Mary Stalcup Markward
Encyclopedia
Mary R. Stalcup Markward (February 10, 1922 – November 23, 1972) was for seven years a member of the Washington, DC "District Communist Party" as director of the party's membership. She was actually working undercover for the FBI.
and was recruited by the FBI in 1943, just a week after her wedding. Her husband, George A. Markward (1912–1969), had been sent to Europe to fight in World War II
. She was working in a beauty shop on Massachusetts Avenue. She may have been approached to spy because several of her clients were thought to be Communists by the FBI. Her daughter believed that her mother's essay written about her pride in being an American brought her to the attention of the FBI. The essay was published in a local Virginia paper. Markward worked undercover for almost seven years, a time that was stressful for her because she was shunned by friends and family because of her activities with the Party.
Markward testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities on July 11, 1951 that Annie Lee Moss
and about 240 other people were Communist party members. She provided the names of their spouses and gave the exact dates of party meetings. While her memory of membership and Party activities was largely accurate, Markward did not provide evidence that the Communist Party had any strength in the DC area. At one point in her testimony, she even joked about the Party's inability to recruit young, new members. In the list of members she did provide, there appeared to be a connection between Party membership and civil rights
activism; several people whom Markward accused were less involved with communism and more concerned with picketing segregated areas of the city.
Her accusation of Annie Lee Moss is the most remembered; Moss categorically denied membership or collusion with Communists. Moss claimed that she was a victim of mistaken identity; that she was not the only person in Washington named Annie Lee Moss, and the Communist Markward identified was a different Annie Lee Moss. Her denials were clearly untrue; the FBI adduced evidence from several other sources to prove beyond doubt that the Annie Lee Moss identified by Markward was indeed a Communist.
Later historical accounts show Moss did have some interest in social justice, belonged to a cafeteria workers' union, and may have had friends who took her to leftist meetings.
Mary Stalcup Markward contracted multiple sclerosis early in her life, which caused her to retire from the FBI. Later, FBI officials refused to acknowledge her, and retroactively taxed the income she received as an undercover agent. She died on November 23, 1972 in Silver Spring, Maryland
at age 50. She was buried in Baltimore National Cemetery
.
Biography
She was born as Mary R. Stalcup to Maria and Benjamin Stalcup on February 10, 1922. Benjamin worked as a government bookbinder. She lived in Fairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
and was recruited by the FBI in 1943, just a week after her wedding. Her husband, George A. Markward (1912–1969), had been sent to Europe to fight in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was working in a beauty shop on Massachusetts Avenue. She may have been approached to spy because several of her clients were thought to be Communists by the FBI. Her daughter believed that her mother's essay written about her pride in being an American brought her to the attention of the FBI. The essay was published in a local Virginia paper. Markward worked undercover for almost seven years, a time that was stressful for her because she was shunned by friends and family because of her activities with the Party.
Markward testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities on July 11, 1951 that Annie Lee Moss
Annie Lee Moss
Annie Lee Moss was a communications clerk in the US Army Signal Corps in the Pentagon and alleged member of the American Communist Party...
and about 240 other people were Communist party members. She provided the names of their spouses and gave the exact dates of party meetings. While her memory of membership and Party activities was largely accurate, Markward did not provide evidence that the Communist Party had any strength in the DC area. At one point in her testimony, she even joked about the Party's inability to recruit young, new members. In the list of members she did provide, there appeared to be a connection between Party membership and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activism; several people whom Markward accused were less involved with communism and more concerned with picketing segregated areas of the city.
Her accusation of Annie Lee Moss is the most remembered; Moss categorically denied membership or collusion with Communists. Moss claimed that she was a victim of mistaken identity; that she was not the only person in Washington named Annie Lee Moss, and the Communist Markward identified was a different Annie Lee Moss. Her denials were clearly untrue; the FBI adduced evidence from several other sources to prove beyond doubt that the Annie Lee Moss identified by Markward was indeed a Communist.
Later historical accounts show Moss did have some interest in social justice, belonged to a cafeteria workers' union, and may have had friends who took her to leftist meetings.
Mary Stalcup Markward contracted multiple sclerosis early in her life, which caused her to retire from the FBI. Later, FBI officials refused to acknowledge her, and retroactively taxed the income she received as an undercover agent. She died on November 23, 1972 in Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
at age 50. She was buried in Baltimore National Cemetery
Baltimore National Cemetery
Baltimore National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located along Maryland Route 144 on both sides of the boundary between the neighborhoods of Beechfield in Baltimore City and Catonsville in Baltimore County...
.