Madame Sul-Te-Wan, American actress (d. 1959)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first black actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years. The daughter of former slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the East Coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high-profile films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), and easily navigated the transition to the sound films.
In 1986, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
1873Mar, 7
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Choose Another Date
Events on 1873
- 18Feb
Vasil Levski
Bulgarian revolutionary leader Vasil Levski is executed by hanging in Sofia by the Ottoman authorities. - 22Mar
Slavery in the Spanish New World colonies
The Spanish National Assembly abolishes slavery in Puerto Rico. - 1Jul
Canadian Confederation
Prince Edward Island joins into Canadian Confederation. - 4Aug
7th Cavalry Regiment
American Indian Wars: While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, the United States 7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer clashes for the first time with the Cheyenne and Lakota people near the Tongue River; only one man on each side is killed. - 20Oct
Princeton University
Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and Rutgers universities draft the first code of American football rules.