# Mrs. Washington — Up from Slavery character guide

> Mrs. Washington in Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Washington

**First appearance:** 0014-xi-making-their-beds-before-they-could-lie-on-them

## Snapshot

Washington's third wife, a Fisk graduate and Lady Principal of Tuskegee, who runs mothers' meetings, plantation work, and a national federation of Black women's clubs.

## Who they are

She is Washington's partner in the school's daily machinery, relieving him of burdens and perplexities while leading a mothers' meeting in town and plantation work eight miles out. Her club and federation roles extend Tuskegee's reach into a wider network of Black women's organizing. She embodies the book's quieter theme: that the school's mission is carried as much by domestic and community labor as by speeches, and that Washington's public life costs him the home evenings he most craves.

## In the story

### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/chapters/dedication)

Dedicatee of the volume, recognized for her patience, fidelity, and hard work.

### [II: Boyhood Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/chapters/ii-boyhood-days)

Washington's mother, who supports his educational ambitions and procures a spelling book for him.

### [Two Thousand Miles for a Five-Minute Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/chapters/xiii-two-thousand-miles-for-a-five-minute-speech)

Booker T. Washington's wife, who reviews and approves his address before he delivers it.

### [XV: The Secret of Success in Public Speaking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/chapters/xv-the-secret-of-success-in-public-speaking)

Supports Mr. Logan in the executive role during Washington's absence.

### [Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/chapters/xvi-europe)

Margaret James Murray, Lady Principal at Tuskegee, runs mothers' meetings, plantation work, a women's club, and leads the Federation of Southern Coloured Women's Clubs.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/characters/mrs_washington
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/up_from_slavery_se/characters