Marian Spencer Biography
Marian Regelia Alexander Spencer was the first African American woman to be elected as the Vice Mayor of the Cincinnati City Council. She was the granddaughter of a former slave. Spencer played a big part in the civil rights movement to desegregate schools and put an end to discrimination. Most importantly, she became the first female president of the Cincinnati NAACP and also served on the University of Cincinnati board of trustees.
Marian Spencer Age
She was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, USA on June 28, 1920. Marian passed away on July 9 2019 at the age of 99 years old.
Marian Spencer Height
Details about her height are currently not available. According to our sources, she is said to have been small in physical stature.
Marian Spencer Family
She was the granddaughter of a freed slave. Spencer lived with her parents, her twin sister Mildred and two brothers Harry and Vernon. Their home was built by her grandfather. She grew up as a mixed-race child in the Ohio river town of Gallipolis.
Marian Spencer Husband
Spencer got married to Donald Andrew Spencer in 1940. He was a Cincinnati teacher and real estate broker. They had two sons together and the family lived in the Avondale neighborhood.
Marian Spencer Education
In 1938, she graduated from the Gallia Academy Highschool as a valedictorian. She then got a scholarship to study at the University of Cincinnati. It is here that she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. While at the university, Marian campaigned for the college prom to be open to all students.
Marian Spencer Career
She spent most of her life as a civil rights activist intending to desegregate public schools. In 1981 she became the first and only female president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP. Secondly, Spencer served as chairperson of the Community Steering Committee for Indigent Defense. Thirdly, she became the first African American elected president of the Woman’s City Club. Similarly, she got elected as the president of Links Incorporated and a member of the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees. Most importantly, she was the first African American female to be elected to the Cincinnati City CounciL. Subsequently, Spencer also served as Vice Mayor and as a member of the Charter Party for one term.
Marian Spencer’s Achievements and Awards
- Cincinnati Enquirer Woman of the Year Award
- Brotherhood Award
- National Conference of Christians and Jews
- YWCA Career Woman of Achievement Award
- Humanitarian Award
- Freedom Heritage Foundation of Columbus, Ohio
- Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Cincinnati
Marian Spencer Coney Island Lawsuit
In 1952, Spencers sons wanted to attend an event at the celebrity theme park called Coney Island. They were denied access to the park because they were Negroes. As a result, Spencer filed a law suit with the NAACP and won the case which desegrageted the park.
Marian Spencer Death
The civil rights pioneer reportedly had suffered a stroke on June 28. She was 99 years old at the time of her death.
