Explore people and objects across Black history. Start anywhere, or follow the collection by date.
115,761 matching cards · 24 cards per page
1908–1997
Ann Petry (October 12, 1908 – April 28, 1997) was an American writer of novels, short stories, children's books and journalism. Her 1946 debut novel The Street became the first novel by an African-American woman to sell more than a million copies. In 2019,…
1921–2015
Ann Shaw (November 21, 1921 – May 5, 2015) was an American social worker and civic leader based in Los Angeles for five decades. Shaw was a leader of the YWCA of the Greater Los Angeles for two terms and the first African American to head the organization…
1929–
Ann T. Nelms (born 1929) is a prominent African American nuclear physicist. Her research, which involved the study of the persistence of nuclear radioactivity, was cited in reports on nuclear fallout and human health.
1934–
Ann Graves Tanksley (born 1934) is an American artist. Her mediums are representational oils, watercolor and printmaking. One of her most noteworthy bodies of work is a collection based on the writings of African-American novelist and anthropologist Zora…
1937–
Ann Marie Williams (born Annie Marie Ferrell; October 21, 1937), is an American dancer, choreographer and the founder of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the oldest continually operating dance company in Dallas, TX.
1971–
Ann Wolfe (born January 17, 1971) is an American retired professional boxer, trainer and actress. Wolfe held world titles in three different weight classes simultaneously and is regarded as one of the greatest female boxers of all time. She is a member of…
Loading image…1899–1990
Anna Arnold Hedgeman (July 5, 1899 – January 17, 1990) was an African-American civil rights leader, politician, educator, and writer. Under President Harry Truman, Hedgeman served as executive director of the National Council for a Permanent Fair…
1925–2015
Anna Bailey Coles (1925-3 Feb 2015) was the founding dean of Howard University’s College of Nursing.
Loading image…1865–1930
Anna Belle Rhodes Penn (18 June 1865 – 4 June 1930) was an African American essayist, poet, and educator, who began her studies at Shaw University aged just thirteen.
1961–
Anna Elizabeth Blackburne-Rigsby (born May 6, 1961) is the chief judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the highest appellate court for the District of Columbia.
1861–1945
Anna Bustill Smith (1862 – August 1945) was a cousin of Paul Robeson and member of Philadelphia's prominent Bustill family. A suffragist, who was the first known African-American genealogist in the United States, she also achieved recognition as an…
1936–2009
Anna Jane Coble-Mullen (1936 – March 3, 2009) was an American biophysicist. She was the first black woman to earn a doctorate in biophysics, and the first black woman to be hired at Howard University.
Loading image…1997–
Anna Cockrell (born August 28, 1997) is an American track and field athlete competing in sprinting and hurdling. She is a two-time medalist at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and won the silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in 400 m hurdles…
Loading image…1950–
Anna Deavere Smith (born September 18, 1950) is an American actress, playwright, and professor. She is known for her roles as National Security Advisor Dr. Nancy McNally in The West Wing (2000–06), hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus in the Showtime…
Loading image…1869–1930
Anna DeCosta Banks (September 2, 1869 – November 29, 1930) was an American nurse, and the first head nurse at the Hospital and Training School for Nurses in Charleston, South Carolina. Banks is known for her nursing career, as well as a later position as…
1983–
Anna DeShawn (born August 30, 1983) is an American media personality, podcaster, and LGBT advocate. She is best known for founding E3 Radio, a radio station dedicated to playing queer music and reporting on queer news. She is also the founder and CEO of…
Loading image…1932–2017
Anna Katherine Diggs Taylor (née Johnston; December 9, 1932 – November 4, 2017) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
1879–1957
Anna Easter Brown (April 13, 1879 – March 5, 1957) was a part of the original nine group of sixteen founders in Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. It was the first sorority founded by African-American women students. It has had a continuing legacy of generating…
1930–2017
Anna Cherrie Epps (July 8, 1930 – May 18, 2017) was an American microbiologist known for her immunology research as well as her efforts to promote the advancement of minorities within the sciences, specifically medicine.
1857–1955
Anna Evans Murray (1857–1955) was an American civic leader, educator, and early advocate of free kindergarten and the training of kindergarten teachers. In 1898 she successfully lobbied Congress for the first federal funds for kindergarten classes, and…
Biography
Anna Faith Johnson Jones is an American community activist who was the first Black woman to lead a major community foundation.
Loading image…1874–1959
Anna Gardner Goodwin (October 1874 – 1959) was a Black American composer of classical music.
1922–2014
Anna Ruby Gaye (née Gordy; January 28, 1922 – January 31, 2014) was an American businesswoman, composer and songwriter. An elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy, she became a record executive in the mid-to-late 1950s distributing records released on…
1855–1932
Anna H. Jones (September 2, 1855 – March 7, 1932) was a Canadian-born American clubwoman, suffragist, and educator based in later life in Kansas City, Missouri.
Biographies, museum objects and archive records are distinct card types. Every card links to its historical source.
