Ethel Ragland
As consistent with many African American women of her time, Ethel M. Ragland’s life was scarcely documented. She spent much of her life in the Deep South, amongst severe racial discrimination and fully segregated facilities. The findings of detailed medical records or other documents that may tell Ethel’s story is difficult because people just didn’t provide care to the African American population like they idealized white America.
On September 15th, 1904, in a small Alabama town, Henry and Fannie Mitchell White bore Ethel Mae. She grew up mostly in Elba, Alabama, and lived in New York in 1952. Henry was a painter and Fannie was a laundress from 1910 to 1930, and then became a cook. They were pretty wealthy considering that they owned their own home. Another evidence of wealth was that Ethel could read and write, meaning she had basic education provided for her.
In 1930, she was still living with her family and was married with an unknown man at the age of 18. She was not employed then.
On January 13th, 1951, a certificate of marriage from Greenwich, Connecticut documented that Ethel M wed Walter A Ragland. Thus, Ethel White was now who we know from Baptist Hill: Ethel M Ragland. Though there is no solid evidence, it is thought that Ethel might have run into Walter in Alabama. Because of Walter and the intense racism in the South, Ethel’s family decided to head north, where Walter and Ethel married.
Racial tensions weren’t the only tensions in Ethel’s life. Just 6 years later, in 1957, the Alabama Divorce Index identifies the end of her short partnership with Walter. In November of 1963, and again in October of 1966, her name is listed in the social program as “Ethel M Ragland”, meaning she kept her ex-husband’s name following the divorce. Not much is known until her death date, February 29th, 1989. There are no documents to verify if the Raglands had any kids before their separation, so it’s unknown if Ethel’s memory lives on through her children.
On September 15th, 1904, in a small Alabama town, Henry and Fannie Mitchell White bore Ethel Mae. She grew up mostly in Elba, Alabama, and lived in New York in 1952. Henry was a painter and Fannie was a laundress from 1910 to 1930, and then became a cook. They were pretty wealthy considering that they owned their own home. Another evidence of wealth was that Ethel could read and write, meaning she had basic education provided for her.
In 1930, she was still living with her family and was married with an unknown man at the age of 18. She was not employed then.
On January 13th, 1951, a certificate of marriage from Greenwich, Connecticut documented that Ethel M wed Walter A Ragland. Thus, Ethel White was now who we know from Baptist Hill: Ethel M Ragland. Though there is no solid evidence, it is thought that Ethel might have run into Walter in Alabama. Because of Walter and the intense racism in the South, Ethel’s family decided to head north, where Walter and Ethel married.
Racial tensions weren’t the only tensions in Ethel’s life. Just 6 years later, in 1957, the Alabama Divorce Index identifies the end of her short partnership with Walter. In November of 1963, and again in October of 1966, her name is listed in the social program as “Ethel M Ragland”, meaning she kept her ex-husband’s name following the divorce. Not much is known until her death date, February 29th, 1989. There are no documents to verify if the Raglands had any kids before their separation, so it’s unknown if Ethel’s memory lives on through her children.
Contributed by Lily and Henry from Auburn High School