Born: Unknown (1800s), United States (assumed)
Died: Unknown (1900s)
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Alma Boone
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
In December of 1914, Alma Boone Little’s husband filed for divorce, claiming that she was “tainted with colored blood.” After hiring doctors and anthropologists to conduct tests to prove her whiteness, Alma Boone Little began to publish her life story in papers across the country in an attempt to assure herself, her husband, and her high society friends that she was white. The scandal gave a national platform for racist scientific theory hiding behind the guise of anthropology – a relatively new field.
Timeline
December 26, 1914 Alma Boone Little begins publishing her story in her own words in an attempt to prove her whiteness.
January 4, 1915 Luella Jefferson of Cincinnati says that she is not the mother of Alma Boone Little.
January 5, 1915 After a series of tests, doctors and anthropologists confirm that Alma is white.
February 7, 1915 Professor Franz Boas comments on the case, saying that Mrs. Little may have “negro blood in her veins” yet not show any of the outward characteristics.
May 30, 1915 Alma Boone Little agrees to a decree of extreme cruelty on the part of her husband because the court has decided not to involve her race in the divorce proceedings.