She Paved the Way: Charlotte E. Ray, Howard Law’s Trailblazer

Howard University stands as a beacon for Black scholars and culture. Nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., it has nurtured generations of leaders, thinkers, and artists, from Phylicia Rashad and Anthony Anderson to Vice President Kamala Harris, Chadwick Boseman, and Toni Morrison. Founded in 1867, Howard has a long tradition of cultivating Black excellence—but one of its earliest and most groundbreaking graduates deserves special recognition: Charlotte E. Ray.

Born on January 13, 1850, in New York City, Charlotte Ray was one of seven children of Charlotte and Reverend Charles Bennett Ray. Reverend Ray, a prominent abolitionist and editor for The Colored American, placed a strong emphasis on education. All three of his daughters attended college, a remarkable feat at a time when educational opportunities for Black women were extremely limited.

After the Civil War, Ray attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, D.C., a pioneering school founded by Myrtilla Miner that promised quality education for Black women. Graduating in 1869, she began her career as a teacher at Howard University’s Normal and Preparatory Department, training future educators.

Despite her beginnings in education, Ray had her sights set on law—a field almost entirely closed to women at the time. Determined to pursue her dream, she applied to Howard University School of Law under the name “C.E. Ray” to disguise her gender. Her courage and brilliance earned her acceptance, and after three years of rigorous study in commercial law, she graduated on February 27, 1872. This historic achievement made her the first woman to graduate from Howard Law and the first Black woman in the United States to earn a law degree.

Ray quickly made history again by opening her own law practice in Washington, D.C., and becoming one of the first women admitted to the bar in the nation’s capital on April 23, 1872. She used her platform to advocate for women’s rights, participating in the 1876 conference of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association. In a time when women were largely barred from practicing law, Ray took on challenging cases that others would not touch, including representing Martha Gadley, a Black woman seeking divorce from an abusive marriage. Ray argued the case all the way to the District of Columbia Supreme Court—and won, setting a precedent for women and Black clients alike.

Despite her legal skill and historic achievements, Ray faced significant challenges in attracting clients due to pervasive gender discrimination. After only a few years, she was forced to close her practice. An editorial in The Chicago Legal News noted, “Although a lawyer of decided ability, on account of prejudice was not able to obtain sufficient business and had to give up…active practice.”

Undeterred, Ray returned to New York, teaching in Brooklyn public schools and actively participating in the National Association of Colored Women. She passed away from acute bronchitis on January 4, 1911, at the age of 60.

Ray’s legacy continues to inspire. Since 1989, the Greater Washington Area Chapter of the Women Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association has honored a local Black woman lawyer each year with the Charlotte E. Ray Award. Her courage, tenacity, and trailblazing spirit remain a testament to what’s possible when determination meets talent.

We honor Charlotte Ray and the barriers she broke. Because of her, we can.