Ida B. Wells
1862 – 1931

Ida B. Wells

American journalist and civil rights activist (1862–1931)

newspaperpersonsuffragistsociologistjournalisthuman rights defender
Born
1862-07-16, Holly Springs
Died
1931-03-25
Birthplace state
Mississippi

Biography

Ida Bell Wells-Barnett was an American investigative journalist, sociologist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Wells dedicated her career to combating prejudice and violence, and advocating for African-American equality—especially for women.

Occupation

Ida B. Wells is recorded as a newspaperperson, a suffragist, a sociologist, a journalist, a human rights defender, a civil rights advocate and a writer, born in Mississippi (1862–1931).

Connections to Mississippi

Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1862. Explore other notable figures from Mississippi, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Holly Springs

Ida B. Wells came from Holly Springs. A full Aubrey report on Holly Springs pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Ida B. Wells

Who was Ida B. Wells?
Ida B. Wells was American journalist and civil rights activist (1862–1931), born in Mississippi (1862 – 1931).
When and where was Ida B. Wells born?
Ida B. Wells was born on 1862-07-16 in Holly Springs.
When did Ida B. Wells die?
Ida died on 1931-03-25.
What was Ida B. Wells known for?
Ida B. Wells is recorded as a newspaperperson, a suffragist, a sociologist, a journalist, a human rights defender, a civil rights advocate and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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