Women of distinction/Chapter 55

CHAPTER LV.

MARY CHURCH TERRELL, A. B., A. M.

A daughter of Robert R. Church, a very popular man of Tennessee, and a resident of Memphis, Mrs. Terrell, at an early age, was sent to Ohio to be educated. She graduated from the famous Oberlin College in 1884 with the degree of A. B., being the youngest member of her class. She has since that time been further honored by her Alma Mater with the degree of A. M. In 1891 the registrarship of the college was extended to her, which honor she declined for private reasons. She has, at one time, occupied a place upon the faculty of Wilberforce University and has also been connected with the High School at Washington, D. C. , as teacher in the department of modern languages. The period from 1888 to 1890, inclusive, was spent in study and travel in Europe.

As a resident pupil in Paris, Berlin and Florence she became quite proficient in French, German and Italian, and also cultivated herself in the fine arts. Mrs. Terrell is a musician of creditable rank and an art critic of discriminating taste. The Bethel Literary and Historical Association, of Washington, D. C. , recently honored Mrs. Terrell with the position of president, this being the first time this well-known and influential society has elected a woman to that position.

Mrs. Terrell was married to Mr. Robert H. Terrell, a bureau chief of the United States Treasury, in October, 1891.

She is evidently a worthy wife and a well-qualified helper to her race, having filled many positions of trust and honor with great credit to herself.