Effie Waller Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Effie Waller Smith
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| Born |
Effie Waller
January 6, 1879 Chloe Creek, Pike County, Kentucky
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| Died | January 2, 1960 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | Kentucky State University |
Effie Waller Smith (born January 6, 1879 – died January 2, 1960) was an important African-American poet. She wrote her poems in the early 1900s. Effie published three books of poetry. These were Songs of the Month (1904), Rhymes From the Cumberland (1904), and Rosemary and Pansies (1909). Her poems also appeared in a famous magazine called Harper's Weekly. They were also printed in many local newspapers.
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Effie Waller Smith's Early Life and Education
Effie Waller was born in a small mountain town. This town was called Chloe Creek in Pike County, Kentucky. Her parents were formerly enslaved people. They lived on a farm near Pikeville.
Her Family Background
Her father, Frank Waller, moved to Kentucky after the Civil War. He had worked on a large farm in Virginia. Effie's mother, Sibbie Ratliff, grew up in East Kentucky. She met Frank in the 1870s. Effie was the third of their four children.
Frank Waller became a successful blacksmith. He also bought and sold land. Chloe Creek was special because people of different races lived together. This helped Frank succeed. He earned respect from everyone.
Getting an Education
Effie's parents knew how hard life was without much schooling. So, they wanted their children to get the best education. Effie finished eighth grade at a local school. Her older brother and sister also went there.
Then, Effie went to Kentucky Normal School for Colored Persons. This school was in Frankfort. From 1900 to 1902, she trained to be a teacher. She taught school for several years. She taught in both Kentucky and Tennessee.
Her Marriages
In 1902, Effie married Lyss Cockrell. This marriage did not last long. She later divorced him. In 1908, she married Charles Smith. He was a Deputy Sheriff. This marriage was also short. Charles passed away in 1911.
Effie Waller Smith's Writing Career
Some of Effie's poems appeared in local newspapers. In 1904, she published her first book. It was called Songs of the Months. This book had 110 poems.
By 1909, Effie Smith had published two more books. These were Rhymes From the Cumberland and Rosemary and Pansies. In 1917, her poem "Autumn Winds" was published. It appeared in Harper's Magazine. After 1917, when she was 38, she seems to have stopped writing.
In 1918, Effie Smith moved away from Kentucky. She moved to Wisconsin. Effie Waller Smith passed away on January 2, 1960. She is buried in the city of Neenah.
