The 2025 Black History Month theme is “African Americans and Labor.” The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) notes that the theme sets out to highlight and celebrate the potent impact of this work. In recognition of this theme, The Baltimore Times will publish articles highlighting key individuals in labor who have wax figures in their likeness at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum (NGBIW).
When it comes to labor, there is an African American woman whose work as a spy helped to infiltrate the home of a key Confederate leader, ultimately playing a significant role in the struggle to end slavery. Born a slave, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, worked as a domestic servant, cleaning and cooking for the family of Confederate President Jefferson Davis – simultaneously spying and reporting her findings to abolitionist Elizabeth Van Lew as part of an elaborate woman’s spy ring.
Bowser worked on the John Van Lew plantation outside Richmond, Virginia. After her father’s death in 1851, Van Lew freed Ms. Bowser and other Van Lew family slaves. Recognizing her potential and intelligence, Van Lew sent Bowser north to attend school. During the Civil War, Van Lew organized the spy ring, eventually sending for Bowser after deciding to plant a spy in the home of Davis.
Bowser, who was said to have a photographic memory, gained employment in the Davis mansion in Richmond, where she reportedly pretended to be dull and unconcerned, but was intently listening to and memorizing conversations between Davis and his visitors.
According to a bio about Bowser by the U.S. Department of the Army, she read war dispatches as she dusted furniture at the Davis mansion and would later travel to the Van Lew mansion to recite from memory the private conversations she overhead and documents she read.
The bio notes did not have much information as to what Bowser was able to report back to as a spy, as all of her dispatches to Van Lew were destroyed out of fear that they would lead to severe repercussions. However, the bio points to Van Lew’s diary entries, implying that Bowser’s reports were critical in helping the Union navigate its way toward victory during the war.
“When I open my eyes in the morning, I say to the servant, ‘What news, Mary?’ and my caterer never fails!” Van Lew reportedly wrote. “Most generally, our reliable news is gathered from negroes, and they certainly show wisdom, discretion and prudence, which is wonderful.”
Born Mary Jane Richards, Bowser is believed to have been born between 1839 and 1841 and used aliases, which included Mary Jane Henley and Mary Jones.
Bowser’s story is remarkable, and her legacy is forever enshrined through her likeness at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum (NGBIW) located at 1601-1603 E. North Avenue. NGBIW was established in 1983 by Dr. Joanne Martin and her late husband, Dr. Elmer Martin. According to Dr. Martin, Bowser’s wax likeness is among 10 of the museum’s figures currently on display at Fashion Centre in Pentagon City. The figures are exhibited on the second floor of the mall in observance of Black History Month.
“Mary is in the White House working, and she is hearing all of these secrets,” said Dr. Martin. “And she’s reading, not just hearing, all of these secrets. And they have no idea that this woman can read or write.”
According to the U.S. Department of the Army, Jefferson Davis knew the Union somehow kept discovering Confederate plans but never discovered the leak in his own household.
“Ms. Van Lew understood the importance of giving Mary an educational opportunity because her primary goal was to have Mary work to help the United States win the war,” said Dr. Martin. “You had these two young women, one Black…Mary Elizabeth Bowser…and one white… Elizabeth Van Lew worked together on a major effort to help win the Civil War for the United States of America.”
The Commonwealth of Virginia Office of Workforce Engagement credits intelligence and planning from Bowser with helping a group of Union prisoners escape Richmond during the war. According to the Office of Workforce Engagement, at the end of the war, Bowser joined the Freedman’s Bureau, eventually running an entire school by herself in St. Mary’s, Georgia.
“It is important to recognize the significant yet often overlooked contributions of Black women in history, particularly in the military and as spies,” said Dr. Martin. “The strategic planning behind Van Lew’s espionage was astute, intellectual, and smart. There is a need for greater inclusion and recognition of Black women’s historical roles and achievements. Bowser’s intelligence and literacy were crucial to her role, facilitated by her benefactor Elizabeth Van Lew.”
For more information about this year’s Black History Month theme visit https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/. To learn more about Bowser and Van Lewis visit https://www.history.com/news/female-spies-civil-war-mary-bowser-elizabeth-van-lew. NGBIW hours, exhibits, and other information can be found on https://www.greatblacksinwax.org/