The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-06-14

i'ouiC TASK OF getting the children
cared for in Negro home. When
thls effort proved a failure this
young Fisk woman, true to her train.
ing, assumed the care of the children
I'LL a home could be found. But
instead OF getting home for the
two, pretty soon four others were
brought. The state then purchased
nome for the children and until
they could find a suitable person for
the head of this work, persuaded our
Alumnus to take charge of the home
AT the end of thirty-one years she
finds herself still head of the work
Besides text book knowledge. these
bllnd children are given any manual
training course they are suitable of
taking and during the thirty-one
years of service, this woman has sent
out from the institution several hun
dred of these unfortunates to a hap
piness and usefulness that is large
and creditable to themselves, to the
principal, and to Fisk University
Another Normal graduate who fur
nished in II has given almost all her
lie to the service of others. Her
work until later years was connected
with the early history of the City
Schools in Nashville.
In 1879 the Negro schools of Nash
vile had been established twelve
years, the work having commenced
with white teachers from the North
and later transferred to Southern
whites. Some of the children who
had entered these schools were now
members of the Freshman class.
This fact encouraged some of the
Negro citizens to petition the Board
OF Education to see what the Negro
would do in the school room with
his own children.
This request was made as early
as 1876 and several examinations
were held, the Board promising to
give the applicant trial lust as
soon as a sufficient number had pass
ed the required percentage.
Three times the examinations were
reported absolute failures. FINALLY
upon the advice of Miss Morgan, this
young woman took the examination
passed the required standing. and
with two Fisk men were appointed,
being one of the first three coored
teachers to teach in the city schools
here How we'll this first woman
succeeded can best be proven by the
number of Normal graduates who
have since been employed by the
School Boards of Nashville.
After fourteen years of service in
the city after the unique experience
of having taught in every city school
building for the Negroes except Ma.
pier School and those built since its
erection, after few years work in
training school in another CITY,
this young woman was made princi-
pai of the Normal Department at
Fisk University.
IN the city of Mobile is another
one of those bravo. energetic women
OF yesterday. She too is a wife.
mother, teacher. and a social worker
whose life has been a benediction to
many of the unfortunates in her city.
Besides having taught almost every
year since her graduation in 1883.
This Alumnus has given considerable
time and strength to Juvenile rescue
work. The city authorities for
some years kept a telephone in her
residence and when a youthful Ne
gro offender was brought before the
court instead of being sent to prison,
he was turned over to this Fisk
woman who was secretary of a club
that took the responsibility of get
ting the miscreant into some place
where he was surrounded by whole |
work was callshrdrleafterdM !
some influences. For years this !
work was carried on by these women
till it had reached such proportions
it was taken in hand by the state.
And now this woman has the posi-
ton of Probate Officer for Negro
Boys in Mobile Ala
This same Alumnus with the help
of her club and various churches of
her city, estab ished and maintains
a home for aged and homeless Negro /
women, and now as a browning glory /
to her work she has at Fisk Univer-
sity this year a daughter who is n
of the first class of the New
Course, who has the .
chance to prove whether or not new /
fuller training will make her
the superior or equG1eef her mother.
i could take the wnoie evening
telling you of the wonderful exam
pies of courage, self-sacrifice and in
describable energy of the Normal
graduate of yesterday. But it is
enough to say that as a mother, a