Mary Ellen Pleasant - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 04:52, 27 May 2025

2025-05-27T04:52:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:52, 26 May 2025
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	''Photo: courtesy OpenSFHistory.org wnp71.1598''		''Photo: courtesy OpenSFHistory.org wnp71.1598''

			[[Image:Gough-and-Bush-Sts-Mary-Ellen-Pleasant-mansion.jpg]]

			'''A later view of the mansion from across Bush Street looking south. The eucalyptus trees she planted are visible at left.'''

			''Photo: provenance unknown''

	Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant became an important western terminus of the underground railroad in San Francisco during the 1850s. By placing maids and servants throughout the homes of San Francisco's rich, she came to wield (secret) power among San Francisco's elite.		Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant became an important western terminus of the underground railroad in San Francisco during the 1850s. By placing maids and servants throughout the homes of San Francisco's rich, she came to wield (secret) power among San Francisco's elite.
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	Or so the received story has it. Recently researcher Susheel Bibbs has been digging through the record and has determined that a lot of what we know has been derived from articles in newspapers that were basically scandal sheets of the time. Helen Holdredge's book, from which I learned most of what I based this article on, suffers from the same problem. Bibbs' research adds some fascinating bits to the story.		Or so the received story has it. Recently researcher Susheel Bibbs has been digging through the record and has determined that a lot of what we know has been derived from articles in newspapers that were basically scandal sheets of the time. Helen Holdredge's book, from which I learned most of what I based this article on, suffers from the same problem. Bibbs' research adds some fascinating bits to the story.

	[[Image:aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-old.jpg~~\|left\|thumb\|~~'''Mary Ellen Pleasant''']]		[[Image:aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-old.jpg]]

			'''Mary Ellen Pleasant'''

	"In 1858, amid a depression and widespread anti-black sentiment, she returned East to free a brother-in-law and to join John Brown's mission to free slaves near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Brown was hanged after being caught while trying to capture a federal arsenal; Pleasant escaped and returned to California. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation and a similar law in California, Pleasant declared her race openly. She sued to win the right for blacks to ride the trolleys and won (''Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railway'') in 1868. Her businesses continued to grow, and her investment in quicksilver mining and silver/gold exchanges amassed a $30 million fortune for her and her silent partner, Scotsman Thomas Bell." (from "Mary Ellen Pleasant: Unsung Heroine" by Steve Crowe in ''Crisis,'' Jan-Feb 1999)		"In 1858, amid a depression and widespread anti-black sentiment, she returned East to free a brother-in-law and to join John Brown's mission to free slaves near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Brown was hanged after being caught while trying to capture a federal arsenal; Pleasant escaped and returned to California. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation and a similar law in California, Pleasant declared her race openly. She sued to win the right for blacks to ride the trolleys and won (''Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railway'') in 1868. Her businesses continued to grow, and her investment in quicksilver mining and silver/gold exchanges amassed a $30 million fortune for her and her silent partner, Scotsman Thomas Bell." (from "Mary Ellen Pleasant: Unsung Heroine" by Steve Crowe in ''Crisis,'' Jan-Feb 1999)

Ccarlsson: replaced photo

2022-08-02T03:09:11Z

replaced photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:09, 1 August 2022
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	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	[[Image:~~Mary-Ellen-Pleasant-mansion-~~on-Bush~~-and-~~Octavia~~-full-lot-view-via-Doris-M~~.jpg]]		[[Image:View west from an undeveloped lot on Octavia Street between Sutter and Bush. Bell residence at right. Laurel Hill Cemetery in distance. Octavia near Sutter 1870s wnp71.1598.jpg\|800px]]

	'''Mary Ellen Pleasant's mansion at Bush and Octavia, c. ~~1880s~~.'''		'''Mary Ellen Pleasant's mansion at Bush and Octavia, c. 1870s.'''

	''Photo: courtesy ~~Doris M on Facebook~~''		''Photo: courtesy OpenSFHistory.org wnp71.1598''

	Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant became an important western terminus of the underground railroad in San Francisco during the 1850s. By placing maids and servants throughout the homes of San Francisco's rich, she came to wield (secret) power among San Francisco's elite.		Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant became an important western terminus of the underground railroad in San Francisco during the 1850s. By placing maids and servants throughout the homes of San Francisco's rich, she came to wield (secret) power among San Francisco's elite.

