City, Utah to help establish a Mormon community. In 1848, she and her daughters walked approximately 1700 miles behind a 300-wagon caravan en route to Utah.

Trek West

Having only stayed in Utah for 3 years, enslaver Smith uprooted his family and Mason again for San Bernadino, California to establish a Mormon community. Although Brigham Young warned his congregants that having slaves was illegal in California, they ignored his advice and headed for the Golden State with a 150-wagon caravan. Along the way, Mason met a free Black couple who convinced her to seek freedom as soon as she and her children arrived in California. After arriving in California, Smith feared that he would lose his enslaved persons so he decided to leave for Texas. While trying to head out of town, the sheriff intercepted his caravan in Cajon Pass, California. Someone tipped off the sheriff that Smith illegally held slaves.

Fight for Freedom

Her journey to freedom began in 1856 when she petitioned for her freedom in a California court, which L.A. District Judge Benjamin Hayes granted on 21 January 1856. This was a significant legal victory and set a precedent for other enslaved people seeking freedom. The judge granted Mason and thirteen members of her family their freedom. She chose the surname Mason from the middle name of the San Bernardino mayor.

New Beginnings

After gaining her freedom, Mason moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a nurse and midwife. With her earnings, she invested in real estate and became one of the wealthiest African American women in the United States after the Civil War. Although she was illiterate, she had remarkable business success. Mason’s legacy extends beyond her business acumen. She helped found the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. Her philanthropic efforts and community involvement made her a respected and influential figure in her community.

Biddy’s Legacy

Bridget “Biddy” Mason died in L.A. on January 15, 1891 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Evergreen Cemetery. The city of Los Angeles honored her on March 27, 1988 with a celebration in which the mayor of L.A. and members of the church she founded marked her grave with a tombstone.

Biddy Mason’s life is a testament to her resilience, intelligence, and compassion. Her story continues to inspire many, highlighting the impact one individual can have on their community and beyond. To learn more about Bridget “Biddy” Mason, visit https://www.nps.gov/people/biddymason.htm.

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From Teacher to Trailblazer: Opal Lee’s Legacy

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Jun 16, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

Dr. Opal Flake Lee is an African American retired teacher, counselor, and activist. She is often referred to as the “grandmother of Juneteenth” due to her tireless efforts in advocating for the recognition of Juneteenth as a federally recognized holiday.

Motivation to Activism

Dr. Opal Flake Lee was born on 7 October 1926 in Marshall, Texas to Otis Flake and Mattie Broadous. Her family celebrated Juneteenth with food and baseball games, instilling in her a deep appreciation for the significance of this day. By the time she turned 10 years old, her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas. At the age of 12, her family moved to a predominantly white neighborhood in Fort Worth. White rioters vandalized and burned down her family’s home on June 19, 1939. This event fueled her determination to educate people about Juneteenth beyond mere festivities.

She graduated from I.M. Terrell High School at 16 years old. She married Joe Thomas Roland, Jr. and had four children; however, the marriage only lasted five years and they divorced. Lee graduated from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She taught at Amanda McCoy Elementary School for 15 years while working nights at Convair, an aircraft manufacturing company, to support her children. She married Dale Timothy Lee, a principal at Morningside Elementary School in 1967.

Later, she earned her master’s degree in counseling and Guidance from North Texas State University (now University of North Texas). Lee served as an educator in the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) for 15 years and as a home school counselor for nine years before retiring in 1977.

Community Catalyst

Dr. Lee volunteers tirelessly for her community:

Helped organize the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society which serves as an archive for black history in the city of Fort Worth, warehousing literature, memorabilia, phots and artifacts of African American life.
Member of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Community Action Agency (CAA) board.
Member of the Evans Avenue Business Association board.
Member of the Tarrant County Habitat for Humanity board and Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity.
Created a nonprofit organization, Unity Unlimited, Inc., operating since 1994; she is currently a board member.
Campaigned for gubernatorial candidate Ann Richards and President Barack Obama.

Soror Shalese Johnson, Soror Opal Lee and Soror Nazjah Bakarr at Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Omega Mu Zeta chapter Sneaker Ball on June 8, 2024.

Dr. Lee became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in 2016. At the remarkable age of 89, she embarked on a journey from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to the nation’s capital, advocating for Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday. Her unwavering dedication paid off when President Joe Biden signed the bill in 2021, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Dedicated to the Cause

Dr. Lee became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in 2016. At the remarkable age of 89, she embarked on a journey from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to the nation’s capital, advocating for Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday. Her unwavering dedication paid off when President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475 in 2021, making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday. Lee received two honorary doctorate degree from the University of North Texas (2023) and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (2024). In 2024, President Biden awarded Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, for her tireless efforts in establishing Juneteenth as a significant day in American history.

