Patricia Roberts Harris
May 31, 1924 – March 23, 1985)
She was a trailblazing American politician, diplomat, and legal scholar who achieved numerous historic firsts in her lifetime.
Early Life Born on May 31, 1924, in Mattoon, Illinois, Patricia was the daughter of Bert Fitzgerald Roberts, a railroad dining car waiter, and Hildren Brodie Johnson. Raised primarily by her mother and grandmother after her parents’ separation, she attended public school in Chicago.
Education Patricia excelled academically, earning scholarships to five different colleges and ultimately choosing Howard University for her undergraduate studies. There, she graduated summa cum laude in 1945, became a Phi Beta Kappa member, and served as Vice Chairman of the Howard University chapter of the NAACP. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She pursued graduate work in industrial relations at the University of Chicago before transferring to American University to receive her Master’s Degree.
In 1960, Patricia decided to pursue law at the George Washington University National Law Center, graduating as the top student in her class of ninety-four. She passed the bar exam the same year.
Career Patricia’s career journey included roles at the Young Women’s Christian Association, the American Council on Human Rights, and the U.S. Department of Justice, where she became friends with Robert F. Kennedy. She also served as a lecturer and Associate Dean of Students at Howard University.
In 1965, she made history as the first African American woman to be appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg. During the same period, she was named an alternate delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.
Returning to the Howard University School of Law, she was appointed Dean in 1969, becoming the first black woman to hold such a position. Later, she joined the prestigious law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.
In 1971, Patricia became the first Black American woman to sit on a Fortune 500 company’s board of directors when she joined IBM’s board. She also served on several other boards, including Scott Paper, the National Bank of Washington, and Chase Manhattan Bank.
Her impact on the Democratic Party was significant. She chaired the credentials committee in 1972 and became a member-at-large of the Democratic National Committee in 1973.
Patricia’s exceptional career reached its pinnacle when President Jimmy Carter appointed her to two cabinet-level positions. She served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 1977 to 1979, implementing critical programs for urban development. Subsequently, she assumed the role of Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (later renamed Health and Human Services), where she faced budget crises and management challenges.
After her government service, she became a full-time professor at the George Washington University Law School.
Mayoral Campaign and Personal Life In 1982, Patricia ran for Mayor of Washington, D.C., but was defeated during the primaries.
She was married to William Beasley Harris, and they had a strong relationship.
Legacy Patricia Roberts Harris’s legacy lives on through the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship, which supports Howard University students in pursuing domestic and international public affairs internships. She was also honored with a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal Service as part of its Black Heritage Series. In 2003, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Patricia’s remarkable life and achievements continue to inspire generations of leaders.