Victorine Quille Adams (néeQuille; April 28, 1912 – January 8, 2006)[1][2] was the firstAfrican-American woman to serve on theBaltimore City Council. Born inBaltimore, Maryland to Joseph C. and Estelle Tate Quille, she graduated fromFrederick Douglass High School and attended Coppin Teachers College (nowCoppin State University), as well as Morgan State College (nowMorgan State University). After graduating from college, Adams worked as a teacher in Baltimore City for fourteen years.[3]
In 1935, Adams met and marriedWilliam L. "Little Willie" Adams, a local businessman who acquired his initial wealth through numbers games and eventually became a wealthy businessman and power broker.[3] Adams turned her eye towards politics when she founded a women's political club, the Colored Democratic Women's Campaign Committee, in 1946.[4] The initial purpose of the group was to "mobilize support for candidates -- invariably white -- who were sympathetic to black causes."[5]Theodore McKeldin Jr., was one such politician. Eventually, they focused their efforts on the election of African-American politicians citywide and statewide, such asVerda Welcome andHarry A. Cole.[6]
In 1962, Adams ran unsuccessfully for a seat in theMaryland State Senate; she was elected to theMaryland House of Delegates in 1966[3] as a member of theDemocratic Party.[7] The following year, Adams left the state legislature to run for a seat on Baltimore City Council, representing the4th District.[8] In 1979, while serving on the City Council, Adams partnered with theBaltimore Gas and Electric Company to establish theBaltimore Fuel Fund, which is designed to help local families with their heating bills. The fund has since been renamed the Victorine Q. Adams Fuel Fund.[3] Adams served four terms until her retirement in 1983. She remained active with the Women's Campaign Committee until her death in 2006.[3]
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