Crystal Bird Fauset is elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, the first Black woman elected to a state legislature in the United States.
At a Glance
- Date
- 8 November 1938
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Key people
- Crystal Bird Fauset
- Category
- Politics & Government
- Source
- Election records (1938) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
Her victory opened state government to Black women for the first time.
What It Means Now
Fauset later advised the Roosevelt administration on race relations.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Crystal Bird Fauset Wins a Legislative Seat.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/crystal-bird-fauset-wins-a-legislative-seat/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Crystal Bird Fauset Wins a Legislative Seat. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/crystal-bird-fauset-wins-a-legislative-seat/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Crystal Bird Fauset Wins a Legislative Seat.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/crystal-bird-fauset-wins-a-legislative-seat/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.