Ada Copeland King facts for kids

Ada Copeland King (born around December 23, 1860 – died April 14, 1964) was an important woman in American history. She was the partner of a famous geologist named Clarence King. Their relationship lasted for thirteen years. During this time, Clarence King pretended to be a Black man named James Todd when he was with Ada. Their story became well-known because of a big legal case and a book called Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line by Martha A. Sandweiss.

Ada Copeland King's Early Life

Ada Copeland was likely born into slavery around December 23, 1860, in Georgia. When she was a young woman in the mid-1880s, she moved to New York. There, she worked as a nursemaid, helping to care for children.

Meeting Clarence King

Around 1887, Ada met Clarence King. He was a white man from a wealthy family. However, when he was with Ada, he introduced himself as a light-skinned Black man named James Todd. He told her he worked as a Pullman porter on trains. This explained why he was often away from home. It also explained how he could support their family.

Many African Americans at that time had European ancestors because of the long history of slavery in the United States. Some people with mixed heritage chose to identify as white, especially if they looked white. Clarence King used this idea to hide his true identity from Ada.

A Secret Family Life

Ada and Clarence, living as James Todd, had a home ceremony in September 1888. They lived together as a married couple. Clarence King lived as James Todd when he was with Ada. But he lived as Clarence King when he was working.

They had five children together. Four of their children lived to be adults. Their two daughters married white men. Their two sons served in World War I and were identified as Black.

Before Clarence King died in 1901, he wrote to Ada from Arizona. In his letter, he told her his true identity. He also said he had left money in a special fund for her. He said his friend, John Gardiner, would manage this money.

Fighting for Her Future

After Clarence King passed away, Ada Copeland King began a long fight. For thirty years, she tried to get control of the money King had promised her. She had help from important lawyers. One was Everett J. Waring, the first Black lawyer to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Another was J. Douglas Wetmore, who challenged unfair segregation laws.

Eventually, in 1933, the court decided that Clarence King had died with no money left. This meant Ada would not receive the trust fund.

However, a friend of King's, John Hay, helped Ada. He gave her money every month. After John Hay died in 1905, his daughter, Helen Hay Whitney, continued to support Ada. This monthly support eventually stopped. But Ada continued to live in the large 11-room house in Flushing, Queens, that John Hay had bought for her. She lived there until she died.

Ada Copeland King died on April 14, 1964. She was one of the last people alive who had been born into slavery in America.