Primary Sources: People - American Women: Wells, Ida B.

"The Ida B. Wells Papers consists of six linear feet of original manuscripts, correspondence, newspaper and journal articles written and compiled by Ida B. Wells-Barnett. The amount of material in the collection is rather small due to two house fires (1915 and 1923) that destroyed virtually all of her personal and professional papers. The papers have been divided into nineteen series that range from originals and transcripts of Crusade for Justice, biographical information, diaries, and writings and clippings to files on her lawsuit against the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad, the Ida B. Wells Woman’s Club, and secondary materials and photographs. "

Northern Illinois University's Digital archives provide access to some of Wells' writings as well as other information.

"The rising tide of lynchings of African Americans across the South launched a national anti-lynching crusade, led by Memphis, Tennessee, newspaper editor Ida Wells-Barnett, an outspoken advocate for the area’s African-American citizens. As the leader of the national anti-lynching movement, Wells-Barnett joined a group of Illinois congressmen who visited the White House in March, 1898, to protest the murder of the newly-appointed Lake City, South Carolina Postmaster Baker, who was black. Wells-Barnett penned this petition to President William McKinley to urge punishment of those responsible for shooting." GMU History Matters

By Ida B. Wells on 13 February 1893
Provided by Voices of Democracy