Memphis Tennessee Garrison: Difference between revisions
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'''Memphis Tennessee Garrison''' (March 3, 1890-July 25, 1988) was an activist for African Americans and young women during the [[Jim crow era|Jim Crow Era]] |
'''Memphis Tennessee Garrison''' (March 3, 1890- July 25, 1988) was an activist for African Americans and young women during the [[Jim crow era|Jim Crow Era]]<nowiki/>in rural [[West Virginia]]. Garrison was a [[McDowell County, West Virginia|McDowell County]] teacher and community mediator, famous for organizing West Virginia's third chapter of the [[Gary, West Virginia|Gary]] Branch of the [[NAACP]] in 1921. Additionally, from 1931-1946, Garrison was the community mediator for U.S. Steel Gary Mines. Moreover, she was instrumental in this as she resolved conflicts and complaints for the steel workers by serving as a mediator. Some of Garrison's other notable achievements range from establishing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to organizing [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scout]] troops for African American girls, to creating a breakfast program from impoverished students during the [[Great Depression]] and finally to creating the "Negro Artist Series," which is a program that brought nationally and internationally famous artists to [[West Virginia]]. As a whole, Garrison is remembered for her important contributions as an educator, political, and community activist. |
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== Early Life == |
== Early Life and Education == |
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Memphis Tennessee Carter was born in Hollins, Virginia on March 3, 1890. |
Memphis Tennessee Carter was born in Hollins, Virginia on March 3, 1890 to Cassie Thomas Carter and Wesley Carter. Both her parents were former slaves, although Wesley became a coal miner. Memphis was the youngest of two children and due to her father's profession, her family spent her childhood in the Southern West Virginia coalfields.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Black Women in America|last=Trotter|first=Joe|publisher=Carlson Publishing|year=1993|isbn=0-926019-61-9|location=Brooklyn, NY|pages=479-480}}</ref> Memphis spent most of her days receiving an elementary education from the [[Segregation|segregated]] West Virginia public schools. Later in life, Memphis went on to marry William "Melvin" Garrison, an electrician and coal company foreman from Gary, McDowell County of West Virginia, on October 5,1918. Memphis and Melvin never had any children, though if she had it is likely her career would have been shortened due to open discouragement of married teachers with children in West Virginia schools during this time. She eventually received a B.A. with honors from [[Bluefield State College]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2083|title=e-WV {{!}} Memphis Tennessee Garrison|website=www.wvencyclopedia.org|language=en-us|access-date=2018-09-20}}</ref> in 1939, and proceeded to advanced studies at [[Ohio State University|The Ohio State University]]. |
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== Career == |
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Garrison began her career as a teacher at a public school in McDowell County in 1908 and remained there until the early 1950s when she retired. Although she dreamed of becoming a lawyer, she could not handle the economic cost of the required training, so she was forced to abandon that.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U5N4JsSxkwYC&pg=PA120&dq=memphis+tennessee+garrison&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqxuqTgKLdAhVOzFMKHZgxCfgQ6AEIRjAF#v=onepage&q=memphis%20tennessee%20garrison&f=false|title=Legendary Locals of Huntington|last=Casto|first=James E.|date=2013|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=9781467100335|language=en}}</ref> |
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She was also a big influence of the political world of her area. Being the secretary of the NAACP, she carried out many big projects and campaigns against racism towards colored people. One of her most famous campaigns was the Christmas seal campaign during the late 1920s and early 1930s. This project emphasized “Justice for All” and collected big amounts of money for the main office of NAACP, as well as produced widespread support for the organization. Her work in the NAACP also helped to pass an anti-lynching bill in West Virginia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Peeks|first=E.|date=Feb. 10, 2004|title=Memphis Garrison helped open doors for blacks|url=http://go.libproxy.wakehealth.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/331318747?accountid=14868|journal=|volume=|pages=|via=}}</ref> She eventually became vice president of the organization from 1963 to 1966. <ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Appalachia|last=Abramson|first=Rudy|publisher=The University of Tennessee Press|year=2006|isbn=1-57233-456-8|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|pages=257-258}}</ref> |
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She dedicated her later life in her nation and took leading roles in many different organizations for the improvement of her state and nation. She was later rewarded with multiple honors for her dedication and service in the Civil Rights area and her constant battles for alleviation of class and gender racism. |
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== Legacy == |
