February 2020: Year of the Woman

Violet Hill Whyte

‘Lady Law’ was the nickname given to the first African American police officer to serve in Baltimore City, Lieutenant Violet Hill Whyte.  When she was appointed in 1937, she was given only a badge and a police box key, and was sent to the Northwestern District at Pennsylvania Avenue and Dolphin Street.  In her time as a police officer, Lieutenant Whyte was described as both an officer and a social worker, fighting against child abuse, narcotics, and robberies, while also holding kids accountable for not skipping school, and organizing donations for inmates and local families in need. 

Violet’s achievements shine even brighter when compared to what she overcame in her position as a public servant.  At this time, schools were still heavily segregated, and it wasn’t until December of 1955 that Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat on the bus, igniting nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities.  And, even though all women could vote when the 19^th Amendment was passed in 1920, it was not ratified by Maryland until March 29, 1941, and the amendment faced significant push back in the state during that time.  All the while, Lieutenant Whyte was patrolling the streets of Baltimore.  A Baltimore Sun editorial described Whyte saying, “she worked in an all-white, male-dominated institution and won its respect through hard work and human understanding."  Whyte, and so many women like her who worked hard and advocated for their right to be treated as equals, helped pave the way for women to work in public service careers, opening the door for women today to be rangers, maintenance technicians, park managers, naturalists, and more.

Whyte told The Sun in 1963, "Twenty-five years ago many people told me I wouldn't last as a policewoman. But I kept well and took every job that any man took as a matter of course -- except heavy lifting. I was not inhibited and accepted every case that came my way."

Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/articles/maryland-and-the-19th-amendment.htm
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1997-02-02-1997033091-story.html
https://collections.digitalmaryland.org/digital/collection/acfp/id/4121
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/remembering-bpds-first-female-african-american-officer/8692495

Guest Blogger: Taylor Lundstrom - Southern Maryland Recreational Complex

Taylor is a ranger at Southern Maryland Recreational Complex where she enjoys all of what southern Maryland has to offer from the Potomac River to the Chesapeake Bay, and all of the forests in between.  She can frequently be found out maintaining trails, identifying invasives, or working with their wonderful MCC crew.