Mary R. Stalcup (1922-1972)

Mary R. Stalcup Markward (February 10, 1922 – November 23, 1972) was for seven years a member of the Washington, DC "District Communist Party" as director of the party's membership. She was actually working undercover for the FBI.

Biography
She was born as Mary R. Stalcup to Maria and Benjamin Stalcup. Benjamin worked as a government bookbinder. She lived in Fairfax County, Virginia and was recruited by the FBI in 1943, just a week after her wedding. Her husband, George, had been sent to Europe to fight in World War II. She was working in a beauty shop on Massachusetts Avenue. She may have been approached to spy because several of her clients were thought to be Communists by the FBI. Her daughter believed that her mother's essay written about her pride in being an American brought her to the attention of the FBI. The essay was published in a local Virginia paper. Markward worked undercover for almost seven years.

Markward testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities on July 11, 1951 that Annie Lee Moss and about 240 other people were Communist party members. She provided the names of their spouses and gave the exact dates of party meetings. Mary Stalcup Markward died in November 23, 1972 in Silver Springs, Maryland at age 50. She was buried in Baltimore National Cemetery.