Ida Platt facts for kids
Ida Platt (born September 29, 1863 – died 1939) was an important American lawyer from Chicago. In 1894, she made history by becoming the first African-American woman allowed to practice law in Illinois. She was also only the third African-American woman lawyer in the entire United States.
Early Life and Education
Ida Platt was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Jacob F. and Amelia B. Platt. Her father owned a business that sold lumber.
To pay for her law school studies, Ida worked as a stenographer and a secretary. This work also helped her learn German and French. When she was younger, she also studied how to play the piano.
In 1894, Ida Platt graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She was the very first African-American woman to graduate from this law school.
Career as a Lawyer
Ida Platt was officially allowed to practice law in Illinois in 1894. This made her the first African-American woman lawyer in that state. She was also the third in the United States.
She worked in Chicago for a lawyer named Joseph Washington Errant. Her work mainly involved probate law, which deals with wills and estates, and real estate law, which is about property.
In 1896, Ida Platt gave a speech at a big meeting in New York City. This meeting was for the Colored Women's League. Her speech was titled "Woman in the Profession of Law." Later, in 1911, she opened her very own law office in downtown Chicago. She was also a member of the Cook County Bar Association, a group for lawyers.
Family and Legacy
Ida Platt had a famous cousin named Richard Theodore Greener. He was the first African-American person to graduate from Harvard University. He also served as a dean at Howard University's School of Law and worked as a diplomat. His daughter, Belle da Costa Greene, became a well-known librarian.
Ida Platt got married in 1923 when she was 61 years old. After her marriage, she moved to England. She passed away there in 1939 at the age of 76.
Today, there is public housing for senior citizens in Chicago named the Ida Platt Apartments. These apartments honor her memory and her important contributions.
