Barbara Mae Watson
(November 5, 1918 – February 18, 1983)
Barbara was a trailblazing lawyer and United States diplomat Ambassador to Malaysia. She made history as the first Black person and the first woman to serve as an Assistant Secretary of State. Here’s a detailed account of her life and career:
Early Life and Education: Barbara Mae Watson was born in New York City to James S. Watson and Violet Lopez Watson. Her parents were Jamaican immigrants, and her father was a significant figure as the first Black judge elected in New York State. Her mother, Violet, was a co-founder of the National Council of Negro Women. Barbara had three siblings, including Judge James Lopez Watson, Grace Elizabeth Watson, and Douglas C. Watson. Notably, her family connections extended to prominent figures like J. Bruce Llewellyn and Colin Powell.
She pursued her education at Barnard College, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1939, becoming the first Black woman to participate in the school’s Greek Games. Her academic journey continued as she attended New York Law School, achieving her law degree in 1962, where she graduated third in her class.
Early Career: After college, Watson worked as an interviewer for the United Seamen’s Service from 1943 to 1946. In 1946, she, alongside Jamaican commercial artist Edward Brandford and stylist Mary Yarbo, co-founded one of the pioneering licensed Black modeling agencies, Brandford Models. At the agency, she offered etiquette and charm school courses, promoting a sense of grace and sophistication. Her involvement extended to the agency’s affiliated modeling school. Eventually, she took over the agency, renaming it Barbara Watson Models by 1954. However, in 1956, she decided to close both the agency and its associated modeling school.
From 1958 to 1959, Watson served as the Student Activities Coordinator at Hampton Institute. After obtaining her law degree, she became an assistant attorney in the New York City Law Department in 1963. She then assumed the role of Executive Director of the New York City Commission to the United Nations from 1964 to 1966.
Department of State Under Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford: Barbara Watson’s career turned pivotal when she joined the United States Department of State in 1966 as a special assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration. Swiftly, she was promoted to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs, a role in which she served from 1966 to 1968, including a stint as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs. In this position, she oversaw crucial offices, including the Passport Office, the Visa Office, and the Office of Special Consular Services.
In July 1968, President Lyndon Johnson nominated Watson as the Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs. Her Senate confirmation marked her historic appointment as the first Black Assistant Secretary of State and the first woman to hold this distinguished office. In 1974, her exceptional contributions were acknowledged with the Luther I. Replogle Award for Management Improvement, and she also chaired an international consular conference in Mexico City that year.
Ouster: Notably, during 1974, the Nixon administration made several attempts to remove Watson from her position, seeking to replace her with Leonard F. Walentynowicz, a Republican lawyer from Buffalo, New York. The Ford administration eventually demanded her resignation in November.
Watson, however, continued to contribute to the legal field by working as a legal consultant for Walter Annenberg’s Triangle Publications in 1975, in addition to lecturing at various colleges and universities.
Department of State Under President Carter: In 1977, President Jimmy Carter invited Watson back to the State Department as the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Her second tenure in this role lasted from April 13, 1977, until August 17, 1980. Following this, in 1980, President Carter appointed her as the United States Ambassador to Malaysia. Watson presented her credentials on September 25, 1980, and she resigned from the position on March 1, 1981, after President Ronald Reagan accepted her letter of resignation.
Post her diplomatic career, Barbara Watson returned to private law practice, affiliating with two Washington-based firms, where she specialized in international law, business development, and trade. It’s important to note that Watson was a Democrat.
Personal Life and Legacy: Throughout her lifetime, Barbara Mae Watson was recognized and honored for her achievements. She received honorary doctorates from the University of Maryland and Mount St. Mary’s College. She was an active member of several professional associations, including the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Bar of the State of New York, and the Bar of the District of Columbia.
Watson’s contributions extended to various boards and foundations, including Fordham University, Barnard College, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, the Georgetown Center for Strategic and International Studies, Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Regrettably, Barbara Mae Watson passed away at the age of 64 due to pneumonia at George Washington Hospital in Washington, D.C., on February 18, 1983. Her legacy endures, with her papers and photographs preserved at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located at the New York Public Library. In honor of her memory, the Consular Officer of the Year Award was renamed the Barbara M. Watson Award for Consular Excellence in 1994.