PROMINENT COLORED WOMEN.
As a splendid type of noble womanhood I know of no better subject than
Dr. Hallie Tanner Johnson.
[Illustration: DR. HALLIE TANNER JOHNSON.]
She is a daughter of Bishop B. T. Tanner, of the A. M. E. Church, who
is justly proud of her.
Not only as teachers have colored women labored for the race, but they
can be found in most of the professions also. The subject in question
saw and felt the need of lady physicians, and, acting upon her feelings
in the matter, she read medicine at the Women's Medical College in
Philadelphia, and graduated with high honor. There being an opening
at Tuskegee Institute for a resident physician, Dr. Johnson went to
fill the place. But before she could practise medicine in the State
of Alabama, she had to stand an examination before a State Board of
Examiners. She has the distinction of being the first lady, white or
colored, to receive a certificate to practise medicine in the State
of Alabama. It is with the greatest regret that I call my readers'
attention to the fact that since the first edition of my book came out
Dr. Johnson has passed away. She died at her home in Nashville, Tenn.
There are other interesting characters among colored ladies who have
read and are now engaged in the practice of medicine, one of whom is
Dr. Caroline V. Anderson, of Philadelphia. Her experience has been very
interesting and useful, for her practice has been about evenly divided
between white and colored people, and among the whites she has been
called into some of the very best families. I regard Mrs. Anderson as
one of the most intellectual women I have ever met. She is a daughter
of Mr. William Still, who wrote that most interesting book, "The
Underground Railroad."
Among the earliest to graduate as lady physicians from the Women's
Medical College, of New York, is Dr. Susan McKinney.
Dr. Alice Woodby McKane has lately organized a nurses' training school,
at Savannah, Ga. Dr. Georgia L. Patton, who is a graduate of Meharry
Medical College, now enjoys a good practice at Memphis, Tenn.
Miss L. C. Fleming, who worked for five years in the Congo, has
just finished her medical course at the Women's Medical College of
Philadelphia, and, I am told, returned to Africa.
Dr. S. B. Jones, who is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and
has done good work as the Resident Physician at Spelman Seminary,
Atlanta, Ga., and since had a splendid practice at St. Louis, Mo., is
successful.
Colored women have also gone into the practice of dentistry.
In the profession of law we have three colored ladies who have
graduated. Mrs. Mary Shadd Cary, of Washington, D.C.; Miss Florence
Ray, of New York; and Miss Ida Platt, of Chicago. The first named
is well known as a brilliant speaker. Miss Ida B. Platt is the only
representative of the race now practising at the bar.
I have found quite a number of colored women engaged in various
branches of business. At St. Johns, New Brunswick, Mrs. Georgia
Whetzell controls the entire ice business of that city, giving
employment to 75 men each winter, packing ice.
At Milford, Del., I found Miss Serrenna Palmer, who began business in
1889 with a cash capital of $7, which she invested in notions. She has
had wonderful success, and in addition to a good-sized stock of goods
she has paid for two houses.
[Illustration: MRS. VICTORIA EARLE MATTHEWS.]
Among the highly cultured and brilliant women of America I present
here a portrait of Mrs. Victoria Earle Matthews, who has done grand
service for the race as President of the Women's Loyal Union, of New
York and Brooklyn. Mrs. Matthews began life in Georgia as a slave, but
came North when quite young, and made the very best of her educational
advantages.
Mrs. Matthews is now doing a splendid work in what is known as the
White Rose Mission, which was the outcome of a desire on the part of
a few Christian women to create sympathy and practical interest in
the isolated condition of the Afro-American woman and girl in New
York City. At the urgent solicitation of Rev. H. G. Miller, of Mt.
Tabor Presbyterian Church, the neighborhood surrounding East 97th
Street was decided upon as a basis of work. Mr. Winthrop E. Phelps
offered free use of rooms for a year. A small company of Afro-American
women volunteered regular service and contributions of furniture. For
more than eighteen months it has successfully conducted Neighborhood
Visiting, Mothers' and Young People's Meetings, also classes in Sewing,
Dressmaking, Cooking, and Kindergarten.
While I am making mention of a few writers, I will call your attention
to Mrs. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who has been a writer of ability
for many years. She is also a well-known temperance worker, and at
one time had charge of the colored work for the W. C. T. U. among
colored women. The literary effort of her life is the beautiful story,
entitled, "Iola Leroy; or, The Shadows Uplifted."
