Notables Teachers

ELLA F. SHEPHARD
Eminent Teacher, Singer, Pianist.
One of the most talented women of the race is Miss Ella F. Shephard of Fisk Jubilee fame, who for a number of years traveled through the United States, Europe and other foreign countries delighting with her company of singers the many thousands who flocked to hear them and even until now say lasting words of praise of them. She is an intellectual model of most genial nature, ambitious; yea one, who has lived laborious days, and shunned delights, that she might do educational service for her race. For a number of years she served as lady principal of Prairie View Normal Institute of Texas, and resigned to recruit the Old Jubilee Troupe. Her qualifications as a musician, if the " fittest survive," may be considered a criterion, are par excellence. Those who have sat under the mellifluous music of her voice, have expressed their inspired admiration, with their greatest earnestness. The greater portion of her useful life has been spent in the South where the greatest battles with ignorance have to be fought, as a teacher she has always been equal to the emergency and superior to the general rule. Wherever she has taught the whites as well as those of her race have become her faithful and lasting friends. Later in life she has filled very dignified positions as professor in some of our leading institutions of learning.

Her race affiliations are not contracted to a few teachers and ministers, but the broad field of her active life has brought her in social touch with the leading spirits of our 19th century civilization. Her worth cannot be estimated in words, she has lived in deeds, not the extended life of many, however, but the tireless activity of this noble heroine tell.

Miss IDA BELLE EVANS a graduate of the academic, scientific and collegiate departments of the Central Tennessee College is n teacher with an excellent record. She has taught three years in the Prairie View State Normal institute of Texas, having resigned She returned to Nashville, Tenn., and entered her Alma Mater, and resumed the position as pupil and teacher in the college, taking in 1891 the degree of A. B. from the classic department. Miss Evans is destined to be heard from, not only as a scholar but a singer, a poetess and a mathematician. She has traveled through the North with the Tennessee singers and has been richly endowed with press comments.

Miss VARA LEE MOORE is a classic graduate of Central Tennessee College who has taught unceasingly in Texas, Waco and Ft. Worth for six years, recently she has been appointed Lady Principal of the Central Alabama Academy at Huntsville, Ala., under the auspices of the Freedman's Aid Society.

MRS. GEORGIA GREEN MAJORS has done something in the educational cause for her race. Having attended Oberlin College and Fisk University, thereby preparing herself for life's duties, she returned to Texas and for seven years has labored earnestly in her public schools. She has been favorably endorsed by such educational men as State Supt. Carlisle, Professors Hand, Gambrell, George Hunter Smith, Esq., and Hon. George Clark. She ranks with the best primary teachers of the State in which she lives.

MRS. SMOTHERS is one very good and noble woman who for many years has taught school and lectured throughout Texas and other Southern States. She is a W. C. T. U. woman, and one of the brightest stars in the Baptist cause.

MRS. MINNIE L. PHILLIPS nee BRINKLEY, of Houston, Texas, ranks among the greatest modern molders of clay, and teachers of the paper folding art. She enjoys a lucrative salary in the Austin public schools, and it's a very easy task to single out the little fellows who are under her immediate care. She is as medical missionary, will sail about the 10th of April. We ask for her a prosperous journey and that her work may be a blessing to many.

MISS FREDRICKA JONES. Educator. Miss Jones ranks among the leading educators of the race. She is a graduate from the classic halls of the famous Michigan University, Ann Arbor Michigan. And has since done very telling work for our race as teacher in the northern as well as the southern college. She is at present lady principal of Paul Quinn college, Waco, Texas. Her special fitness commends her to the higher educational work among our people, and the above named school has under her watchful care and tutelage, made very great advances in the right direction. She is amiable, most agreeable in manners, and a capable counselor on topics of advanced studies. Her prominence as well as intellectual ability, entitles her to many pages whereon might be forcibly drawn the illustrious career of one so worthy. We, knowing, Miss Jones' love for obscurity feel somewhat reluctant in making the fore-going statement, yet by a sense of right we have thus risked our judgment.

Sketch from Noted Negro Women: Their Triumphs and Activities
by Monroe Alphus Majors

Women's Christian Temperance

Home