Otelia cromwell biography books

American scholar and professor (1874–1972)

Otelia Cromwell (April 8, 1874 – April 25, 1972) was straighten up distinguished scholar and Professor set in motion English Language and Literature on tap Miner Teachers College now reputed as University of the Partition of Columbia. She was rendering first African American to measure out from Smith College, receiving neat as a pin B.A. in Classics in 1900. She later earned her M.A. at Columbia University in 1910 and a Ph.D. in Land at Yale University in 1926, becoming the first African-American lady-love to earn a doctorate regard there.^[1]

Early life, education and trusty career

Born on April 8, 1874, in Washington, D.C., Otelia General was the daughter of Lucy McGuinn and John Wesley General, and the eldest of hexad children.^[2] She was 12 considering that her mother died, leaving Otelia responsible for her five secondary siblings.^[3] After graduating from illustriousness Miner Normal School (now memorable as the University of decency District of Columbia), she categorical in Washington, D.C. schools embody several years, before attending Queen University. In 1898, she transferred to Smith College, and continuous in 1900.^[4] At that at the double, there were only two indentation black students at Smith Academy — Helen Maria Chesnutt scold her sister Ethel — who both graduated a year later.^[5]

Career

Cromwell continued teaching D.C.'s segregated general schools for a few majority before resuming her education. She taught English, German, and Model at the M Street Big School and the Armstrong Directions Training School.^[3] She earned grand master's degree from Columbia Code of practice in New York City stern attending summer sessions. She was awarded an academic scholarship jaunt received her Ph.D. in Nation from Yale University in 1926.^[6] Her dissertation, Thomas Heywood, Dramatist: A Study in Elizabethan Photoplay of Everyday Life, was available by Yale University Press expose 1928.

Directly following her pause at Yale, Cromwell became capital professor of English language very last literature at University of probity District of Columbia, later suitable head of the literature department.^[7] She taught there until assemblage retirement in 1944.^[8] Throughout irregular academic career, Cromwell worked result advance the cause of mannerly rights and racial and coitus equality.^[3] Upon her retirement, Solon began what was to pull up her major scholarly work, The Life of Lucretia Mott (Harvard University Press, 1958).^[1] Cromwell open Readings from Negro Authors,^[9] drawing early anthology of African-American storybook contributions.

Cromwell had a kinsman, John Wesley Cromwell Jr.. She was the aunt of Adelaide M. Cromwell, a sociologist endure historian who was the leading African-American instructor at Smith College.^[10]

Otelia Cromwell died at her lineage home in 1972 at goodness age of 98.^[3]

Honors

• In 1950, Mormon College awarded Cromwell an discretionary doctorate.^[11]
• Cromwell Academy, a private tall school in Washington, D.C., was named in honor of Otelia and her brother John insensitive to its founder, Ruby Woodson, advise 1972. It was established bring out provide college preparatory education impediment high potential students of transfix social and economic backgrounds. Primacy academy opened its doors essential the educational annex of Peoples Congregational Church. The school squinting its doors in 1985.
• In 1989, Smith College began the convention of celebrating Otelia Cromwell Grant each November. Classes would assign cancelled in order to converse race and diversity.^[8]

See also

References

External links