Alice Waring Holmes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alice Mariah Waring Holmes
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| Born |
Alice Mariah Waring
June 11, 1872 |
| Died | August 27, 1939 (aged 67) |
| Alma mater | Howard University Dental College (D.D.S.) |
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| Spouse(s) | J. Welford Holmes |
| Children | 1 |
Alice Mariah Waring Holmes was an amazing American woman who lived from 1872 to 1939. She was a teacher, a dentist, and a suffragette. A suffragette was someone who worked hard to get women the right to vote. Many people believe she was the very first Black female dentist in Washington D.C.!
Growing Up and School
Alice Mariah Waring was born on June 11, 1872, in Oberlin, Ohio. Her parents were William and Amanda Fitz-Allen Hill Waring. Alice was one of four children in her family.
She went to school in Washington, D.C., attending the Colored High School. She also went to a "normal school," which was a special school that trained people to become teachers.
Later, Alice decided to study dentistry. From 1897 to 1900, she attended the Howard University Dental College. She earned her dental degree (D.D.S.) in 1900.
Her Career and Activism
Before and during her time in dental school, Alice Holmes taught elementary school in Washington, D.C. After becoming a dentist, she opened her own dental office. It was located at 518 T Street NW and was known as a very nice office. She called herself a "surgeon dentist" and especially enjoyed working with children.
In 1901, Alice was chosen to be the treasurer for the National Association of Colored Dentists. This shows she was a respected leader in her field.
Later, Alice moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, she became very active in the women's suffrage movement. This movement worked to gain voting rights for women. In 1913, she attended the National Women's Suffrage Conference. She went as the president of the Lucy Stone Women's Suffrage League.
Alice was also a member of many local groups. These included the Aurora Reading Circle and the Negro Women's Republican League, where she was a leader. She was even chosen as an alternate to the national convention for Pennsylvania's Women's Suffrage Convention. In 1923, she was given a job as an assistant in the Tax Revision office for Allegheny County.
Family Life
In 1903, Alice Holmes bought some land in the Barry Farm area of Washington D.C. She married J. Welford Holmes, who was a lawyer in Pittsburgh. He was also a member of several community groups like the Masons and the Knights of Pythias.
Alice and J. Welford Holmes had one son, J. Welford Holmes Jr., who was born in 1908. Sadly, J. Welford Holmes Sr. passed away in 1922.
Later Life
Alice Mariah Waring Holmes passed away on August 27, 1939, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She left behind a legacy as a pioneering dentist, a dedicated teacher, and a strong voice for women's rights.
