Adrienne McNeil Herndon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrienne Herndon
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Herndon in 1891
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Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil
July 22, 1869 Savannah, Georgia
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| Died | April 6, 1910 (aged 40) Atlanta, Georgia
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| Other names | Anne Du Bignon |
Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil Herndon was a talented actress, a dedicated professor, and an important activist in Atlanta, Georgia. She was one of the first African American teachers at Atlanta University. There, she worked with the famous leader W. E. B. Du Bois. Adrienne and her husband, Alonzo Herndon, were a very influential couple in their community.
About Adrienne Herndon
Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil was born on July 22, 1869, in Savannah, Georgia. She was about five feet tall. People described her as having a lively personality and an elegant way about her. She had creamy skin, wavy brown hair, and dark eyes.
Her Education and Acting Career
Adrienne graduated from Atlanta University in 1890. She also studied at the Boston School of Dramatic Arts and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
For her final project, she performed a play called Anthony and Cleopatra. She used the stage name Anne Du Bignon and sometimes said she was French-Creole. In January 1904, Adrienne performed a solo show at Steinert Hall in Boston, again using her stage name. She also sang at musical events.
Teaching at Atlanta University
In 1895, Adrienne Herndon became the first director of drama and a teacher of public speaking at Atlanta University. She taught there until she passed away in 1910. She was one of the first two African American teachers at the university.
Adrienne helped organize fundraising events and an annual Shakespeare play for the senior class.
Her Work as an Activist
Adrienne Herndon strongly supported the right for black people to vote. She and W. E. B. Du Bois were colleagues at Atlanta University.
In 1905, Adrienne hosted a meeting for the "Niagara Movement," which was organized by Du Bois. She also joined him on stage at a demonstration at Wheat Street Baptist Church. After some difficult events in Atlanta, Adrienne Herndon worked with city leaders to make sure people were safe and treated fairly.
Family Life
Adrienne McNeil married Alonzo Herndon in 1894. Before she agreed to marry him, he promised to support her acting career. In 1897, Adrienne and Alonzo had a son named Norris Bumstead Herndon.
Adrienne designed their family home, known as the Herndon Home, in Atlanta. She worked closely with a team of black craftsmen. Sadly, Adrienne passed away from Addison's disease on April 6, 1910. This was just as the home she had designed was almost finished.
The Herndon Home Today
Their son, Norris B. Herndon, graduated from Atlanta University in 1919. He grew his father's insurance company into a very successful business. In 1947, Norris Herndon started the Herndon Foundation. This foundation now takes care of the Herndon Home. In 1973, he turned the house into a museum. It was recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2000.
See also
In Spanish: Adrienne McNeil Herndon para niños
Images for kids
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Herndon in 1891
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Herndon around 1910
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Herndon Home, designed by Adrienne, in Atlanta, Georgia
