NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN’S CLUBS, INC.
Lifting As We Climb
MRS. IDA B. WELLS BARNETT
Architect of the NACWC Club Network
Ida B. Wells Barnett
Mrs. Wells & Her Children
The Phamplet
Mrs. Wells, Her Husband, Children
& Their Spouses, and Her Grandchildren
Copyright © 2013 by National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. – All rights reserved.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN’S CLUBS, INC.
Lifting As We Climb
The following narrative penned by Mrs. Elizabeth Lindsey Davis, friend to her friend
Mrs. Ida B. Wells Barnett at the time of Mrs. Barnett’s unexpected death.
The narrative was later published in Mrs. Davis’ book, The National Association of Colored
Women: Lifting As They Climb.
IN MEMORIAM OF IDA B. WELLS
“….Ida B. Wells Barnett was a woman of strong character, forceful personality, and
unflinching courage.
Teacher, writer, editor lecturer, club woman, church and social worker she achieved
success along all lines and was by far one of the most outstanding civic leaders this great city.
Her keen intellect, her ready pen and her clarion voice were always waged vigorously in
agitating and protesting against any form of segregation of d discrimination affecting the
oppressed.
She was often criticized, misjudged and misunderstood because she fought for justice
and civil righteousness both in America and Europe as God gave her vision to see the RIGHT.
The clarion voice is hushed, the flashing eyes are closed, the busy hands are folded; she
has heard the Master’s call and has gone to receive her reward. Bu the power and influence of
her overflowing personality will linger with us and those who come after us for long years to
come.
Her early work is done; her book of life is closed; there is a vacant chair in the club and
n the family circle.
Today with music, flowers, tributes of appreciation and tears of sorrow we place her in
God’s Acre, we will not say “GOODNIGHT” but in some fairer clime we will bid our comrade
and friend “GOOD MORNING.”
Mrs. Ida B. Wells Barnett, was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, eldest daughter of
James and Lizzie Wells.
She lost her parents at the age of fourteen in one day, during an epidemic of yellow
fever. Despite the offer of kind friends to relieve her of the care of two younger brothers and
two sisters, she kept them together until they were old enough to help themselves.
She attended the public school of Holly Springs, and later was a student in Rust
University. She taught in the rural schools, and for seven years in the public schools of
Memphis, Tennessee.
Copyright © 2013 by National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. – All rights reserved.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN’S CLUBS, INC.
Lifting As We Climb
She resigned from that position to become editor of the Memphis Free Speech. Her
fiery editorials denouncing the lynching of two young colored business friends aroused the
anger of the white citizens. Her press was destroyed, and she was compelled to seek safety in
the North.
She told her story so vividly in the east that the Woman’s Loyal Union of New York
presented her with a golden pen and seven hundred dollars to enable her to go to Europe to
lecture; she was received everywhere cordially and aroused great interest in the American
Negro and his persecutions.
She compiled the RED RECORD, the first statistical report of lynchings in the United
States every published.
She came to Chicago during the World’s Fair in 1893, and has been identified with its
city life ever since. She organized the first Woman’s Club of our group in Chicago, in 1893,
which bears her name and of which she was president of at the date of her passing; she was
called the “MOTHER OF CLUBS.” She was an intimate friend of Fredrick Douglass and many
other nationally known persons. She married Frederick Lee Barnett, a prominent attorney in
June, 1895, four children were the result of that union, they, with the husband, sisters, brothers,
four grand children and a host of friends mourn her loss.
Her sudden passing March 25, 1931, after only two days of intense suffering came as a
great shock to the community, the state and the nation.”
Copyright © 2013 by National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. – All rights reserved.