Ccarlsson: fixed location of Geneva Cottage, thanks to Amy O'Hair, and added neighborhoods

2021-01-20T23:11:33Z

fixed location of Geneva Cottage, thanks to Amy O'Hair, and added neighborhoods

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:11, 20 January 2021
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	[[Bell Mansion\| Thomas Bell]] became a director of the all-powerful Bank of California and Mammy was his closest (and secret) advisor. Meanwhile, she bought and sold dozens of properties, running boarding houses and specializing in developing protéges (i.e. beautiful young women) whom she would endeavor to marry off to the ''nouveau riche'' miners and bankers that frequented her boarding houses. She also built a house, then far out of town, known as "Geneva Cottage," at the corner of the San Jose and Geneva Avenues (now the location of the [[United Railroads Geneva Car Barn\|Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse]]), which was the infamous site of numerous wild bacchanalian parties, attended by wealthy San Franciscan men and a bevy of beautiful young women.		[[Bell Mansion\| Thomas Bell]] became a director of the all-powerful Bank of California and Mammy was his closest (and secret) advisor. Meanwhile, she bought and sold dozens of properties, running boarding houses and specializing in developing protéges (i.e. beautiful young women) whom she would endeavor to marry off to the ''nouveau riche'' miners and bankers that frequented her boarding houses. She also built a house, then far out of town, known as "Geneva Cottage," at the corner of the San Jose and Geneva Avenues (now the location of the [[United Railroads Geneva Car Barn\|Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse]]), which was the infamous site of numerous wild bacchanalian parties, attended by wealthy San Franciscan men and a bevy of beautiful young women.

	The mysterious death of one young woman at ~~the~~ Geneva Cottage led to a consolidation of Mammy's influence as she collected blackmail from the attendees to keep quiet the circumstances of her death. Other associates of Mammy also died mysteriously, often after trying to turn the blackmailing tables on Mammy, but she was never accused, tried, or convicted of any such crime.		The mysterious death of one young woman at Geneva Cottage led to a consolidation of Mammy's influence as she collected blackmail from the attendees to keep quiet the circumstances of her death. Other associates of Mammy also died mysteriously, often after trying to turn the blackmailing tables on Mammy, but she was never accused, tried, or convicted of any such crime.

			She sought power through several primary techniques: she continued to sponsor runaway slaves as hundreds arrived in SF thanks to her aid. These people she placed in businesses and homes of the city, and they became her ears on the town. She sponsored and housed a number of young women, many of whom continued to follow her wishes for years. She spent a lot of her large fortune on the poor and destitute, earning considerable good will and power. She also used her position as madame to gain control through blackmail over many of the richest men in San Francisco, even helping them dispose of various children their dalliances gave rise to. And finally, Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant used her talent with the voodoo religious rites to control her followers through religious terror.

	~~She sought power~~ through ~~several primary techniques: she continued to sponsor runaway slaves as hundreds arrived in SF thanks to her aid. These people she placed in businesses and homes of~~ the ~~city, and they became her ears on the town. She sponsored~~ and ~~housed~~ a ~~number~~ of ~~young women, many~~ of ~~whom continued to follow her wishes for years~~. ~~She spent a lot~~ of ~~her large fortune~~ on the ~~poor and destitute, earning considerable good will and power~~. ~~She also used her position as madame~~ to ~~gain control through blackmail over many of~~ the ~~richest men in San Francisco, even helping them dispose of various children their dalliances gave rise to~~. ~~And finally,~~ Mary Ellen ~~"Mammy"~~ Pleasant ~~used her talent with the voodoo religious rites to control her followers through religious terror.~~		Or so the received story has it. Recently researcher Susheel Bibbs has been digging through the record and has determined that a lot of what we know has been derived from articles in newspapers that were basically scandal sheets of the time. Helen Holdredge's book, from which I learned most of what I based this article on, suffers from the same problem. Bibbs' research adds some fascinating bits to the story.

