Lois Mark Stalvey facts for kids

Lois Mark Stalvey (August 22, 1925 – December 7, 2004) was an American writer, teacher, and civil rights activist. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and passed away in Sedona, Arizona. A magazine article once described her writing as a "remarkable story of a white family's experience with inner-city schools." It also called her writing a strong criticism of an education system that failed many students.

Lois Stalvey's Early Life

Lois Stalvey was born on August 22, 1925, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After finishing high school in the late 1940s, she started her first writing job. She worked as a copywriter for a local department store called Gimbels in Milwaukee.

In the early 1950s, she moved to Chicago. There, she started her own advertising company called Lois Mark & Associates. In 1955, she married Bennett Stalvey Jr. and decided to sell her company to become a homemaker.

Fighting for Fairness

In the late 1950s, Lois and her husband moved to Omaha, Nebraska. While living there, Lois Stalvey became involved in an important fight. She helped an African-American surgeon's family try to move into their neighborhood. This neighborhood in West Omaha was segregated, meaning people of different races were kept apart. Because of her activism, her husband was transferred to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1961.

In 1965, Stalvey created a group called the Panel of Philadelphians. This group sent teams of four women to talk about racial justice. Each team included a Catholic, a Jew, an African American, and a WASP. They held 110 programs in 1965, helping people discuss important issues about race.

Her Books and Teaching

Lois Stalvey's first book, The Education of a WASP, came out in 1970. In this book, she shared her personal journey. She wrote about what it was like to learn about civil rights as a white mother in Omaha during the 1960s.

In 1976, Stalvey moved to West Philadelphia. She began teaching writing and journalism at the Community College of Philadelphia. She also wrote articles for The Philadelphia Inquirer and other newspapers.

Stalvey moved to Sedona, Arizona in 1979 to keep writing. Her book Education of an Ordinary Woman was published in 1982. Another book, Three to Get Ready: The Education of a White Family in Inner City Schools, came out in 1997. These books focused on her experiences after moving to the integrated neighborhood of West Mount Airy in Philadelphia. From 1984 to 2004, Stalvey also wrote a book review column for the Sedona Red Rock News.

Later Life and Legacy

Lois Stalvey passed away in Sedona on December 7, 2004, from a lung condition called emphysema.

Her work is often mentioned in discussions about racism, multiculturalism, and how white people can support racial equality. Many academics and educators refer to her writings. For example, Ronald Salz from the University of Wisconsin–Madison based a speech on her work in 1997. Her books continue to help people understand important issues about race and education.

See also

• Racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska
• Culture in Omaha