Sallie Wyatt Stewart

Sallie Wyatt Stewart succeeded Mary McLeod Bethune as President of the National Association of Colored Women. During her term in office the membership of the organization was estimated at about 200,000 women.

Life and activism

Stewart was born in Ensle, Tennessee on January 4, 1881 as the daughter of Armstead and Eliza (Jones) Wyatt.^[1] As a child her family moved to Evansville, Indiana, where she graduated from Evansville High School in 1897. The next year she began teaching in the Evansville public schools while continuing her education at Evansville Norman Cadet School and the University of Chicago. She worked as teacher most of her adult life.

On November 30, 1911, she married Logan Henry Stewart, a real estate agent based in Evansville.^[1]

She organized and served for five years as President of the Indiana Federation of Colored Women. She also edited "Hoosier Women," the official publication of the organization.^[1]

In 1928, she was unanimously elected President of the National Association of Colored Women, succeeding Mary McLeod Bethune. She served until 1933. Prior to her election, Stewart served as Vice-President-at-Large of the organization for four years.^[1]

One of Stewart's accomplishments as president was the founding of the National Association of Colored Girls (a youth affiliate of the National Association of Colored Women) in 1930.

She died in the 1950s.

References