			[[Image:aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-old.jpg\|left\|thumb\|'''Mary Ellen Pleasant''']]

	~~Or so the received story has it~~. ~~Recently researcher Susheel Bibbs has been digging through~~ the ~~record~~ and ~~has determined that~~ a ~~lot of what we know has been derived from articles~~ in ~~newspapers that were basically scandal sheets of~~ the ~~time~~. ~~Helen Holdridge~~'~~s book~~, from ~~which I learned most of what I based this article on~~, ~~suffers from the same problem. Bibbs~~' ~~research adds some fascinating bits to the story.~~		"In 1858, amid a depression and widespread anti-black sentiment, she returned East to free a brother-in-law and to join John Brown's mission to free slaves near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Brown was hanged after being caught while trying to capture a federal arsenal; Pleasant escaped and returned to California. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation and a similar law in California, Pleasant declared her race openly. She sued to win the right for blacks to ride the trolleys and won (''Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railway'') in 1868. Her businesses continued to grow, and her investment in quicksilver mining and silver/gold exchanges amassed a $30 million fortune for her and her silent partner, Scotsman Thomas Bell." (from "Mary Ellen Pleasant: Unsung Heroine" by Steve Crowe in ''Crisis,'' Jan-Feb 1999)

	~~[[Image~~:aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-old.jpg\|left\|thumb\|'''Mary Ellen Pleasant''']] "In 1858, amid a depression and widespread anti-black sentiment, she returned East to free a brother-in-law and to join John Brown's mission to free slaves near Harper's Ferry W. Virginia. Brown was hanged after being caught while trying to capture a federal arsenal; Pleasant escaped and returned to California. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation and a similar law in California, Pleasant declared her race openly. She sued to win the right for blacks to ride the trolleys and won (Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railway) in 1868. Her businesses continued to grow, and her investment in quicksilver mining and silver/~~gold exchanges amassed a $30 million fortune for her and her silent partner, Scotsman Thomas Bell." [from "Mary Ellen Pleasant: Unsung Heroine" by Steve Crowe in ''Crisis'', Jan-Feb 1999]~~		<font size=4>2007 postscript:</font size>

	~~'''2007 postscript:'''~~ Since this piece was originally written an excellent [http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/63kne2zm9780252027710.html book], ''The Making of Mammy Pleasant'' by Lynn Hudson has been published. Hudson does a great job of analyzing the way the stories surrounding Mary Ellen Pleasant were manufactured from public records, courtroom testimonies, and gossip-sheet newspapers, recompiled by Helen Holdredge into her breathless accounts, and finally offers the most cogent view of who this woman was and how she managed to make her way at a time when neither women nor blacks had anything approaching full citizenship or rights. Hudson's book is definitely the best, first place to get the Pleasant story. Another recommended version is the fictional account by Michelle Cliff called [http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100835200&fa=author&person_id=5002&publishergcoicode=87286 ''Free Enterprise''] which dramatizes Pleasant's saga in historically detailed and insightful ways.		Since this piece was originally written an excellent [http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/63kne2zm9780252027710.html book], ''The Making of Mammy Pleasant'' by Lynn Hudson has been published. Hudson does a great job of analyzing the way the stories surrounding Mary Ellen Pleasant were manufactured from public records, courtroom testimonies, and gossip-sheet newspapers, recompiled by Helen Holdredge into her breathless accounts, and finally offers the most cogent view of who this woman was and how she managed to make her way at a time when neither women nor blacks had anything approaching full citizenship or rights. Hudson's book is definitely the best, first place to get the Pleasant story. Another recommended version is the fictional account by Michelle Cliff called [http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100835200&fa=author&person_id=5002&publishergcoicode=87286 ''Free Enterprise''] which dramatizes Pleasant's saga in historically detailed and insightful ways.

Ccarlsson: fixed location of Geneva Cottage, thanks to Amy O'Hair, and added neighborhoods

2021-01-20T23:07:46Z

fixed location of Geneva Cottage, thanks to Amy O'Hair, and added neighborhoods

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 20 January 2021
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	She sometimes visited plantations dressed as a jockey, other times as a shabby man on a delivery wagon. After getting trained as a cook, Mary Ellen found a job on a local plantation, right under the noses of the local gentry. Overhearing speculation about her origins one night, Mary Ellen made a hasty escape, and took the four-month sea journey around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco on April 7, 1852. On the journey she met a Scottish fellow named Thomas Bell, over whom she would maintain a powerful influence throughout the next three decades, as they both became millionaires speculating on mining and banking interests. By her death in 1904, Mammy had lost most of her fortune, and a good deal of Thomas Bell's as well.		She sometimes visited plantations dressed as a jockey, other times as a shabby man on a delivery wagon. After getting trained as a cook, Mary Ellen found a job on a local plantation, right under the noses of the local gentry. Overhearing speculation about her origins one night, Mary Ellen made a hasty escape, and took the four-month sea journey around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco on April 7, 1852. On the journey she met a Scottish fellow named Thomas Bell, over whom she would maintain a powerful influence throughout the next three decades, as they both became millionaires speculating on mining and banking interests. By her death in 1904, Mammy had lost most of her fortune, and a good deal of Thomas Bell's as well.

