Alfreda M. Duster[1] (née Barnett; September 3, 1904 – April 2, 1983) was an American social worker and civic leader in Chicago.[2][3] She is best known as the youngest daughter of civil rights activist Ida B. Wells and as the editor of her mother's posthumously published autobiography, Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells (1970).
Alfreda Barnett was born in 1904, the youngest daughter[4] of civil rights activists Ida B. Wells and Ferdinand L. Barnett.[2][3][5] She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1924 with a bachelor of philosophy degree.[2][3][5] She married Benjamin C. Duster Jr., who was a clerk in her father's law firm, and worked as a homemaker and mother to her five children until she was widowed at the age of 40 and went back to school for social work.[2][3]
Duster served as a juvenile delinquency prevention coordinator for the state of Illinois and the administrator of the girls' program for underprivileged city children at Camp Illini.[2][3] She was also secretary to Democrat Charles Jenkins, a black member of the Illinois legislature.[3] She was awarded "Mother of the Year" in 1950 and 1970; the Bootstrap Award from the Opportunity Centers of Chicago; Citation for Public Service from the University of Chicago Alumni Association; and honorary doctorate of humane letters from Chicago State University.[2][3][5]
Duster edited and in 1970 published Ida B. Wells' autobiography, Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells, which she worked on for 25 years after her mother's death.[2][4][6][7] For this book, Duster won the National Council of Negro Women Award for Literary Excellence and Outstanding Humanitarian Contributions.[3]
The Alfreda Barnett Duster Apartments, public housing in Chicago, Illinois, are named after Duster.[4]
Alfreda Duster died from a brain hemorrhage at the age of 78, on April 2, 1983.[3]
Further readingedit
Schultz, Rima Lunin and Adele Hast, "Women Building Chicago 1790-1990: A Biographical Dictionary", Indiana University Press, 2001.
Referencesedit
^"Alfreda M. Duster". press.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
^ abcdefg"Black Women Oral History Project Interviews, 1976–1981: Biographies". Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America Research Guides. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ abcdefghiDerr, Mary Krane. "Duster, Alfreda Barnett". African American National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
^ abc"Alfreda Barnett Duster Apartments". Chicago Housing Authority. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
^ abc"Obituaries: Rites for civic leader Alfreda Duster, 78". Chicago Tribune. April 4, 1984. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
^Black, Patti Carr (February 2001). "Ida B. Wells: A Courageous Voice for Civil Rights". Mississippi History Now. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
^"Alfreda Wells discusses her mother, Ida B. Wells-Barnett and her book 'Crusade for Justice'". The WFMT Studs Terkel Radio Archive. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
alfreda, duster, alfreda, duster, née, barnett, september, 1904, april, 1983, american, social, worker, civic, leader, chicago, best, known, youngest, daughter, civil, rights, activist, wells, editor, mother, posthumously, published, autobiography, crusade, ju. Alfreda M Duster 1 nee Barnett September 3 1904 April 2 1983 was an American social worker and civic leader in Chicago 2 3 She is best known as the youngest daughter of civil rights activist Ida B Wells and as the editor of her mother s posthumously published autobiography Crusade for Justice The Autobiography of Ida B Wells 1970 Alfreda DusterBornAlfreda Barnett 1904 09 03 September 3 1904Chicago IllinoisDiedApril 2 1983 1983 04 02 aged 78 Billings Hospital ChicagoNotable workCrusade for Justice The Autobiography of Ida B Wells 1970 SpouseBenjamin C Duster Jr Children5 including Troy DusterParent s Ida B Wells mother Ferdinand L Barnett father Contents 1 Biography 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksBiography editAlfreda Barnett was born in 1904 the youngest daughter 4 of civil rights activists Ida B Wells and Ferdinand L Barnett 2 3 5 She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1924 with a bachelor of philosophy degree 2 3 5 She married Benjamin C Duster Jr who was a clerk in her father s law firm and worked as a homemaker and mother to her five children until she was widowed at the age of 40 and went back to school for social work 2 3 Duster served as a juvenile delinquency prevention coordinator for the state of Illinois and the administrator of the girls program for underprivileged city children at Camp Illini 2 3 She was also secretary to Democrat Charles Jenkins a black member of the Illinois legislature 3 She was awarded Mother of the Year in 1950 and 1970 the Bootstrap Award from the Opportunity Centers of Chicago Citation for Public Service from the University of Chicago Alumni Association and honorary doctorate of humane letters from Chicago State University 2 3 5 Duster edited and in 1970 published Ida B Wells autobiography Crusade for Justice The Autobiography of Ida B Wells which she worked on for 25 years after her mother s death 2 4 6 7 For this book Duster won the National Council of Negro Women Award for Literary Excellence and Outstanding Humanitarian Contributions 3 The Alfreda Barnett Duster Apartments public housing in Chicago Illinois are named after Duster 4 Alfreda Duster died from a brain hemorrhage at the age of 78 on April 2 1983 3 Further reading editSchultz Rima Lunin and Adele Hast Women Building Chicago 1790 1990 A Biographical Dictionary Indiana University Press 2001 References edit Alfreda M Duster press uchicago edu Retrieved 2021 03 08 a b c d e f g Black Women Oral History Project Interviews 1976 1981 Biographies Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America Research Guides Retrieved May 7 2020 a b c d e f g h i Derr Mary Krane Duster Alfreda Barnett African American National Biography Oxford University Press Retrieved May 12 2020 a b c Alfreda Barnett Duster Apartments Chicago Housing Authority Retrieved May 12 2020 a b c Obituaries Rites for civic leader Alfreda Duster 78 Chicago Tribune April 4 1984 Retrieved May 12 2020 Black Patti Carr February 2001 Ida B Wells A Courageous Voice for Civil Rights Mississippi History Now Retrieved May 12 2020 Alfreda Wells discusses her mother Ida B Wells Barnett and her book Crusade for Justice The WFMT Studs Terkel Radio Archive Retrieved May 12 2020 External links editAlfreda Duster Interview Transcript 1976 1981 OH 31 Schlesinger Library Radcliffe Institute Harvard University Cambridge Mass Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfreda Duster amp oldid 1217982835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
