Mattie Lee Starr Lyle

Mattie Lee Starr Lyle (December 4, 1902 – April 9, 1995) was an African-American woman who won a discrimination suit after being denied entrance to the State Theater in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1939.

Early life

Mattie Lee Starr Lyle was born on December 4, 1902, in Kansas to Charles Hendricks Starr and Lucy Jane Clark Starr. She grew up in Highland, Kansas, and attended college at Kansas State Normal School (now known as Emporia State University). William and Mattie Lyle were married on June 14th, 1923 in St. Martha's AME Church and Parsonage in Highland, Kansas.

Life in Fort Collins William Lyle holding baby Joyce over his head in June 1926. The house on the right was 310 N. Meldrum St. and on the left is 312 N. Meldrum St. The Lyle family lived in both homes during their time in Fort Collins. The 312 N. Meldrum St. bungalow still stands today. Joyce Lyle standing with the family's new car - a 1936 Hudson Terraplane - in November 1937. Their home, 312 N. Meldrum St., can be seen in the background. William and Mattie Lyle moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1925. Even though both her and her husband held teaching degrees, they worked in custodial services. and was awarded $500 in damages (~$11,000 today).

Mattie Lyle's cousin Loren Miller was a well-known civil rights attorney who represented Hattie McDaniel and others in the 1945 "Sugar Hill" restrictive covenants lawsuit. Miller then served as chief counsel before the Supreme Court in the 1948 Shelly v. Kraemer decision that led to the outlawing of racially restrictive covenants nationwide. This case had local ramifications for the new Fort Collins subdivisions of Slade Acres and Circle Drive, which included racial covenants. However, by the time these events took place in 1948, the Lyles had moved to Seattle. where she lived for the rest of her life. She died April 9, 1995.