Activities Among Negroes
A few months ago there appeared an article in this column concerning a member of the Maria L. Baldwin chapter of War Mothers. [I am unable to find the article she references. Please add it to the index page and link here, if you do find it. - MF] No doubt many readers wondered who "Maria L. Baldwin" was that a colored War Mother's chapter of Oakland should honor her name. Hence the writer believing that the reading public would be interested in knowing something about this interesting woman she is quoting an extract from an article recently appearing in the Pittsburgh, Pa., Courier.
Memorial services were recently held for Maria L. Baldwin at the Y. W. C. A. in Pittsburgh, Pa., at which time a paper was read before the Booklovers' club, under whose auspices the memorial was conducted, and also a letter was read from Miss Alice Longfellow, a daughter of the poet. The occasion for this memorial was the fact that the school in which the late Maria L Baldwin served as principal for forty years had dedicated a tablet and a room in memory of their late principal, the following inscription appearing on the tablet:
EULOGIZED BY FRIEND.
Miss Merritt, an educator of note, and life long friend to Maria L. Baldwin, in her paper among other things said:
"Maria L. Baldwin taught school a short time in Chestertown, Md., 1879-1880. She returned to Massachusetts in 1880 and taught for a short while in Cambridgeport, Mass., and was then transferred to the Agassiz school in 1881. Cambridge is noted principally as a seat of learning, the oldest and richest university in the country being located there. Professors from all parts of the world come to Harvard and many bring their children. This makes Cambridge one of the most select cities from an educational point of view in the country. The Agassiz school in Cambridge is the most select school In Boston and Cambridge. Here goes the children of the scholars that instruct in Harvard."
The speaker then told of some of the honors held by Maria L. Baldwin besides that of principal. "She was president of the Women's Community club, member of the Twentieth Century club, former president of the Boston Ethical club and member of the Council of the Robert Gould Shaw Association."
REGRETS ABSENCE.
The following letter was received from Miss Alice Longfellow, who was a member of the school board and appointed Maria L. Baldwin to the position. In this letter she has said: "I very much regret that I cannot be present at the meeting to do honor to the memory of Maria L Baldwin. From the first day I saw her, I realized that she was a rare character. I was then serving on the Cambridge school board and she was teaching in one of the lower grades in the Agassiz school, which was in my care. Her poise, and dignity, her calmness, and beautiful voice, struck me at once and I felt that her mere presence must be valuable lesson to all the children.
"Several parents told me the children realized this, and always spoke of her with admiration and affection but never thought or spoke of her color.
"When the principal of the school was changed Mr. Cogswell, the superintendent, told me it would be my duty to appoint a new principal. 'Why, Mr. Cogswell,' I said, 'you know as well as I do there is only one suitable person, Miss Baldwin,' 'I think so, too,' he said, 'but I was not certain about the color.' 'It is not a question of color,' I said; 'It is a question of the best.'
"So she took the position, and for forty years filled it with gentleness and capability, and in all those years, with all the changes that come to a city government, I am not aware there was any dissatisfaction or any suggestion of change. With such a record it is most befitting to honor her memory and to hope that her memory may always remain to serve as an example to all future teachers in the Cambridge schools."
WILL FLY TO AFRICA.
The Pittsburgh Courier says "Lieutenant Hubert Julian, a former army aviator in the Canadian army plans to fly to Monrovia, Liberia, Africa, making several stops en route. He is having constructed a hydroplane for the flight hoping to stimulate interest in aeronautics among negroes here and abroad."
In New York City recently there was held the unveiling ceremonies of a portrait of the late Colonel Charles Young, gift of Walter J. Stevens to the Association of Trade and Commerce, New York city. Rev. A. C. Garner, chaplain of the 369th Infantry, delivered the invocation. John E. Nail Jr., president of the association, accepted the portrait in behalf of the organization. The Defender says: "The unveiling ceremonies was very touching. While Sergeant Tipps of the old 15th, sounded 'To the Colors' on the bugle, Alvin Webb, aged 12, a P. S., 89, student in class 7a, and Aston B. Greaves, aged 12, a student in 8b at 89, winners of first and second prizes respectfully in the essay contest on the life of Colonel Young, slowly pulled the draperies revealing the handsome picture, and the audience sang the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic.'"
STUDENT WINS HONORS.
The New York Age says: "Negro student wins Phi Beta Kappa Key at Dartmouth college, Robert Shaw Wilkinson, a senior at Dartmouth college, has just won the distinguished scholarship honor of being elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity which is conferred in the leading colleges and universities of America on undergraduates who are among the best scholars and for scholarships only. He excelled in scientific subjects with the exceptional general average of 96.25 per cent."
The general conference of the African Methodist Episcopal church of the world will convene in the city of Louisville, Ky, in the month of May. This meeting will be a very valuable meeting for the church since several of their bishops have died since last conference.
The California, or rather the Western Episcopal district, will be represented at this conference by Rev. Wilson, and Rev. Washington, from Los Angeles, and as lay delegates, Dr. De Vaughan, of Oakland, And Attorney Willis Tyler of Los Angeles. Many members are planning to go as visitors.
The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs will hold their bi-annual convention in Chicago during July when a number of California club women who hold national offices, will attend.
