Carrie Steele Logan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carrie Steele Logan
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Steele Logan in 1898
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| Born | c. 1829 Georgia, U.S.
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| Died | November 3, 1900 (aged 70–71) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Resting place | Historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of the oldest black orphanage in the United States |
| Spouse(s) |
Josiah Logan
(m. 1890) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Georgia Woman of Achievement (1998; posthumous) |
Carrie Steele Logan (born around 1829 – died November 3, 1900) was an American philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who helps others, often by giving money or time to good causes. She is famous for starting the oldest home for Black children without parents in the United States. This home, called The Colored Orphanage of Atlanta, officially opened on June 20, 1892.
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Early Life of Carrie Steele
Carrie Steele was born in Georgia around 1829. At that time, many African Americans were not free. Even though she was not free, she learned how to read and write. She became an orphan herself when she was a small child. Her own experiences helped her understand how hard life could be for children who had no family or support.
Her Work and Career
When Carrie Steele first moved to Atlanta, she sold homemade candies and cakes. Later, she got a job as a matron at the train station in Atlanta. A matron is like a supervisor or caretaker. This job helped her save enough money to buy a home by 1885.
While working at the train station, she saw many children who were lost or had no one to care for them. They were often homeless. Carrie Steele started taking care of some of these children herself. But she soon realized that many more children needed help. She knew she had to do something bigger and more lasting.
She wrote about her dream, saying she felt it was her duty to do "a great and glorious work." She wanted to create something that would help children long after she was gone.
Helping Others and Raising Money
To start the orphanage, Carrie Steele Logan gave many speeches. For example, she spoke at the Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. She explained why her life's work was so important and raised thirty dollars there. The City Council of Atlanta also gave $500 to the orphanage.
Many other groups helped too. The Community Chest in Atlanta and several African American organizations and newspapers, like the Savannah Tribune, encouraged people to donate. With a special permission from the state of Georgia, donations from Atlanta's growing Black middle class, and her own savings, she opened the orphanage in 1889. It is known as the oldest place like it for Black children in the United States.
By 1892, the orphanage had a new, large brick building. It had three stories and could house and teach up to fifty children. Carrie Steele also wrote a book about her life. She sold this book to raise more money for the orphanage. The secretary of the orphanage was Floyd Crumbly, who was a main leader of a real estate company.
Personal Life and Lasting Impact
In 1843, Carrie Steele had a son named James Robert Steele. He became a barber. After she became free, they moved to Atlanta together. In 1890, she married Josehia (or Joseph) Logan, who was a minister from New York.
James Robert Steele worked hard. He was a porter for some years before becoming a barber. He opened his own barbershop, but it was not very successful. Later in life, he became an elder at Bethel AME Church. He also bought his own home in the late 1880s.
Carrie Steele Logan passed away on November 3, 1900, at 71 years old. Her memorial service was very large. One person who was there said it was "One of the largest funerals I have ever seen." About 3,000 people attended, including all the children from the orphanage and almost every minister in the city. Her gravestone in Atlanta's Historic Oakland Cemetery says, "Mother of Orphans/She hath done what she could."
Carrie Steele's orphanage is still helping children today. It is now called the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home. It is located on a large campus outside the city. In 1998, Carrie Steele Logan was honored as a Georgia Woman of Achievement. There is also a bronze sculpture of her on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta.