This book is indeed a gem and should be read by every one. I am
confident if such books written by Colored writers could be read by
the leading White people of our country, much good might be done in
breaking down the awful prejudice which now exists. Her book received
many very fine press comments from the leading White papers of this
country; for want of space I can only give one:
"The story of 'Iola Leroy' is well worth reading. The plot is natural
and the characters are to be found in everyday life. The dialogue is
exceedingly clever, full of pathos, humor, and authentic. The plot
covers periods before, during, and after the war, and gives abundant
opportunity for changing scenes and dramatic effects. Mrs. Harper has
never written to better effect nor with a more worthy object in view.
The book will greatly increase her popularity as a writer and prove
vastly beneficial to the cause of her brethren."--_Public Ledger,
Philadelphia._
[Illustration: MRS. FRANCES E. W. HARPER.]
The Chicago _Inter-Ocean_, New York _Independent_, _Daily Evening
Telegraph_, Philadelphia, and Boston _Herald_ all spoke in the highest
praise of "Iola Leroy."
Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio, has turned out quite a number of
colored graduates who have done good work for humanity. Among them is
Mrs. A. J. Cooper, who is connected with the High School at Washington,
D.C. I wish to speak more especially of her book, "A Voice From the
South," by a black woman of the South. It is just what Mrs. Mossell
says--"One of the finest contributions yet made toward the solution of
the Negro problem." One gets in reading her book a sense of her strong
intellectual and spiritual power. As an educated woman we have none
better, white or colored. I have had, for some time, a picture of Mrs.
Cooper in my illustrated lecture on "Race Progress," and while I was in
England her face created quite an interest among the cultured people
who attended the lectures.
Mrs. N. F. Mossell is a native of Philadelphia, Penna. She is an
ex-pupil of the Robert Vaux Grammar School. Since her sixteenth year
she has been a constant contributor to the _Christian Recorder_,
_Standard Echo_, and other journals at a later date. As editor of
the Women's Departments of the _New York Age_ and the _Indianapolis
World_, Mrs. Mossell became widely known. Becoming the wife of Dr. N.
F. Mossell, during the year 1880, she assisted him for two years in the
publication of the _Alumni Magazine_. For seven years she worked on
three of the most influential dailies in Philadelphia, _The Press_,
_Times_, and _Inquirer_.
[Illustration: MRS. N. F. MOSSELL AND HER DAUGHTERS.]
Some of her best literary efforts have appeared in _A. M. E. Review_,
_A. M. E. Zion Review_, _Our Women and Children_, and _Ringswood's
Magazine_. In the past year Mrs. Mossell has been the editor of the
"Open Court," an ably-edited department of the _Woman's Era_.
"The Work of The Afro-American Woman," her first attempt at authorship,
was given an exceptionally kindly reception. An edition of 1,000
copies was soon exhausted. Many of the finest comments ever received
by any race author fell to the happy lot of this lady. Such journals
as the _New York Independent_, _Chicago Inter-Ocean_ and _Springfield
Republican_ spoke in high terms of her publication.
A talented young woman, and a noteworthy representative of the
educated, cultured and refined class of colored women in the United
States to-day, is Miss Alice Ruth Moore, of New Orleans, La.
[Illustration: MISS ALICE RUTH MOORE.]
As a gifted author, Miss Moore is entitled to unusual consideration,
while her versatility in other directions proves that she is a worthy
type of progressive womanhood.
She was a quick, apt scholar during her school days, and developed
such talent for composition that she was encouraged to devote special
attention to English literature and the classics, and to what end her
efforts in this direction were expended is plainly noticeable in the
excellence of her style of writing. The warmth and vigor of imagination
which characterizes all of her writings, inspires and helps one to
appreciate the true joys of an ever-varying and fluctuating life.
The colored race has produced some very sweet singers. I shall name
a few of them in this chapter. Many of my readers will remember the
"Original Fisk Jubilee Singers," who created such wide interest in all
sections of this country and in Europe. Among the ladies were Miss
Maggie Porter-Cole, who is still singing, and Miss Jennie De Hart
Jackson, who has retired. Among those of more recent date I would
mention Madame Selika, who has appeared in all of the principal cities
of the world; Madame Sisseretta Jones, who has just returned from an
extensive trip through Europe; Miss Bessie Lee, of Philadelphia, who
has a very sweet voice, and Miss Jennie Robinson Stewart, who comes of
a musical family. While I was attending the World's Fair in Chicago, I
met, for the first time, Gertrude Hawkins. I have heard many singers,
but a sweeter voice I have never heard.
