Verda Welcome
Encyclopedia
Verda Freeman Welcome was an American teacher, civil rights leader, and Maryland
state senator
. Welcome was the first black woman to be elected to a state senate. She spent 25 years in the Maryland legislature and worked to pass legislation which enforced stricter employment regulations and discouraged racial discrimination.
. In 1929, she moved to Baltimore
, and graduated from Coppin State Teachers College
3 years later. Welcome received a bachelor's degree
in history from Morgan State College
in 1939, and completed a master's degree
in history at New York University
in 1943. Between 1934 and 1945, Welcome taught at public schools in Baltimore.She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
to represent the Fourth District of Baltimore City, becoming the first black woman in the position, which she held for three years. Elected to the Maryland State Senate
in 1962, she was the first black woman in the United States to be elected to hold a state senate seat. In April 1964, Welcome survived an assassination attempt; two men were convicted. In 1967, Welcome worked towards eliminating Maryland's racial segregation laws which had been in place since slavery was legal.
Welcome was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1968, 1972, and 1976. She served in political office until 1982, when she retired. Welcome died on 22 April 1990 in Baltimore.
. In 1988, she was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
. Welcome was the first black woman to be elected to a state senate. She spent 25 years in the Maryland legislature and worked to pass legislation which enforced stricter employment regulations and discouraged racial discrimination.
Early life and education
Verda Welcome was born on a small farm in Lake Lure, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In 1929, she moved to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, and graduated from Coppin State Teachers College
Coppin State University
Coppin State University is a historically black college located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is part of the University System of Maryland...
3 years later. Welcome received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in history from Morgan State College
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
in 1939, and completed a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in history at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1943. Between 1934 and 1945, Welcome taught at public schools in Baltimore.She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Politics
In 1958, Welcome was elected to the Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
to represent the Fourth District of Baltimore City, becoming the first black woman in the position, which she held for three years. Elected to the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
in 1962, she was the first black woman in the United States to be elected to hold a state senate seat. In April 1964, Welcome survived an assassination attempt; two men were convicted. In 1967, Welcome worked towards eliminating Maryland's racial segregation laws which had been in place since slavery was legal.
Welcome was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1968, 1972, and 1976. She served in political office until 1982, when she retired. Welcome died on 22 April 1990 in Baltimore.
Other accomplishments
Welcome was awarded a Woman of the Year award in 1962, which was presented by the Women's Auxiliary to the National Medical AssociationNational Medical Association
The National Medical Association is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States...
. In 1988, she was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.