.jpg)
MARY CATHARINE HICKMAN.
HICKMAN, Mrs. Mary Catharine, journalist, born in Hanover, Columbiana county, Ohio, 7th November, 1838. Her father, David Arter, was of German descent and was remarkable for energy and force of character. Her mother was a woman of much natural refinement and great gentleness and kindness of disposition. She was the daughter of Henry Laffer, distinguished in his day as a general, judge and legislator. Mrs. Hickman was endowed with fine natural ability and maintained a high rank in all her classes as a school-girl, although delicate health interfered somewhat with her early studies. In 1857 she was graduated from the Cleveland Female Seminary, and a year later became the wife of Rev. S. M. Hickman, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For several years the cares of a growing family and participation in her husband's labors prevented Mrs. Hickman from exercising to any great extent her gift for literary work. During the last twelve years she has resumed the use of the pen, contributing frequently to the Cleveland "Leader" and other papers. Possessing strong moral convictions and wide sympathies, Mrs. Hickman has made a study of social and humanitarian problems, and has generally chosen to write on subjects connected with some phase of reform, in which she has become especially interested. She has been prominently connected with temperance and missionary societies since their first organization, and much of her work has been that of an outspoken champion of those two great movements. She is an active member of the Ohio Woman's Press Association. Although keeping in touch with all the great questions of the day, she has not allowed other interests to interfere with those nearest her own home. Of her six children, four are living, two sons and two daughters. For sixteen years past she has lived in or near Cleveland, Ohio.
HICKS, Mrs. Mary Dana, art educator, born in Syracuse, N. Y., 7th October, 1862. Her father was Major Dana and her mother Agnes A. J. Dana. Mr. Dana died in 1882. Mrs. Dana still lives.
.jpg)
MARY DANA HICKS.
Mrs. Hicks received a very thorough and advanced education. Her husband was Charles S. Hicks, of Syracuse. Her married life was brief. Her husband was drowned. Mrs. Hicks rallied from the shock and sorrow that came upon her, and, with the thought of her child's education in mind, renewed her interest in educational matters.
She entered the high school of Syracuse as art teacher, and finally took the supervision of such teaching in all the schools of the city. She was largely instrumental in founding the Social Art Club of Syracuse. Mrs. Hicks appeared before the Woman's Congress in 1875 and 1876, urging that the subject of art education should be promoted by associations for study similar to the Social Art Club and Portfolio Club of Syracuse, and that public exhibitions, loan exhibitions and museums should be established. She urged the matter through art and educational journals. The fame of her work went beyond her city, and in 1879 she was called to Boston to assist in the Prang art educational work in the public schools. Mrs. Hicks brought to the art educational movement exceptional qualifications for directorship. She had received not only a fine technical art training, but she had also made a thorough study of the history and literature of art On the educational and practical side her preparation has been no less broad and strong. As the art educational movement has developed throughout the country during the past twelve years, Mrs. Hicks has been recognized as one of the leaders. She is deeply interested in the kindergarten and industrial movements in education, and has done much to bring them into harmony with art teaching in the public schools. She is a fine speaker. She is one of the pioneers in summer-school teaching, being
