A Portrayal of Maritgha Lyons

Today, I had a visit from a lovely young lady with a passion for history. I helped her with her first historic attire for a portrayal of

Maritcha Lyons- 

The Lyons' home was attacked several times during the New York City Draft Riots of July 1863. Lyons was a teenager at the time. She fled with her family to Salem, Massachusetts for a short time before returning to Brooklyn. Because of the ongoing danger, her parents sent the children to Providence, Rhode 
Island.

In 1865, Lyons was refused entry to the high school in Providence because she was African-American. The state had no high school for black children.. The family successfully sued the state of Rhode Island in a campaign to bring an end to segregated schools. At the age of 16, she testified before the state legislature, "pleading for the opening of the door of opportunity". Lyons later became the first African-American student to graduate from Providence High School.