Sue M. Wilson Brown | |
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| Born | Sue M. Wilson (1877-09-08)September 8, 1877 Staunton, Virginia |
| Died | January 1, 1941(1941-01-01) (aged 63) Des Moines, Iowa |
| Occupations | Clubwoman, Activist |
Sue M. Wilson Brown (September 8, 1877 – January 1, 1941) was an African-American activist forwomen's suffrage. She was inducted into theIowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1995.[1]
Brown was born on September 8, 1877, inStaunton, Virginia,[2] to Jacob Wilson and Maria Harris Wilson.[3] As a child her family moved to Iowa, living nearBuxton and mining coal. Brown was educated at theOskaloosa High School and moved toDes Moines after marrying Samuel Joe Brown on December 31, 1902.[2][3][4][5]
In Des Moines, she became involved with theIowa Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, editing theirIowa Colored Woman for two years beginning in 1907. Brown also founded several clubs, which included the Des Moines Intellectual Improvement Club, theMary B. Talbert Club, the Des MoinesMary Church Terrell Club and an Auxiliary to theAmerican Red Cross. Beginning in 1915, Brown was president of the Iowa Federation of Colored Women and worked to provide housing for African-American women attending theUniversity of Iowa and advocated for women's suffrage. Her term ended in 1917.[4]
Brown established the Des Moines League of Colored Women Voters in August 1919, becoming its first president. She spoke at the Iowa Equal Suffrage Association's convention and later the Iowa League of Women Voters convention. Brown also attended various conventions of theRepublican Party on a local and state level, chairingPolk County's Republican Committee and becoming vice-president of the National League of Republican Colored Women.[4]
She was also involved in theNAACP in Des Moines, forming a "junior chapter" in 1922 and holding the role of president of the local branch from 1925 to 1930. Brown served on or led several commissions aimed at improving race relations in Iowa as well as being a prominent member of thePrince Hall Order of the Eastern Star. In 1925, Brown publishedThe History of the Order of the Eastern Star among Colored People.[4]
Brown died on January 1, 1941, in Des Moines.[4][6] She was inducted into theIowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1995.[2]