Marita Harris, Edith Johnson, Orie Greene, and Virginia Galloway were among the first Black teachers in Washington state schools. The women were hired between 1946 and 1948, the first years that school districts in the Seattle area began hiring Black teachers.

This image shows a ceremony honoring the four for their service to the community and their pioneering legacy. The ceremony was held by the Black Heritage Society of Washington State on March 20, 1988 at Immaculate Conception Church. On this occasion, the teachers reflected on the discrimination they faced throughout their careers and on the memories of support they received from students, parents, and managers. From left, the teachers are Marita Harris, Edith Johnson, Orie Greene, and Virginia Galloway. The speaker was Dorothy Hollingsworth (standing at podium), who was the first Black woman to be president of the Seattle School Board and later served on the State Board of Education.

Caption information source: “Pioneering teachers honored,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 21, 1988, page B1.
Caption information source: “4 women opened doors for black teachers,” by Constantine Angelos, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 20, 1988, page D1.