1893 – Mary Fields, "Stagecoach Mary," Becomes First Black Woman Mail Carrier

On May 5, 1893, Mary Fields, known as “Stagecoach Mary,” officially secured her contract as a U.S. mail carrier in Montana. Born enslaved around 1832, Fields was renowned for her resilience and fearlessness. Her role broke both racial and gender barriers, as she protected mail routes with a rifle and a revolver. Her story resonates internationally as an example of African-descended women’s pioneering spirit in frontier territories dominated by racial prejudice.