Lena Olive Smith

A no longer hidden figure of Minneapolis law

The many contributions Black people have made to the legal profession in Minnesota can make us all proud. The first nine Blacks practiced law in our state between 1890 and 1927.* One of them, Lena Olive Smith (1885 - 1966), was the first Black woman to practice the law in the Twin Cities.*

Before joining the legal profession in 1921, Smith was a businesswoman. She co-owned a hair salon in downtown Minneapolis with a Caucasian woman. After declaring bankruptcy, Smith’s next goal was to sell real estate. Redlining and other forms of discrimination against Blacks were common, so Smith set her sights on the legal profession and earned a law degree from Northwestern College of Law.

Smith’s efforts towards a more equitable community made her a local and regional celebrity. She was among the many talented African Americans in the local arts, athletics, business and academic community. Her professional accomplishments were many, and make many an over-achiever feel like a sloth. Here are some highlights:

• Smith was one of the founders of the Urban League in Minneapolis and the first woman to be named president of the local NAACP;

• Smith was the prosecuting attorney for the NAACP in support of Edith and Arthur A. Lee, a married Black couple that wanted to stay in their home in an all-white South Minneapolis neighborhood. The Lees faced threats and their home was vandalized by large angry mobs who demanded that the Lees move. The Lees refused to move.

• Smith tackled equal public accommodation lawsuits against the Nicollet Hotel and White Castle, as well as a segregation suit against the Pantages Theatre. Even though the theater won the suit, it ended segregation of Black audiences;

• Smith was named to the list of Who’s Who Among Women Lawyers in 1939 and was active in the legal profession until her death in 1966.

If Lena O. Smith is on your family tree, please reach out to ABEP. We’d love to hear from you!

Photo Caption: Lena O. Smith resided at this Minneapolis home located at 3905 Fifth Ave. S. It was named to the National Register of Historic places in 1991 because of its association with Smith. Photo by Minnesota Historical Society

*Information for this article is from DeCarlo, Peter. "Smith, Lena Olive (1885–1966)." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/person/smith-lena-olive-1885-1966

A Black Lawyer Named Lena and Her Work for a More Equitable Minnesota