Dr. Lee’s legacy extends far beyond her own lifetime. Her dedication to preserving the historical significance of Juneteenth has left an indelible mark on American history.

To learn more about Opal Lee, visit https://www.southernliving.com/culture/opal-lee-grandmother-of-juneteenth

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Dr. Grace Brewster Murray Hopper: An Innovative Woman in STEM

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Jun 10, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

We have come a long way in the field of computer science and we have Dr. Grace Brewster Murray Hopper to thank for that. Dr. Grace Brewster Murray Hopper, an innovative computer scientist, mathematician, and United States Navy rear admiral, left an indelible mark on the world. Walter Murray and Mary Campbell Van Horne welcomed Grace Brewster Murray Hopper into the world on 9 December 1906, in New York City.

Math Minded

Being an inquisitive child, she dismantled alarms clock to see how they worked, fueling her engineering curiosity. She attended Vassar College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1928 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics. She earned her master’s in mathematics at Yale in 1930, got married to Vincent Hopper, a professor at New York University in 1930 and began teaching mathematics at Vassar in 1931. In 1934, she earned her Ph.D. in mathematics and mathematical physics from Yale.

Naval Career

Dr. Grace Hopper’s great grandfather served as a Navy Admiral during the Civil War. Trying to follow in her ancestor’s footsteps, she tried to commission with the Navy during World War II but was turned down because of her age – she was only 34 years old. That didn’t stop her and she circumvented the system! She joined the Naval Reserves in 1943 as part of WAVES – Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. After graduating from Midshipmen’s School in 1944, the Navy assigned the new lieutenant to the Bureau of Ships Computation Project at Harvard University.

The Field of Computer Science

At Harvard, Dr. Hopper began her computing career as part of the Harvard Mark I team. She became one of its first programmers and only woman. She pioneered the theory of machine-independent programming languages and played a crucial role in developing the FLOW-MATIC programming language and COBOL (common business-oriented language). This computer language is still used today. Her most notable achievements included:

Authoring the first computer manual, titled “A Manual of Operation for the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator.”
Working at Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation, she contributed to the development of the UNIVAC I computer.
Simplifying programming that led to the creation of an English-based compiler that converted terms into machine code.

Retirement?

Dr. Hopper rose to the rank of rear admiral (lower half) before she retired from active duty service. She retired several times – once in 1966; recalled to active duty in 1967 and retired in 1971; recalled to active duty in 1972 and retired finally in 1985, she received a special approval from Congress to continue enlistment beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60. Dr. Hopper was 79 years, 8 months and 5 days old.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Not being able to retire gracefully, Dr. Hopper took a position a corporate consultant engineer for Digital Equipment Company and continued to work until her death on 1 January 1992 at 86 years old. In 2016, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. She was recognized for her remarkable contributions to the field of computer science. Her discoveries and passion for math and physics empowers the next generation of technologists and encouraging their passion for learning. Beyond her professional achievements, Hopper’s legacy lies in inspiring countless individuals to pursue STEM fields.

To learn more about Dr, Grace Hopper, visit https://president.yale.edu/biography-grace-murray-hopper.

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Nancy Lopez: Impacting the World of Golf

by Tanya Teat Foreman | Jun 2, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

I was born into a golf family. My parents were founding members of two African American golf clubs in East Orange, New Jersey – the Duffers (men) and the Dufferettes (women). My parents played every weekend and traveled several times a year to tournaments all over the United States. The family watched golf every Sunday. As a kid, I helped my father create the poster board scoreboards (I had GREAT handwriting) for the golf tournaments his club hosted. I know A LOT about the sport but since golf overshadowed my childhood, I refused to play (except mini golf).

Nancy Lopez’s name was constant in my house. She was the first woman that I could remember that the TV tournaments made a big deal about. She was a trailblazing Mexican American professional golfer who left an indelible mark on the sport.

Nancy Marie Lopez was born on January 6, 1957, to Domingo and Marina Lopez in Torrance, California. She and her older sister were raised in Roswell, New Mexico. She discovered her love for golf at the tender age of 8 and began to play golf with her family. When her father recognized her athletic talent in the sport, he started to coach her, using old clubs with shortened shafts.

