CHAPTER XXVI.
PROMINENT COLORED WOMEN.
As a splendid type of noble womanhood I know of no better subject than Dr. Hallie Tanner Johnson.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.