MARY ANN SHADD CARY
National Women's Hall of Fame Induction
by Jim Shreve

On July 11, 1998, Mary Ann Shadd was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.  Mary Ann was originally from Delaware, but came to Canada in mid-19th century to teach fugitive slaves.  She was well aware of the settlement of fugitive slaves in Ontario, as her father, Abraham Doras Shadd, was a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad.

Once in Ontario she also started up a newspaper (The Provincial Freeman) to voice her views about assimilation and other important issues of the day. 

Ruth Ann Shadd & Dorothy Shadd Shreve

After the death of her husband, she returned to the USA and became active in the women's suffrage movement.  Mary Ann's achievements in the face of such adversity are an inspiration to all, who know of her and learn more about her.

In the photo are Ruth Ann Shadd and Dorothy Shadd Shreve (wearing the Hall of Fame medal).  Ruth Ann is a great, great niece of Mary Ann Shadd and accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of the Shadd family on July 11.

Dorothy is a local historian in North Buxton, Ontario and had been the guest speaker at the official opening of Mary Shadd School in Scarborough, Ontario in 1987.  I am sure I speak for the whole family, when I say that we are as proud of both of them as we are of the tremendous achievements of Mary Ann.

Submitted by Jim Shreve (great, great grandson of Elizabeth Shadd - Mary Ann's sister)

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website created July 2008; updated November 2009; by Lori Gardner