	[[Bell Mansion\| Thomas Bell]] became a director of the all-powerful Bank of California and Mammy was his closest (and secret) advisor. Meanwhile, she bought and sold dozens of properties, running boarding houses and specializing in developing protéges (i.e. beautiful young women) whom she would endeavor to marry off to the ''nouveau riche'' miners and bankers that frequented her boarding houses. She also built a house, then far out of town, known as ~~the~~ "Geneva Cottage," at the corner of the San Jose ~~road~~ and Geneva (now the ~~corner of Geneva and Bayshore Boulevard near the toxic wasteland~~ of ~~the Southern Pacific rail yards and~~ the [[~~San Bruno Mountain~~ \|~~Brisbane lagoon~~]]), which was the infamous site of numerous wild bacchanalian parties, attended by wealthy San Franciscan men and a bevy of beautiful young women.		[[Bell Mansion\| Thomas Bell]] became a director of the all-powerful Bank of California and Mammy was his closest (and secret) advisor. Meanwhile, she bought and sold dozens of properties, running boarding houses and specializing in developing protéges (i.e. beautiful young women) whom she would endeavor to marry off to the ''nouveau riche'' miners and bankers that frequented her boarding houses. She also built a house, then far out of town, known as "Geneva Cottage," at the corner of the San Jose and Geneva Avenues (now the location of the [[United Railroads Geneva Car Barn\|Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse]]), which was the infamous site of numerous wild bacchanalian parties, attended by wealthy San Franciscan men and a bevy of beautiful young women.

	The mysterious death of one young woman at the Geneva Cottage led to a consolidation of Mammy's influence as she collected blackmail from the attendees to keep quiet the circumstances of her death. Other associates of Mammy also died mysteriously, often after trying to turn the blackmailing tables on Mammy, but she was never accused, tried, or convicted of any such crime.		The mysterious death of one young woman at the Geneva Cottage led to a consolidation of Mammy's influence as she collected blackmail from the attendees to keep quiet the circumstances of her death. Other associates of Mammy also died mysteriously, often after trying to turn the blackmailing tables on Mammy, but she was never accused, tried, or convicted of any such crime.
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	[[Fleming on Segregation \|Prev. Document]] [[Racism in the Clubs\|Next Document]]		[[Fleming on Segregation \|Prev. Document]] [[Racism in the Clubs\|Next Document]]

	[[category:African-American]] [[category:women]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1860s]] [[category:transit]] [[category:1870s]] [[category:1890s]]		[[category:African-American]] [[category:women]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1860s]] [[category:transit]] [[category:1870s]] [[category:1890s]] [[category:Excelsior]] [[category:Western Addition]]

Ccarlsson: added to HSF tour

2020-08-31T20:27:41Z

added to HSF tour

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:27, 31 August 2020
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	[[Image:Foundsf-hsf-icon.gif\|link=NATIVE AMERICANS in the MISSION ECONOMY]]<br>		[[Image:Foundsf-hsf-icon.gif\|link=NATIVE AMERICANS in the MISSION ECONOMY]]<br>
	Next Stop #2: [NATIVE AMERICANS in the MISSION ECONOMY\| Indian Slavery]]		Next Stop #2: [[NATIVE AMERICANS in the MISSION ECONOMY\| Indian Slavery]]

	<hr>		<hr>

Ccarlsson: added to HSF tour

2020-08-31T20:27:19Z

added to HSF tour

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:27, 31 August 2020
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	''by Chris Carlsson''		''by Chris Carlsson''

			<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/hidden-san-francisco-stop-d-1-underground-railroad" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

			<hr>

			[[Image:Foundsf-hsf-icon.gif\|link=NATIVE AMERICANS in the MISSION ECONOMY]]<br>
			Next Stop #2: [NATIVE AMERICANS in the MISSION ECONOMY\| Indian Slavery]]

			<hr>

	[[Image:Sfcall May 7 1899.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Sfcall May 7 1899.jpg\|720px]]

Ccarlsson: upgraded photo

2020-07-02T00:08:28Z

upgraded photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:08, 1 July 2020
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	''by Chris Carlsson''		''by Chris Carlsson''

	[[Image:~~aframer1$sunday-call-cover~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Sfcall May 7 1899.jpg\|720px]]

