Penn Quarter in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Mary Church Terrell
1863 - 1954
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.
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 Americans
this page online
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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
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);
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 531 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
