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Lillian Thomas Fox
African-American journalist, clubwoman, public speaker, civic activist / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lillian May Parker Thomas Fox (November 1854 – August 29, 1917)[1] was an African American journalist, clubwoman, public speaker, and civic activist in Indianapolis, Indiana, who rose to prominence in the 1880s and 1890s as a writer for the Indianapolis Freeman, a leading national black newspaper. In 1900, Fox joined the Indianapolis News, becoming the first African American columnist to regularly write for a white newspaper in Indiana. She was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014.
Lillian Thomas Fox | |
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![]() Lillian Thomas Fox in 1905, around age 51. | |
Born | November 1854[1] |
Died | August 29, 1917 (aged 62)[1] |
Resting place | Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, clubwoman, and civic activist |
Employer(s) | Indianapolis Freeman; Indianapolis News |
Organization(s) | Woman's Improvement Club; Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs |
Spouse | Wm. R. James (married in 1872, divorced in 1880)
Charles M. Thomas (married in 1881, divorced in 1889) James E. Fox (married in 1893, separated in 1898) |
Children | Maud (Maudie) Thomas, (1872-1889) |
Parent(s) | Rev. Byrd Parker; Jane Janette (Johnson) Thomas |
Fox used her writing, public speaking, and strong organizational skills to promote the goals and interests of several organizations in Indianapolis's black community. In 1903, Fox co-founded the Woman's Improvement Club of Indianapolis with Beulah Wright Porter. Fox was also the leader of a group that founded the Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in 1904. Fox also advocated for improvements in public health and care for tuberculosis patients in Indianapolis's black community. She was also involved in national organizations, such as the National Afro-American Council, the Indianapolis Anti-Lynching League, and the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, among others.