	'''''Sunday Call'' cover (Mary Pleasant)'''		'''''Sunday Call'' cover, May 7, 1899 (Mary Pleasant)'''

	[[Image:Pleasant-trees-cc 3397.jpg\|470px]]		[[Image:Pleasant-trees-cc 3397.jpg\|470px]]
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	[[Fleming on Segregation \|Prev. Document]] [[Racism in the Clubs\|Next Document]]		[[Fleming on Segregation \|Prev. Document]] [[Racism in the Clubs\|Next Document]]

	[[category:African-American]] [[category:women]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1860s]] [[category:transit]] [[category:1870s]]		[[category:African-American]] [[category:women]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1860s]] [[category:transit]] [[category:1870s]] [[category:1890s]]

Ccarlsson: added photo

2018-11-13T06:38:49Z

added photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:38, 12 November 2018
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	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

			[[Image:Mary-Ellen-Pleasant-mansion-on-Bush-and-Octavia-full-lot-view-via-Doris-M.jpg]]

			'''Mary Ellen Pleasant's mansion at Bush and Octavia, c. 1880s.'''

			''Photo: courtesy Doris M on Facebook''

	Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant became an important western terminus of the underground railroad in San Francisco during the 1850s. By placing maids and servants throughout the homes of San Francisco's rich, she came to wield (secret) power among San Francisco's elite.		Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant became an important western terminus of the underground railroad in San Francisco during the 1850s. By placing maids and servants throughout the homes of San Francisco's rich, she came to wield (secret) power among San Francisco's elite.

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2014-08-05T22:10:11Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:10, 5 August 2014
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	'''These eucalyptus trees are more than a century old, planted at Bush and Octavia when it was the site of Mary Ellen Pleasant's [[Bell Mansion\|home]].'''		'''These eucalyptus trees are more than a century old, planted at Bush and Octavia when it was the site of Mary Ellen Pleasant's [[Bell Mansion\|home]].'''

			''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

			[[Image:Mary-ellen-pleasant-plaque-in-ground 3402.jpg]]

			'''Plaque commemmorating Mary Ellen Pleasant amidst the eucalyptus trees on Laguna.'''

	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

Lisaruth: removed photo of "young" mary ellen, reader called authenticity into question. aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-young.jpg

2014-05-05T16:47:49Z

removed photo of "young" mary ellen, reader called authenticity into question. aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-young.jpg

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:47, 5 May 2014
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	''by Chris Carlsson''		''by Chris Carlsson''

	[[Image:aframer1$~~mary~~-~~ellen~~-~~pleasant-young~~.jpg]]		[[Image:aframer1$sunday-call-cover.jpg]]

	'''Mary ~~Ellen~~ Pleasant ~~young photograph~~'''		'''''Sunday Call'' cover (Mary Pleasant)'''

	[[Image:Pleasant-trees-cc 3397.jpg\|470px]]		[[Image:Pleasant-trees-cc 3397.jpg\|470px]]
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	The mysterious death of one young woman at the Geneva Cottage led to a consolidation of Mammy's influence as she collected blackmail from the attendees to keep quiet the circumstances of her death. Other associates of Mammy also died mysteriously, often after trying to turn the blackmailing tables on Mammy, but she was never accused, tried, or convicted of any such crime.		The mysterious death of one young woman at the Geneva Cottage led to a consolidation of Mammy's influence as she collected blackmail from the attendees to keep quiet the circumstances of her death. Other associates of Mammy also died mysteriously, often after trying to turn the blackmailing tables on Mammy, but she was never accused, tried, or convicted of any such crime.

