This image is the cover for the book Trailblazing Black Women of Washington State, American Heritage

Trailblazing Black Women of Washington State, American Heritage

Breaking glass ceilings, organizing clubs, and making history as the first in their fields, these trailblazing Black women paved the way for new generations.


From Nettie Craig Asberry, founder of the Tacoma NAACP, to Dr. Dolores Silas, now honored by a school bearing her name, these women forged a path amid adversity. Black women were crucial to the war effort, working as Rosies at Boeing during World War II, and in the post-war years, Seattle musicians like Edyth Turnham and Her Knights of Syncopation were in high demand. These teachers, scientists, and politicians served on boards, led protests, and fought for civil rights across the state.


Join author and historian Marilyn Morgan as she chronicles the incredible lives and contributions of Washington's Black women.

Marilyn Morgan

Marilyn Morgan is an author, historian and photographer living in Seattle, Washington. Her published books include Careers in Criminology and Seattle Historic Houses of Worship, and she contributed to the New York Past to Present Photo Tour. Marilyn earned a BA degree from Virginia State University and a Documentary Production certificate from the University of Washington. She has worked for various media and organizations, including a Fortune 500 company. She loves writing, traveling and photographing the world.

The History Press