Dr. Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander

Law
Civil Rights
AME
References
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Brief

    Dr. Mossell (1898-1989), hailing from the distinguished Mossell and Tanner family lines, was an attorney, civic servant, economist, and humanitarian. She was the first Black woman to graduate from University of Penn Law School and the first Black woman admitted to the Pennsylvania bar (1927).  She was also the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in Economics in the United States (University of Pennsylvania, 1921),1 and the first National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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Collections & Papers‍

Penn Libraries, University of Pennsylvania, University Archives & Records Center | Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Papers

UPT 50 A374S. This collection is a Gift of the Alexander Family. It contains articles, resumes, interview materials, materials from her legal practice, clippings; personal, professional and family correspondence, financial records, M street high school material, papers from her civic and social groups, writings, speeches, publications, honors and awards, audio visual material, family and genealogy records, and books.

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Attributions
Unknown. (c. 1948). [Photograph of Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander]. Philadelphia Tribune Archives. As cited in D'Onofrio, M. (2018, October 23). Statue for lawyer, civil rights advocate long overdue, officials say. The Philadelphia Tribune. https://www.phillytrib.com/news/statue-for-lawyer-civil-rights-advocate-long-overdue-officials-say/article_89cf7eee-3814-57fc-b66e-354860025b78.html
Attributions
Attributions
Image 2 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Gamma Chapter. Penn's first Black sorority (organized 1918), group photograph [Photograph]. (1921, Dec). Left to right: front, Virginia Margaret Alexander, Julia Mae Polk, Sadie Tanner Mossell; row 2, Anna R. Johnson, Nellie Rathbone Bright, Pauline Alice Young. UPT 50 A374S, Alexander Family Papers, Box 76, folder 14. https://jstor.org/stable/community.22108885. Image 3 Diploma, Sadie Tanner Mossell, Ph.D. 1921. (1921). [Diploma]. UPT 50 A374S, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Papers, Box OS10B. https://jstor.org/stable/community.30521327
Birth
January 2, 1898, Philadelphia, PA
Death
November 1, 1989 (age 91), Philadelphia, PA
Resting Place
Language(s)
Spouse(s)

Raymond Pace Alexander (m. 1923)

Partner(s)
Relatives

➣Benjamin Tucker Tanner (Grandfather, AME Bishop, founder of The Christian Recorder)

➣Dr. Virginia Margaret Alexander (Sister-in-law)

➣Aaron Albert Mossell II (Father & first Black person to graduate from University of Pennsylvania Law School);

➣Nathan Francis Mossell (Paternal Uncle & first Black person to graduate from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine);

➣Gertrude Bustill Mossell (Aunt by Marriage to paternal uncle Nathan Francis Mossell);

➣Lewis Baxter Moore (Uncle by marriage to maternal aunt Sadie Elizabeth Tanner, the first Black person to earn a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, and Dean of Howard University's Teacher's College);

➣Halle Tanner Dillion Johnson (Maternal Aunt & The first woman physician in Alabama);

➣Henry Ossawa Tanner (Maternal Uncle & Artist)

Associate(s)
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Influenced By
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Colleague(s)
Collaborator(s)
Children
Awards & Honors
Parents
Occupation
Certification(s)
License(s)
Education
University of Pennsylvania; M Street School (now Dunbar High School)
Organization(s)

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (First National President, 1919-1923)

Appointment(s)
Notable Works
Notable Performances
Notable Moments
Military Rank/Branch
Years of Service
Political Affiliation
Genre(s)
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Legacy
Thesis
Books
Website
*some sources say April 6, 1845

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