Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen
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Portrait of educator Clarissa M. Thompson, ca. 1872
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| Born | October 1, 1859 Columbia, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | November 23, 1941 (aged 82) Milam, Texas |
| Occupation | Educator author |
| Language | English |
| Education | Howard Junior High School |
Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen (born October 1, 1859 – died November 23, 1941) was an American teacher and writer. She wrote exciting stories about rich African-American families living in the American South.
Contents
About Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen
Early Life and Family
Clarissa Minnie Thompson was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She was one of nine children. Her mother, Eliza Henrietta Montgomery, was a well-known person in society. Her father, Samuel Benjamin Thompson, was a leader in the South Carolina Constitutional Convention. This was an important meeting to write new laws for the state.
Education and Teaching Career
Clarissa went to Howard Junior High School. She also attended a normal school in South Carolina. A normal school was a place where people learned how to become teachers.
She taught at three different schools. One of these was Allen University. There, she taught many subjects. These included algebra, Latin, physical geology, and history. Around 1886, she moved to Jefferson, Texas. She taught at a public school there. Later, she also lived in Fort Worth, Texas and worked in its public school system.
Clarissa's Writing Career
Clarissa Allen wrote fictional stories. These stories were often based on real events. They were about wealthy African-American families in the Southern United States.
Her Most Famous Work
Her most famous book was Treading the Winepress. It was also known as A Mountain of Misfortune. This book had 41 different stories. They were all about two main families. The stories took place in a city called "Capitolia." This city was based on her hometown, Columbia, South Carolina.
The book included exciting plots. These involved love triangles and even murder. It also explored important ideas. These included womanhood, helping others (charity), and mental health.
Other Writings
Treading the Winepress was published in parts over time. This is called a serialized publication. It is thought to be the first novel written by an African-American woman from South Carolina. Clarissa also wrote shorter novels, called novelettes. These were for publications in Texas. Her poems were also printed in African-American newspapers. Some people who reviewed her work thought it was against religion. They specifically mentioned the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
See also
In Spanish: Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen para niños