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While Garrison contributed greatly toward the bettering of race relations during a time of immense segregation, she did not always succeed without repercussions. Garrison notes that she gathered the strength to achieve all that she did and dealt with the backlash from her Christian faith.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bunch-Lyons|first=Beverly A.|date=2004|title=Memphis Tennessee Garrison: The Remarkable Story of a Black Appalachian Woman ed. by Ancella R. Bickley, Lynda Ann Ewen (review)|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/572872/summary|journal=Ohio Valley History|language=en|volume=4|issue=2|pages=70–71|issn=2377-0600}}</ref> Memphis Tennessee Garrison took the initiative to advocate for her beliefs and lead her community to racial and gender equality during a time when women were given limited rights.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theclio.com/web/entry?id=26512|title=Memphis Tennessee Garrison House|work=Clio|access-date=2018-09-20}}</ref> While there are many important black and women’s activists, Memphis Tennessee Garrison stands out against the rest as she accomplished so much while living outside of urban centers with very limited economic resources. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 19:07, 20 September 2018
Memphis Tennessee Garrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 3, 1890 |
| Died | July 25, 1988 |
Memphis Tennessee Garrison (March 3, 1890- July 25, 1988) was an activist for African Americans and young women during the Jim Crow Erain rural West Virginia. Garrison was a McDowell County teacher and community mediator, famous for organizing West Virginia's third chapter of the Gary Branch of the NAACP in 1921. Additionally, from 1931-1946, Garrison was the community mediator for U.S. Steel Gary Mines. Moreover, she was instrumental in this as she resolved conflicts and complaints for the steel workers by serving as a mediator. Some of Garrison's other notable achievements range from establishing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to organizing Girl Scout troops for African American girls, to creating a breakfast program from impoverished students during the Great Depression and finally to creating the "Negro Artist Series," which is a program that brought nationally and internationally famous artists to West Virginia. As a whole, Garrison is remembered for her important contributions as an educator, political, and community activist.
Early Life and Education
Memphis Tennessee Carter was born in Hollins, Virginia on March 3, 1890 to Cassie Thomas Carter and Wesley Carter. Both her parents were former slaves, although Wesley became a coal miner. Memphis was the youngest of two children and due to her father's profession, her family spent her childhood in the Southern West Virginia coalfields.[1] Memphis spent most of her days receiving an elementary education from the segregated West Virginia public schools. Later in life, Memphis went on to marry William "Melvin" Garrison, an electrician and coal company foreman from Gary, McDowell County of West Virginia, on October 5,1918. Memphis and Melvin never had any children, though if she had it is likely her career would have been shortened due to open discouragement of married teachers with children in West Virginia schools during this time. She eventually received a B.A. with honors from Bluefield State College[2] in 1939, and proceeded to advanced studies at The Ohio State University.
Career
Garrison began her career as a teacher at a public school in McDowell County in 1908 and remained there until the early 1950s when she retired. Although she dreamed of becoming a lawyer, she could not handle the economic cost of the required training, so she was forced to abandon that.[3]
She was also a big influence of the political world of her area. Being the secretary of the NAACP, she carried out many big projects and campaigns against racism towards colored people. One of her most famous campaigns was the Christmas seal campaign during the late 1920s and early 1930s. This project emphasized “Justice for All” and collected big amounts of money for the main office of NAACP, as well as produced widespread support for the organization. Her work in the NAACP also helped to pass an anti-lynching bill in West Virginia.[4] She eventually became vice president of the organization from 1963 to 1966. [5]
She dedicated her later life in her nation and took leading roles in many different organizations for the improvement of her state and nation. She was later rewarded with multiple honors for her dedication and service in the Civil Rights area and her constant battles for alleviation of class and gender racism.
Legacy
While Garrison contributed greatly toward the bettering of race relations during a time of immense segregation, she did not always succeed without repercussions. Garrison notes that she gathered the strength to achieve all that she did and dealt with the backlash from her Christian faith.[6] Memphis Tennessee Garrison took the initiative to advocate for her beliefs and lead her community to racial and gender equality during a time when women were given limited rights.[7] While there are many important black and women’s activists, Memphis Tennessee Garrison stands out against the rest as she accomplished so much while living outside of urban centers with very limited economic resources.
References
- ^ Trotter, Joe (1993). Black Women in America. Brooklyn, NY: Carlson Publishing. pp. 479–480. ISBN 0-926019-61-9.
- ^ "e-WV | Memphis Tennessee Garrison". www.wvencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
- ^ Casto, James E. (2013). Legendary Locals of Huntington. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467100335.
- ^ Peeks, E. (Feb. 10, 2004). "Memphis Garrison helped open doors for blacks".
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Abramson, Rudy (2006). Encyclopedia of Appalachia. Knoxville, Tennessee: The University of Tennessee Press. pp. 257–258. ISBN 1-57233-456-8.
- ^ Bunch-Lyons, Beverly A. (2004). "Memphis Tennessee Garrison: The Remarkable Story of a Black Appalachian Woman ed. by Ancella R. Bickley, Lynda Ann Ewen (review)". Ohio Valley History. 4 (2): 70–71. ISSN 2377-0600.
- ^ "Memphis Tennessee Garrison House". Clio. Retrieved 2018-09-20.