Amateur Success

Lopez won her first tournament at 9 years old. At age 12, she won three New Mexico Women’s Amateur Championships. She was a nationally ranked-amateur in high school. She led her “all-male” high school golf team to a state championship. In 1972 and 1974, she secured victory in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at ages 15 and 17, respectively. As a senior in high school, Lopez made her mark in the U.S. Women’s Open, tying for second place in 1975. Lopez enrolled at the University of Tulsa on a golf scholarship. In her freshman year, she won the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national intercollegiate golf championship and was named the university’s Female Athlete of the Year. Lopez represented the U.S. in the Curtis Cup and World Amateur teams.

She turned pro after her sophomore year at UT and joined the LPGA Tour. Her debut season in 1978 was nothing short of spectacular. She won nine tournaments, including five consecutive victories and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. She earned accolades such as LPGA Rookie of the Year and LPGA Player of the Year. Throughout her career, she amassed over 30 LPGA titles and became a dominant force in women’s golf. Despite taking partial seasons off in 1983 and 1984 due to motherhood, she continued to excel.

Returning full-time in 1985, Lopez achieved remarkable milestones with five wins, five seconds, and five thirds. She achieved money titles, scoring titles, and the prestigious Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award (for the second time).

Legacy and Awards

Nancy Lopez’s legacy includes her induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1989, the USGA’s Bob Jones Award for distinguished sportsmanship, The Frances Ouimet Award for lifelong contributions to golf (the first woman to receive this honor) and her role as founder and principal of the Nancy Lopez Golf Company.

Nancy Lopez retired after the 2002 season because of physical ailments and familial responsibilities. She ended her career with 48 tournament wins totaling $5 million. Retirement has not stopped Lopez – she has a clothing and equipment line for women called Nancy Lopez Golf and she hosts an annual golf tournament where she lives in Florida to benefit AIM, a charity dedicated to helping people with special needs.

Nancy Lopez’s impact transcends golf; she embodies determination, excellence, and breaking barriers and inspires girls from any background to pick up a golf club and dream big.

To learn more about Nancy Lopez and her golf career, visit https://www.lpga.com/lpga-hall-of-fame/nancy-lopez

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Bessie Coleman: A Trailblazer in Aviation

by Tanya Teat Foreman | May 29, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

Bessie Coleman was an African American woman whose humble beginnings did not stop her from becoming a celebrated aviator. She was born January 26, 1892, in Atlanta, Texas, U.S. and grew up in Waxahachie, Texas, as one of 13 children born to George and Susan Coleman. Because she was an excellent student, her mathematical aptitude allowed her to escape working in the cotton fields.

HIgh Flying Ideas

At 18, she attended the Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University in Langston, Oklahoma (now called Langston University) for one semester before she ran out of money and had to return home. Five years later, she decided to move to Chicago to live with her brothers. While in Chicago, Coleman worked as a manicurist at a barber shop where she heard stories about pilots flying missions in World War I. She became fascinated by aviation, which was a relatively new field at the time. She took a second job as a restaurant manager to help pay for flying lessons. Unfortunately, women (especially African American women) were not allowed to take flying lessons; however, despite facing discrimination, she was determined to become a pilot.

Determined To Fly

Discrimination prevented Coleman from entering aviation schools in the United States but she was undeterred. With the help of Black philanthropist Robert Abbott, founder and publisher of the African American newspaper, the Chicago Defender and financial support from banker, Jesse Binga, she learned French and traveled to France in 1920. She attended the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. On June 15, 1921, she became the first American woman to obtain an international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Stunt Pilot

Coleman specialized in stunt flying and parachuting during her training in France. Her daring exploits were captured on newsreel films. She returned to the United States, where racial and gender biases prevented her from becoming a commercial pilot. Instead, she pursued a career in stunt flying, also known as barnstorming. Her most historic flights occurred on Labor Day, September 3, 1922, when Coleman staged the first public flight by an African American woman in America. She became a popular flier at aerial shows, refusing to perform before segregated audiences in the South. Coleman also spoke at schools and churches, encouraging Black people’s interest in aviation.

Dream Unrealized

Bessie Coleman’s goal was to establish a school to train Black aviators but tragically, during a rehearsal for an aerial show on 30 April 1926, her plane spun out of control, and she plummeted 2,000 feet to her death. Despite her untimely demise, Coleman’s legacy endures as a pioneering aviator who broke barriers and inspired generations. Her courage, determination, and passion for aviation continue to inspire us today and reminds us that the sky has no limits, regardless of our background or circumstances.

To learn more about Bessie Coleman, visit https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessie-coleman

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