Elizabeth Murphy Moss facts for kids

Elizabeth B. Murphy Moss (1917–1998) was an important American journalist. She made history as the first Black woman to be officially recognized as an overseas war correspondent during World War II. This meant she could report directly from areas where the war was happening.

A Life in Journalism: Elizabeth B. Murphy Moss

Elizabeth Murphy came from a family deeply involved in newspapers in Baltimore. Her grandfather, John H. Murphy Sr., started the famous Baltimore Afro-American newspaper. Her father, Carl J. Murphy, later became the editor of the same newspaper. Her mother, Vashti Turley Murphy, helped create the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a well-known organization.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth was the oldest of five daughters. She went to Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore. After high school, she studied at the University of Minnesota. There, she earned a special degree in journalism, which is the study of how to report news.

Building a Career at the Afro-American

Elizabeth spent most of her life working for her family's newspaper, the Afro-American. Some family members say she started working there when she was just 10 years old. She began by delivering newspapers. As she grew older, she took on many different roles. She worked as a reporter, an editor, and wrote her own column.

By 1942, she was the city editor for the Baltimore section of the newspaper. This was a big job, overseeing news about the city. She also wrote a book in 1980 called "Be Strong: The Life of Vashti Turley Murphy," about her mother. Elizabeth also helped many young Black journalists. They later went on to work for major newspapers like The Sun, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

Making History as a War Correspondent

In 1944, Elizabeth Murphy Moss achieved something truly remarkable. She became the first Black woman to be officially approved as a war correspondent. This meant she could travel to war zones and report on events firsthand. She traveled to London, hoping to go further into Europe to cover the war. However, she became ill and had to return home. Even so, her accreditation was a huge step forward for women and Black journalists.

Her Long-Running Column and Later Years

In 1949, Elizabeth started a newspaper column called 'If You Ask Me'. This column became very popular and ran in the Afro-American newspaper for an amazing 48 years! She shared her thoughts and opinions with readers for nearly five decades. In 1976, Morgan State University recognized her important work. They gave her an honorary doctorate degree, which is a special award.

Elizabeth married Frank W. Phillips Jr., who passed away in 1962. In 1963, she married Alonzo Paul Moss. She passed away on April 7, 1998, at the Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. She was 81 years old.