Annie Elizabeth Delany facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie Elizabeth Delany
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | September 3, 1891 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
|
| Died | September 25, 1995 (aged 104) Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | St. Augustine's College Columbia School of Dental and Oral Surgery |
| Known for | Being the second African-American female dentist licensed in New York State |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Dentistry |
Annie Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany (born September 3, 1891 – died September 25, 1995) was an amazing American civil rights pioneer. She became famous along with her older sister, Sarah "Sadie" Delany. They were featured in a bestselling book called Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. This book was written by journalist Amy Hill Hearth.
Bessie Delany earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Columbia University in 1923. She was only the second Black woman to get a license to practice dentistry in New York State. She became very well-known when the book about her and her sister was published, at which point she was 101 years old!
Contents
Who Was Bessie Delany?
Bessie Delany was the third of ten children. Her father was the Rt. Rev. Henry Beard Delany (1858–1928). He was the first Black person chosen to be a Bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States. Her mother, Nanny Logan Delany (1861–1956), was a teacher.
Bessie was born and grew up on the campus of St. Augustine's School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her father was the Vice-Principal there, and her mother was a teacher and administrator. Bessie graduated from St. Augustine's in 1911.
Bessie's Journey to Dentistry
In 1918, Bessie followed her sister Sadie to New York City. She enrolled at Columbia University to study dentistry. She earned her dental degree in 1923. In her graduating class of 170 students, Bessie was the only Black female.
She shared a dental office with her brother, Dr. H. B. Delany Jr., in Harlem. Their office was a place where civil rights organizers could meet. Bessie was always involved in protests and marches throughout her life. She strongly supported the fight for equal rights.
The Delany Sisters' Story
In 1991, Bessie and her sister Sadie were interviewed by journalist Amy Hill Hearth. Hearth wrote a newspaper story about them for The New York Times. A book publisher saw the story and asked Hearth to write a whole book about the sisters.
Hearth and the sisters worked together for two years. They created the book, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. The book shared the challenges and triumphs the sisters faced during their long lives. It stayed on The New York Times bestseller lists for 105 weeks!
From Book to Stage and Screen
The popular book was turned into a Broadway play in 1995. Emily Mann wrote and directed the play. Later, in 1999, it became a television movie. Both the play and the movie were produced by Judith R. James and Dr. Camille O. Cosby.
In 1994, the sisters and Amy Hill Hearth published another book. It was called The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom. After Bessie passed away, Sadie Delany and Hearth wrote a third book. This one was titled On my Own at 107; Reflections on Life Without Bessie.
Bessie's Family
Bessie Delany had many siblings. They were:
- Lemuel Thackara Delany (1887–1956)
- Sarah Louise ("Sadie") Delany (1889–1999)
- Julia Emery Delany (1893–1974)
- Henry Delany, Jr. (1895–1991)
- Lucius Delany (1897–1969)
- William Manross Delany (1899–1955)
- Hubert Thomas Delany (1901–1990)
- Laura Edith Delany (1903–1993)
- Samuel Ray Delany (1906–1960)
Bessie Delany passed away at the age of 104 in Mount Vernon, New York. She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina.
See Also
- Having Our Say