	~~[[Image:aframer1$sunday-call-cover.jpg]]~~

	~~'''''Sunday Call'' cover (Mary Pleasant)'''~~

	She sought power through several primary techniques: she continued to sponsor runaway slaves as hundreds arrived in SF thanks to her aid. These people she placed in businesses and homes of the city, and they became her ears on the town. She sponsored and housed a number of young women, many of whom continued to follow her wishes for years. She spent a lot of her large fortune on the poor and destitute, earning considerable good will and power. She also used her position as madame to gain control through blackmail over many of the richest men in San Francisco, even helping them dispose of various children their dalliances gave rise to. And finally, Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant used her talent with the voodoo religious rites to control her followers through religious terror.		She sought power through several primary techniques: she continued to sponsor runaway slaves as hundreds arrived in SF thanks to her aid. These people she placed in businesses and homes of the city, and they became her ears on the town. She sponsored and housed a number of young women, many of whom continued to follow her wishes for years. She spent a lot of her large fortune on the poor and destitute, earning considerable good will and power. She also used her position as madame to gain control through blackmail over many of the richest men in San Francisco, even helping them dispose of various children their dalliances gave rise to. And finally, Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant used her talent with the voodoo religious rites to control her followers through religious terror.
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	Or so the received story has it. Recently researcher Susheel Bibbs has been digging through the record and has determined that a lot of what we know has been derived from articles in newspapers that were basically scandal sheets of the time. Helen Holdridge's book, from which I learned most of what I based this article on, suffers from the same problem. Bibbs' research adds some fascinating bits to the story.		Or so the received story has it. Recently researcher Susheel Bibbs has been digging through the record and has determined that a lot of what we know has been derived from articles in newspapers that were basically scandal sheets of the time. Helen Holdridge's book, from which I learned most of what I based this article on, suffers from the same problem. Bibbs' research adds some fascinating bits to the story.

	[[Image:aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-old.jpg\|left\|thumb\|'''Mary Ellen Pleasant ~~(later in life)~~''']] "In 1858, amid a depression and widespread anti-black sentiment, she returned East to free a brother-in-law and to join John Brown's mission to free slaves near Harper's Ferry W. Virginia. Brown was hanged after being caught while trying to capture a federal arsenal; Pleasant escaped and returned to California. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation and a similar law in California, Pleasant declared her race openly. She sued to win the right for blacks to ride the trolleys and won (Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railway) in 1868. Her businesses continued to grow, and her investment in quicksilver mining and silver/gold exchanges amassed a $30 million fortune for her and her silent partner, Scotsman Thomas Bell." [from "Mary Ellen Pleasant: Unsung Heroine" by Steve Crowe in ''Crisis'', Jan-Feb 1999]		[[Image:aframer1$mary-ellen-pleasant-old.jpg\|left\|thumb\|'''Mary Ellen Pleasant''']] "In 1858, amid a depression and widespread anti-black sentiment, she returned East to free a brother-in-law and to join John Brown's mission to free slaves near Harper's Ferry W. Virginia. Brown was hanged after being caught while trying to capture a federal arsenal; Pleasant escaped and returned to California. In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation and a similar law in California, Pleasant declared her race openly. She sued to win the right for blacks to ride the trolleys and won (Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railway) in 1868. Her businesses continued to grow, and her investment in quicksilver mining and silver/gold exchanges amassed a $30 million fortune for her and her silent partner, Scotsman Thomas Bell." [from "Mary Ellen Pleasant: Unsung Heroine" by Steve Crowe in ''Crisis'', Jan-Feb 1999]

	'''2007 postscript:''' Since this piece was originally written an excellent [http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/63kne2zm9780252027710.html book], ''The Making of Mammy Pleasant'' by Lynn Hudson has been published. Hudson does a great job of analyzing the way the stories surrounding Mary Ellen Pleasant were manufactured from public records, courtroom testimonies, and gossip-sheet newspapers, recompiled by Helen Holdredge into her breathless accounts, and finally offers the most cogent view of who this woman was and how she managed to make her way at a time when neither women nor blacks had anything approaching full citizenship or rights. Hudson's book is definitely the best, first place to get the Pleasant story. Another recommended version is the fictional account by Michelle Cliff called [http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100835200&fa=author&person_id=5002&publishergcoicode=87286 ''Free Enterprise''] which dramatizes Pleasant's saga in historically detailed and insightful ways.		'''2007 postscript:''' Since this piece was originally written an excellent [http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/63kne2zm9780252027710.html book], ''The Making of Mammy Pleasant'' by Lynn Hudson has been published. Hudson does a great job of analyzing the way the stories surrounding Mary Ellen Pleasant were manufactured from public records, courtroom testimonies, and gossip-sheet newspapers, recompiled by Helen Holdredge into her breathless accounts, and finally offers the most cogent view of who this woman was and how she managed to make her way at a time when neither women nor blacks had anything approaching full citizenship or rights. Hudson's book is definitely the best, first place to get the Pleasant story. Another recommended version is the fictional account by Michelle Cliff called [http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100835200&fa=author&person_id=5002&publishergcoicode=87286 ''Free Enterprise''] which dramatizes Pleasant's saga in historically detailed and insightful ways.