Categories: Articles, Columnists, Harlem, William “Tony” Rogers,
March is Women’s History month. It provides the opportunity to honor women who helped shape history but are all too often unsung heroines. Mary Bowser also known as Mary Jane Richards is one.
Born a slave on the Van Lew family plantation and freed by Elizabeth Van Lew after her father John Van Lew died. Elizabeth Van Lew was a Quaker and an abolitionist. Mary worked as a housekeeper for the Van Lew household after obtaining her freedom.
When Van Lew realized how smart Mary was, she sent her to Philadelphia to be educated. It was crime to teach slaves or freed Blacks how to read and write in Virginia. After her education, Mary went to teach school in Liberia. Many freed slaves traveled to Liberia to live during the Civil War.
When the civil war began, Elizabeth Van Lew used her position in Virginia’s high society to become a master spy for the union when she learned that there was an opening in the home of Jefferson Davis. She arranged for Mary to return to Virginia to pose as a house slave to work for Davis.
Davis was the president of the Confederate States of America. Mary often worked in the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia. Assuming that Mary was an illiterate slave, important military documents were left for Mary to read. Mary had a photographic memory and was able to provide information on Confederate strategic war plans and troop movement. This information cost the south to lose many major battles.
Jefferson knew that there was a mole in the White House but never suspected Mary until the last days of the war. Mary had to escape but not before trying to burn down the Confederate White House. Not much is known about Mary after the war. Elizabeth Lew burned all documents of her espionage spy ring to prevent reprisals. It is important to know that a Black female spy played a major role in helping the Union to win the Civil War. She was definitely an unsung heroine.
Dr. Marion Croak is another unsung heroine whose pioneering work in voice and data communications has changed the quality of life for millions of people throughout the world. Dr. Croak was born in New York City. She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton and her doctorate degree from the University of Southern California. She worked for AT&T Bell Laboratories for over 30 years and during that time she obtain 200 patents.
Dr. Croak is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocol {VoIP} a technology that converts voice into digital signals allowing calls directly from your computer or other digital devices. Her work in this area formed the foundation for how cell phones work today. The principles behind VoLP have facilitated advancements in mobile communications, enabling features such as internet calling {WhatsApp} and video conferencing {Zoom}.
Dr. Croak also developed the technology that allows people to send text-based donations to charity. If you are reading this you have probably used VoIP technology to improve your quality of life. Dr Croak is also an unsung heroine who should be recognized.
Notifications