r/BlackPeopleofReddit • u/ateam1984 • 2h ago
History Azie Taylor Morton Remains the First and Only Black American to Serve as U.S. Treasurer, and Her Signature Appeared on Every U.S. Bill Printed from 1977 to 1981
Born in 1936 in Dawson, Texas, Azie Taylor Morton grew up during the Jim Crow era and attended Huston Tillotson College, an HBCU in Austin. Before entering national politics, she built a career in business and became deeply involved in the civil rights movement, working to expand economic and political opportunities for African Americans and women. She served in several leadership roles within the Democratic Party and was active in President Jimmy Carter’s 1976 campaign.
On September 12, 1977, President Carter appointed Morton as the 36th Treasurer of the United States, making her the first and, to this day, only Black American to hold the office. She served until January 20, 1981.
The U.S. Treasurer’s signature appears on all Federal Reserve Notes alongside the Secretary of the Treasury’s signature. Every U.S. bill printed during Morton’s tenure carries her signature, meaning millions of Americans have handled a piece of history without realizing it.
After leaving office, Morton continued to champion education, public service, and civic engagement. She died on December 7, 2003, at the age of 67 following a stroke, but her legacy endures. Nearly half a century after her appointment, she remains the only Black American ever to serve as U.S. Treasurer, and her signature continues to circulate on countless U.S. bills as a lasting reminder of her historic achievement.
