February 22

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

A great African American poet, author, abolitionist and suffragist, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper died on February 22, 1911 at age 85. Harper along with many great abolitionist such as Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Highland Garnet and Susan B. Anthony and others were members of the American Anti-Slavery Society.  It was through this organization that she began publicly speaking as an abolitionist at it's many meetings. Harper was also active with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union which had a goal to use abstinence from alcohol, purity and Christian evangelism to make a better world.  She was also one of the founders of the National Association of Colored Women Clubs (NACWC) along with Harriet Tubman, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Margaret Murray Washington and Mary Church Terrell on July 21, 1986 in Washington, DC. Harper may be most remembered by many for her poetry.   "Forest Leaves" was published when she was only 20.  "Lola Leroy" is a novel published by Harper that has brought her much acclaim. She published many collections of poetry and short stories for decades.  Harper was born on September 24, 1825 in Baltimore, Maryland to free American American parents.

Tribute To Black History Month

December 19, 1875 – April 3, 1950 – Carter Godwin Woodson

Dr. Carter G. Woodson  began “Negro History Week” the forerunner to Black History Month. Dr. Woodson was a noted, historian, journalist, author and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.