Since 1989, GWAC and the GWAC Foundation, Inc. have recognized an outstanding African-American woman from our local bar in honor of Charlotte E. Ray, the first woman admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the first African-American woman certified as a lawyer in the United States.
Charlotte E. Ray was born on January 13, 1850, in New York City. She was one of seven children of the Reverend Charles B. Ray and Charlotte Augusta Burroughs Ray.
In the mid-1860’s, Charlotte E. Ray attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, DC. By 1869, she had become a teacher in the Normal and Preparatory Department at Howard University. It was during that time that she enrolled in the Law Department at Howard University by submitting her application under the name of C.E. Ray, apparently because of Howard University’s reluctance at that time to admit women to its law classes.
Ms. Ray was known as an apt scholar, particularly with respect to her mastery of corporate law. She graduated from the Law Department in February 1872 and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar on April 23, 1872. She thus became the first African American woman, and only the third woman, admitted to practice law in this country. Reportedly, Charlotte E. Ray also was the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the District of Columbia.
Later in 1872, Ms. Ray opened a law office in the District of Columbia. She was unable, however -- because of prejudice -- to obtain sufficient business to sustain a practice and had to close her office. She therefore returned to New York City and taught in the public school system in Brooklyn. She continued her quest to open doors by remaining active in the women’s suffrage movement until her death at age 60.
Past Recipients of the Charlotte E. Ray Award
1989 – The Honorable Judith W. Rogers
1990 – The Honorable Julia Cooper Mack
1991 – Mabel Haden
1992 – Brenda Girton &ndash
1993 – The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton
1994 – Judith Winston
1995 – Dovey J. Roundtree
1996 – The Honorable Inez Smith Reid
1997 – The Honorable Annice Wagner
1998 – Sandra H. Robinson
1999 – Pauline A. Schneider &ndash
2000 – The Honorable Zinora Mitchell-Rankin
2001 – Wilma A. Lewis
2002 – Barbara R. Arnwine
2003 – Michele A. Roberts
2004 – Loretta Collins Argrett
2005 – Patricia M. Worthy
2006 - Kim Kendrick
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