Mary Church Terrell: An Original Oberlin Activist

Community Life

When Terrell arrived in Oberlin in 1875, she found a remarkably integrated community - in terms of housing, the public schools, the College, and also in terms of religion and celebration of music.  Until 1876 when the first "colored" church was built, Oberlinians of all races had worshipped together in the town's five established churches.   In a letter to College President Henry Churchill King, dated 1914, Terrell says: “I regretted exceedingly that some people thought a Colored church was a necessity in Oberlin” (Letter to King, January 26, 1914, page 3).

 

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