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John Henry Ryan (1865 - 1943) was a businessman, newspaperman, and state legislator in the U.S. state of Washington.[1][2] He lived in Tacoma, Washington. He was a member of the NAACP.[3] He was elected as a member of three different political parties.

He and his wife published The Weekly and then The Forum newspapers.[4]

In 1889, William Owen Bush became the first African American to serve in Washington’s legislature, serving at its inaugural session. Charles Stokes was elected to the legislature in the early 1950s.[5]

Career

He served in 1921[6] and 1923.[7] He and other House members were included in a photo montage of members.[6] He wore glasses.[8]

He was the only African American serving in the Washington House of Representatives. He was in the Tacoma branch of the NAACP. He helped defeat a proposal for an anti-intermarriage bill.[9]

He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was one of 12 children born to George R. and Mary Elizabeth (Gatliffe) Ryan. He married Ella Alexander.[2] She edited their newspaper The Forum.[2] She wrote an editorial against chain gang]]s.[1]

His grandmother was Cherokee.[1]

He compiled Ryan's Legislative Manual published in 1907.[1] He opposed a proposed bill to fingerprint vagrants.[1]

He changed his name to Senator J. H. Ryan.[1] He published Ryan's Weekly.[1]

See also

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Ryan, John Henry (1865-1943) and Ella (1866-?)". HistoryLink.
  2. ^ a b c "Ella & John Ryan". Blackpast. January 21, 2007.
  3. ^ Taylor, Quintard (June 7, 2022). The Forging of a Black Community: Seattle's Central District from 1870 through the Civil Rights Era. University of Washington Press. ISBN 9780295750651 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Hornsby, Alton (August 31, 2011). Black America: A State-by-State Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313341120 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Charles Stokes becomes Washington's third Black legislator and Seattle's first Black representative in Olympia in 1950". HistoryLink.
  6. ^ a b "House Class Photos 1921". leg.wa.gov.
  7. ^ "House Class Photos 1923". leg.wa.gov.
  8. ^ "Negro Year Book". Negro Year Book Publishing Company. February 18, 1922 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Taylor, Quintard (July 1, 2011). "The Forging of a Black Community: Seattle's Central District from 1870 through the Civil Rights Era". University of Washington Press – via Google Books.
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