I have left until the last Madam Flora Batson Bergen, because I want
to present a picture of her, and make special mention of her work as a
singer. Some singers render a class of music either in some foreign
language, or else give us music that is on such a high plane that
ordinary people can not understand it. But Madam Bergen gives us the
old songs we heard when we were children, and she sings them in such a
way as to reach our very souls.
[Illustration: MADAM FLORA BATSON BERGEN.]
On Thursday, March 19, 1896, the funeral service of Rev. R. H. Stitt,
one of our young men who had just passed away, was held in A. M. E.
Zion Church, Philadelphia. Madam Bergen sang two selections on that
occasion, and never will I forget the impression made upon me by her
sweet voice. She sang "No Tears in Heaven." That may be true. But there
were plenty of tears shed by that audience while she was singing the
song. I am positive that all of these great singers must be a help to
the race in educating white people up to a better knowledge of what
the race can do. It might be well at this point to call attention to
the elocutionists of the race. I feel that some day they must play a
prominent part in the dramatic world. In a small way, they have done
that already, among themselves.
In 1893, Miss Henrietta Vinton Davis organized a colored company in
Chicago, and produced "Dessalines," a play written by William Edgar
Easton, of Texas, a bright young colored man. While the production in
some ways was crude, I am sure that when we take into consideration
how great were the disadvantages under which Miss Davis had to labor,
I feel that the general verdict would be in her favor. Among those who
took part in the play was Miss Fannie Hall, of Chicago, who is without
question a fine dramatic reader, and who should, by all means, be kept
more prominently before the public.
One of the first colored ladies to take up elocution as a profession
was Miss Hallie Quinn Brown, who is well known and admired throughout
the United States. Miss Brown has great powers in winning friends,
and great control over an audience. For several years she spent her
time in England. I had the pleasure of being present at her first
entertainment in London after her arrival. She has had the distinction
of displaying her talent to a greater number of white people than any
other colored lady of her calling.
Mrs. Florida D. Carr, of Savannah, Ga., has made a splendid reputation
as an elocutionist. She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory
of Music and Elocution. I was very much impressed with her power as a
reader. Mrs. Carr has a wonderful voice and perfect control of it in
both humorous and pathetic selections.
In Atlanta, Ga., my attention was called to Mrs. Carrie Steel Logan,
who began a home for orphan children a few years ago; I think in 1889.
She started in a miserable little hut with some five fatherless and
motherless children. At first it was hard to get any help from either
the colored or white people. But right will, as a rule, prevail, and so
it proved in this case, for now I am told that there is not a colored
church in Atlanta that does not give something to support this Home.
The city gave her four acres of ground a short while ago, on which
has been erected a fine brick house. When I visited the Home in 1894
there were fifty-three children being cared for in this institution.
Mrs. Logan visits the merchants of Atlanta from time to time, and by
these visits procures provisions enough to help in the support of these
children.
Mrs. Lucy Thurman, from Jackson, Mich., who has given the best part of
her life to temperance work, is now managing the work among the colored
people. As a public speaker she ranks among the best.
Mrs. Julia Ringwood Coston, who published _Ringwood's Journal_, which
took the place in a way of _The Ladies' Home Journal_, is one of the
remarkable literary women of the race.
Mrs. Harvey Johnson, of Baltimore, has written two very useful books,
which have been published by the American Baptist Publication Society,
one called "Clarence and Corinne," and the other, "The Hazeley Family."
Both were regarded as especially adapted to Sunday-school purposes.
Her husband, Rev. Harvey Johnson, said, in speaking of his wife's
ability: "I can't understand how she does it, but although she has the
care of this house, and does a great deal of her own work, she in some
way finds time to write." And I could add that what she writes is of
the very best quality.
When referring to the women who have made a name for themselves in the
musical world, I failed to call attention to Mrs. E. Lyons, of New
York, who delights the people of New York with her sweet voice. She has
just organized a quartette of young colored ladies, which is the only
one of the kind in the country.
Philadelphia, Pa., can boast of a few colored ladies who are engaged in
large business enterprises, namely: Mrs. Henry Jones, whose husband in
his life was a large and successful caterer. At his death, instead of
her giving up the work, she went on with it, and although she is quite
an elderly lady now, she is still actively engaged in the business. In
her case I am sure it is genuine enterprise, for I am told her husband
left ample means for the support of the family.
