Ida Platt

Ida Platt (1863 – 1939) was the first African-American woman to practice law in Illinois. After passing the Illinois bar in 1894, Platt maintained a private law practice in Chicago for over 40 years, specializing in real estate and probate law. She deliberately chose to present herself as white and did not reveal her African-American heritage to her clients or professional colleagues, a decision motivated by the racial prejudices of the time which would have significantly hindered her career. Her success as a lawyer came despite the formidable obstacles of racial and gender discrimination prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Platt's life and career serve as a significant example of the challenges faced by African-Americans and women seeking professional advancement during that era.