Violet King Henry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Violet King Henry
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| Born |
Violet Pauline King
October 18, 1929 |
| Died | March 30, 1982 (aged 52) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | First Black Canadian woman lawyer |
Violet Pauline King Henry (October 18, 1929 – March 30, 1982) was a truly special Canadian. She made history by becoming the first Black woman lawyer in Canada. She was also the first Black person to finish law school in Alberta and the first Black person allowed to practice law there. Later, she became the first woman to hold a high leadership role at the national YMCA in the United States.
Early Life and School Days
Violet King went to Crescent Heights High School in Calgary. She was very active and became the president of the Girls Association in her final year. Her yearbook even mentioned her unusual dream of studying criminal law!
In 1948, Violet started at the University of Alberta. She joined a feminist club called the Blue Stocking Club. She was also the Vice-President of the Students Union. She even represented the Students’ Union at a national student conference.
Violet was a very busy student. She taught piano lessons to help pay for her studies. In her final year, she was the class historian. She also represented Alberta at an international student conference in 1952.
Violet was one of only four students to receive a special "Executive A" gold ring at the university's annual awards night. This award celebrated students who made big contributions to the university. The other three students who received this award also became very successful. They included future premier Peter Lougheed.
Becoming a Lawyer
When Violet King started her law degree, there were only three women in her class of 142 students. This shows how rare it was for women to study law back then.
Violet graduated with her law degree from the University of Alberta in 1953. The next year, in 1954, she was officially allowed to practice law in Alberta. This was a huge achievement! Newspapers like The Calgary Herald and The Edmonton Journal wrote about her success.
Family Roots in Alberta
Violet King's family had a unique history in Alberta. Her father, John, and his relatives moved to Amber Valley, Alberta, in 1911. They were part of a group of African American farmers who moved from Oklahoma to Alberta. They came to Canada to find new opportunities and to escape unfair laws in the United States.
Violet's parents, John and Stella, moved to Calgary in 1919. Her father worked as a porter, helping people with their luggage on trains. Her mother worked as a seamstress, making clothes. Both of her parents were important members of Calgary's Black community.
When Violet graduated, a group called the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters celebrated her achievements. This group was very important in the civil rights movement in North America. Their president and vice president even traveled from New York and Detroit to congratulate her in Calgary.
Her Amazing Career
Violet King started her career practicing criminal law in Calgary. She worked with a lawyer named E.J. McCormick.
Around 1956, she moved to Ottawa to work for the Canadian government. She had a senior role at Citizenship and Immigration Canada. She was promoted twice there! She worked during a time when Ellen Fairclough became Canada's first woman cabinet minister. By 1962, the department was working hard to be fair to everyone and follow the new Bill of Rights.
In 1963, Violet moved to the United States. She worked in leadership roles for the YW/YMCA in New Jersey and Illinois. She became well-known for helping African Americans find jobs.
In 1976, she made history again! She was named Executive Director of a national group within the American YMCA. This made her the first woman to hold such a high leadership position with the national YMCA in the United States.
In 1965, Violet married Godfrey C. Henry. He was from Trinidad and had studied at Columbia University. They lived in Newark, New Jersey. In 1966, Violet and Godfrey had their only child, a daughter named Jo-Anne Henry.
Violet King Henry passed away from cancer in New York City in 1982. She was 52 years old.
Her story was shared in a documentary film called Secret Alberta: The Former Life of Amber Valley in 2017. The filmmaker, Cheryl Foggo, even had Violet King as a bridesmaid at her mother's wedding!
