Holly Springs in Marshall County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Ida B. Wells-Barnett

(1862-1931)

— Famed African-American journalist, educator, suffragette, and human rights activist. —

Ida B. Wells-Barnett Marker image. Click for full size.

By Jerry Klinger

1. Ida B. Wells-Barnett Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Born the eldest child to Elizabeth and James Wells, she grew up in Holly Springs, and attended Shaw University, now Rust College. She was a reformer who insisted on economic and political resistance to oppression. She became head of a household at age 16 and taught at rural schools. After leaving Holly Springs and moving to Memphis, Wells went on to challenge racial discrimination on railroad ladies' cars, at the age of 20. She then went on to become part owner of The Memphis Free Speech and Headlight newspaper and, through her journalism, spearheaded the anti-lynching movement, after several friends were unjustly murdered by a white mob in Memphis, Tennessee. Wells later co-founded the NAACP, and was active in the National Association of Colored Women. Wells was honored with a U.S. postage stamp, inducted into the Mississippi Hall of Fame, and a local post office named in her honor.

Erected 2019 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, Holly Springs.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans

By Jerry Klinger

2. Ida B. Wells-Barnett Marker

• Civil Rights • Education • Women. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities 🎓, and the Women's Suffrage 🗳️ series lists.

Location. 34° 46.096′ N, 89° 26.858′ W. Marker is in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in Marshall County. Marker is at the intersection of East College Street and South Market Street, on the right when traveling west on East College Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Holly Springs MS 38635, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hill Country Blues (within shouting distance of this marker); Holly Springs (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mississippi Central R.R. Campaign (about 300 feet away); Yellow Fever House (about 600 feet away); Walthall Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Asbury United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); COFO & Rust College Civil Rights Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rust College (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holly Springs.

Also see . . .
1. Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum

Ida B. Wells-Barnett image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, August 9, 2015

3. Ida B. Wells-Barnett

This c. 1893 photo from a carte de visite by Mary Garrity belongs to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

. (Submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
2. Ida B. Wells-Barnett (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
3. Women's Suffrage Celebration Coalition Massachusetts. (Submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
4. The Way to Right Wrongs: Celebrating the Legacy of Ida B. Wells. (Submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
5. Ida B. Wells, A Passion for Justice. (Submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2019, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on July 15, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.