Lucy Stanton Day Sessions was born on October 16, 1831, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Samuel and Margaret Stanton, free African Americans. Her father, a barber, died when she was just 18 months old, leaving her mother to raise her alone until Margaret married John Brown, a prominent Black abolitionist and businessman in Cleveland. Brown’s involvement in the Underground Railroad and his establishment of the Cleveland Free School, where Lucy received her early education due to racial restrictions in public schools, profoundly shaped her worldview. Growing up in a household steeped in antislavery activism, Lucy developed a strong commitment to social justice from an early age.
In 1846, at the age of 15, Lucy enrolled at Oberlin College in Ohio, a progressive institution known for admitting African Americans and women. She pursued the Ladies’ Literary Course, a rigorous four-year program, and distinguished herself as a scholar and leader. Elected as the first Black president of the Ladies’ Literary Society, she honed her skills in public speaking and advocacy. In 1850, she graduated with honors, becoming the first African American woman to complete a four-year college course, a historic milestone. Her commencement address, titled “A Plea for the Oppressed,” was a powerful call for the abolition of slavery, published in The Oberlin Evangelist and widely circulated among antislavery advocates. Although the Literary Course was not formally equivalent to a bachelor’s degree (Oberlin awarded the first to Mary Jane Patterson in 1862), Lucy’s achievement broke significant barriers for Black women in higher education.
Following graduation, Lucy embarked on a career in education and activism. She taught at a Black public school in Columbus, Ohio, and later served as a principal in Cleveland, demonstrating her dedication to uplifting her community through education. In 1852, she married William Howard Day, an Oberlin graduate, abolitionist, and editor of The Aliened American, Cleveland’s first African American newspaper. Lucy contributed to the newspaper as a librarian and editor, managing subscriptions and editorial content. In 1853, she published a short story, “Charles and Clara Hays,” in The Aliened American, which is recognized as one of the earliest works of fiction by an African American woman. The couple moved to Buxton, Canada, in 1856, a settlement for fugitive slaves, where they taught and supported the community. In 1858, they welcomed their daughter, Florence. However, their marriage deteriorated, and William abandoned Lucy and Florence in 1859 to pursue opportunities in England. Lucy returned to Cleveland, supporting herself and her daughter as a seamstress while continuing her abolitionist work. The couple formally divorced in 1872.
In 1866, the Cleveland Freedmen’s Association sponsored Lucy to teach freed slaves in Georgia and Mississippi, where she worked tirelessly to educate formerly enslaved individuals during Reconstruction. Despite her qualifications, she faced significant challenges, including rejection from a missionary program due to social stigma against her status as a single mother. Undeterred, Lucy persevered in her educational mission. In 1878, while in Mississippi, she married Levi Sessions, a farmer and community leader. The couple settled in Tennessee, where Lucy continued her work in education and became deeply involved in civic and religious organizations. She served as president of the local Women’s Christian Temperance Union, advocating for social reform, and held leadership roles as an officer in the Women’s Relief Corps and grand matron of the Order of Eastern Star. Her commitment to education persisted, and she taught at institutions such as Normal A&M College in Alabama during the 1896–97 academic year. A devoted member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lucy integrated her faith into her activism, supporting community upliftment and philanthropy.
In 1903, Lucy and Levi relocated to Los Angeles, California, seeking new opportunities. There, she remained active in community organizations, continuing her lifelong dedication to education, women’s rights, and racial justice. Lucy Stanton Day Sessions passed away on February 18, 1910, in Los Angeles and was laid to rest in Rosedale Cemetery. She was survived by her husband, Levi, and her daughter, Florence. Her life was marked by resilience, intellectual achievement, and an unwavering commitment to abolition, education, and gender equality, making her a trailblazer whose legacy endures in the history of African American women’s contributions to American society.