Engraved Metal Bookmark Belonging to Ethel L. Payne

20th century

This metal bookmark belonged to journalist Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991), who grew up in a family that loved to read. Engraved on the golden marker’s center tab are Payne’s initials, encircled by elegant scrolling. The bookmark’s Art Deco style emerged in Payne’s youth. A Chicago native, she aspired to write novels and took creative writing classes before becoming a reporter. In 1952, Payne moved to Washington, DC to cover national and international news for the preeminent African American newspaper, The Chicago Defender. The longtime civil rights activist reported from thirty countries over the course of her career, becoming known as the First Lady of the Black Press.