Today in Wheeling History: December 14--Virginia Coffey, a prominent civil rights activist and social reformer, was born in Wheeling (1904).
Virginia Keys Jones Coffey (December 14, 1904 - December 26, 2003) was an influential American social reformer and civil rights activist who dedicated her life to improving race relations in Cincinnati, Ohio, and beyond. Born to Edward and Mary Jones in Wheeling, West Virginia, her family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when she was four years old to ensure she attended an integrated school. Coffey graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in education and later studied sociology at the University of Cincinnati. She earned a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law by Xavier University in 1972. Coffey began her career as a teacher at Stowe School, Cincinnati's first all-black school, but soon shifted her focus to civil rights activism. She served as secretary and later executive director of the YWCA's West End chapter, and in the 1940s, she formed the first Girl Scouts troop for African-American girls. Coffey held various leadership roles, including Deputy Director of the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee and Executive Director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. She played a crucial role in desegregating Cincinnati's public facilities, including swimming pools and the Coney Island amusement park. Coffey's tireless efforts earned her numerous awards, including the Great Living Cincinnatian Award in 1993. She passed away in 2003 and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/IFqZJ), Cincinnati History Library (https://shorturl.at/jivtM), Ignite Peace (https://shorturl.at/Fzzgm)
Photo caption and credit: Virginia Coffey (General Photograph Collection, Cincinnati History Library and Archives, Cincinnati Museum Center)
Virginia Keys Jones Coffey (December 14, 1904 - December 26, 2003) was an influential American social reformer and civil rights activist who dedicated her life to improving race relations in Cincinnati, Ohio, and beyond. Born to Edward and Mary Jones in Wheeling, West Virginia, her family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when she was four years old to ensure she attended an integrated school. Coffey graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in education and later studied sociology at the University of Cincinnati. She earned a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law by Xavier University in 1972. Coffey began her career as a teacher at Stowe School, Cincinnati's first all-black school, but soon shifted her focus to civil rights activism. She served as secretary and later executive director of the YWCA's West End chapter, and in the 1940s, she formed the first Girl Scouts troop for African-American girls. Coffey held various leadership roles, including Deputy Director of the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee and Executive Director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. She played a crucial role in desegregating Cincinnati's public facilities, including swimming pools and the Coney Island amusement park. Coffey's tireless efforts earned her numerous awards, including the Great Living Cincinnatian Award in 1993. She passed away in 2003 and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/IFqZJ), Cincinnati History Library (https://shorturl.at/jivtM), Ignite Peace (https://shorturl.at/Fzzgm)
Photo caption and credit: Virginia Coffey (General Photograph Collection, Cincinnati History Library and Archives, Cincinnati Museum Center)
RSS Feed
