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Penn Quarter in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Mary Church Terrell

1863 - 1954

 
 
Mary Church Terrell Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019
1. Mary Church Terrell Marker
Inscription.
The chasm between the principles upon which the government was founded, in which it still professes to believe, and those which are daily practiced under the protection of the flag, yawns wide and deep
Mary Church Terrell

Lifelong civil rights and women's rights activist Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954) helped end racial discrimination in restaurants and other public accommodations in the District.

In 1950 Terrell and colleagues were refused service at the whites-only Thompson's Cafeteria, nearby at 725 14th Street. Invoking 19th century anti-discrimination laws, they persuaded the city to sue Thompson's. The case advanced to the Supreme Court, which in 1953 outlawed discrimination in DC's public accommodations, in District of Columbia v. John R. Thompson Co., Inc.

Founding
member
NAACP
and
NACW

 
Erected 2019 by Charles Bergen Studios, funded by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Public Art Building Communities Grant and the Downtown Business Improvement District. (Marker Number 5850-2019.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African AmericansCivil Rights
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Industry & CommerceWomen. In addition, it is included in the Mary Church Terrell series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.
 
Location. 38° 53.904′ N, 77° 1.94′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in the Penn Quarter. Marker is at the intersection of G Street Northwest and 14th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west on G Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20005, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cesar Chavez (a few steps from this marker); Eunice Kennedy Shriver (a few steps from this marker); Juliette Gordon Low (within shouting distance of this marker); Helen Keller 1880 - 1969 (within shouting distance of this marker); Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929 - 1968 (within shouting distance of this marker); W. D. Boyce 1858 - 1929 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Harriet Tubman circa 1820 - 1913 (about 300 feet away); Foundry Methodist Church (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
 
Top of marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019
2. Top of marker
Mary Church Terrell Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019
3. Mary Church Terrell Marker
Mary Church Terrell Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019
4. Mary Church Terrell Marker
Mary Church Terrell Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019
5. Mary Church Terrell Marker
Mary Church Terrell Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019
6. Mary Church Terrell Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

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Mar. 29, 2024