There are two very successful lady undertakers in Philadelphia, in the
persons of Mrs. Henrietta Duterte and Mrs. Addison Foster. Mrs. Duterte
is the oldest colored undertaker in the city. Mrs. Foster, who is a
younger woman, and for that reason more active, is doing a very large
business.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ralls, who has been engaged in mission work in
Philadelphia, and who organized the Sarah Allen Mission and Faith Home,
is worthy of special mention; not because she is wealthy or highly
intellectual, but because she has a heart full of love for God and
humanity. Every year she serves a Christmas dinner to the poor. At some
of these dinners over 500 poor colored men and women have been present.
Among the lady writers who are doing good work in general I invite
your attention to a publication called _Light and Love_, a journal for
Home and Foreign Missions, published by Mrs. Lida Lowry and Mrs. Emma
Ranson. These two ladies are regarded as very energetic and useful
workers in the "Mite Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church."
The great work that is being done for the elevation of the colored
people by the untiring workers, such as Mrs. Victoria Matthews, Mrs.
Booker T. Washington and Mrs. Libbie C. Anthony, and others, who are
leaders in what is known as the Federation of Afro-American Women.
The object of this organization is the "concentration of the dormant
energies of the women of the Afro-American race into one broad band
of sisterhood; for the purpose of establishing needed reforms, and
the practical encouragement of all efforts being put forth by various
agencies, religious, educational, ethical and otherwise, for the
upbuilding, ennobling and advancement of the race; (2) To awaken the
women of the race to the great need of systematic effort in home making
and the divinely imposed duties of motherhood.
The need of rescue work among our people by our women. The
establishment of Christian homes and asylums for our fallen and wayward.
The separate car law.
Prison reform.
The plantation woman and child.
The John Brown Memorial Association.
The proposed international exposition in Paris, 1900; the part
Afro-American women should take.
The need of a National Afro-American woman's paper.
Plans for raising necessary money and securing necessary support for
the same.
How can the National Federation of Afro-American Women be made to serve
the best interests and needs of our women?
The strength of this new national organization, even while yet in its
infancy, gives encouragement of its ultimate power among the people
it represents. The roll now includes fifty organizations, the average
number composing a local organization being seventy-five members, many
of the clubs having on roll as many as 250 names.
Mrs. Booker T. Washington, wife of that great educator, has a very
interesting history. She is a Southern-born woman, having first seen
the light of day at Macon, Miss., in 1865. She is truly a self-made
woman, the story of her life and struggles to attain intellectual life
being full of pathetic interest. A mere outline is inadequate to do
justice to the heroic efforts that have placed her to-day as one of the
prominent women of her race. One of a large family, of which the mother
was bread-winner, her father having died when she was a small child,
she would have had no opportunity for education had she not through her
own exertions created for herself a way into the school life. Until her
graduation from the Fisk University she gave her own labor in payment
of board and tuition, gaining spending money through services rendered
teachers and pupils--and by teaching at fifteen, it can be readily seen
that all the usual pleasures of youth were sacrificed in the cause
of education. Her experience as a teacher well fitted her to accept
the offer that came to her on graduating, of a place in the faculty
of Tuskegee Institute. She immediately entered upon her duties there,
and at the time of her marriage to the principal of the institution,
she was lady principal. Appreciating her own struggles, she stands, it
is said, as a changeless friend to every girl working her way through
school.
She is one of the leading spirits of this grand organization that
is destined to do wonders for the colored people as a race. She was
succeeded as president by Mrs. Mary C. Terrell, whose portrait is
given and of whom mention is made in connection with school work in
Washington in another part of this book.
MRS. MAMIE E. STEWART.
Mrs. M. E. Stewart, of Louisville, Ky., is the wife of Wm. H. Stewart,
who is editor of the _American Baptist_. Mrs. Stewart is a very
intelligent and refined lady, and one of the most useful women in the
State. She is an accomplished musician, having completed a course in
the National Music School of Chicago. For many years she has had charge
of the musical department of State University in Louisville, and has
made an enviable record as an instructor. Her pupils are among the most
accomplished musicians of the young people. At the meetings of the
National Baptist Convention, of which she is a member, her services are
always in demand, as she is an expert performer on the pipe organ. For
a number of years she has been organist of the 5th St. Baptist Church,
and has the record of never being tardy nor absent. She is a leading
member and officer of the Baptist Women's Educational Convention of
Kentucky. Mrs. Stewart's home life is beautiful and her children show
the influence of a refined and cultured mother.