Adolphine Fletcher Terry

Adolphine Fletcher Terry (1882–1976) was an American political and social activist in the state of Arkansas. Terry used her position within the Little Rock community to affect change in causes related to social justice, housing, and education. Fletcher is most remembered for her role on the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools (WEC) that was primarily responsible for reopening the Little Rock, Arkansas public school system and bringing to a close the school district closing in 1958, following the Little Rock Crisis.

Terry was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on November 3, 1882 to a socially prominent family. She was the daughter of Confederate officer John Gould Fletcher who served as Mayor of Little Rock from 1875 to 1881. Terry's mother was Adolphine Krause Fletcher, a daughter of German immigrants. She had one brother, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Gould Fletcher, and a sister. The Fletcher family was active in local politics and her father was active in the cotton business and banking.

Like many privileged women of her time, Terry entered college at the early age of 15 after graduating Peabody High School in 1898. Following the wishes of her mother, Terry attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Vassar's curriculum provided coursework that engaged Terry with community issues of her time, which planted a seed for social activism in her life. Terry graduated in 1902 and returned to Arkansas.

Shortly after returning from college, Terry involved herself in many local clubs and activities like many other women of her time. Terry wasn't satisfied with just attending parties and appearing as a debutante. As a southern new woman, Terry felt the desire to join clubs and involve herself in the needs of her community. Throughout her life that need permeated her everyday and Terry became a champion for causes both small and large, and she used her position to help others less fortunate than herself.

In 1905 Terry was responsible for co-founding the Souther Association for College Women which provided a forum for college educated women to discuss issues that were important to them. This organization would later become the Arkansas Association for University Women a division of the American Association of University Women. She also helped with education reform, pushing for school consolidation throughout the state of Arkansas. She was an advocate of hiring professional school administrators and formed the first school improvement association in the state. Terry maintained an interest in education throughout her life and led efforts to consolidate school districts and provide transportation for rural students.

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