Elizabeth Stumm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Stumm
|
|
|---|---|
ca. 1891
|
|
| Born |
T. Elizabeth Penman
March 25, 1857 |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Elizabeth Penman, Mrs. C. C. Stumm |
| Occupation | teacher, journalist |
| Years active | 1877-? |
Elizabeth Stumm, also known by her pen name Mrs. C. C. Stumm, was an important African-American teacher and journalist. She was born in 1857. Her husband worked as a missionary, which meant they moved around a lot. Even with all the moving, Stumm was able to work as a writer and teacher. She wrote for many newspapers and magazines that served the black community. People at the time recognized her as a very influential and effective journalist.
Contents
Early Life and Education
T. Elizabeth Penman was born on March 25, 1857. Her birthplace was Boyle County, Kentucky. Her parents were Eliza and Thomas Penman. Elizabeth's father passed away when she was young. Her mother made sure that Elizabeth received a good education.
Elizabeth attended Berea College for two terms. After her studies, she began her career as a journalist. In 1875, Elizabeth Penman married Rev. Chasteen C. Stumm. He was also a student at Berea College.
Soon after they married, Rev. Stumm started missionary work. He spent two years at his first mission. Then, he moved to Elizabethtown in Hardin County, Kentucky.
A Career in Teaching and Writing
In 1877, Elizabeth Stumm began teaching at a school in Elizabethtown. She taught there with her husband for two years. Just before they moved to Frankfort in 1879, Stumm published her first article. It was about a religious topic and appeared in the local newspaper.
At that time, it was common for women to publish using their husband's name. So, Stumm published all her writings as Mrs. C. C. Stumm.
Moving and Writing Across States
In 1881, the Stumms moved again. Rev. Stumm became a pastor in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He also became president of the Bowling Green Academy. Elizabeth Stumm worked as his assistant. She taught at the academy and wrote articles for the Bowling Green Watchman newspaper.
They moved to Nashville in 1883. There, Rev. Stumm attended the Baptist Theological Institute. After leaving Bowling Green, Elizabeth Stumm worked at Hearne Academy. This school was founded in 1881 for black education. It was near Hearne, Texas. She served as the matron and also taught there.
The couple then moved to Boston. Rev. Stumm was a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Elizabeth Stumm wrote for and helped sell The Boston Hub and The Boston Advocate. She also contributed to other black newspapers and magazines.
In 1885, Rev. Stumm moved again. They went to Philadelphia, where he led the Union Baptist Church. Stumm started working for the National Monitor, a newspaper from Brooklyn. She was their business manager and writer in Philadelphia. She had a similar role for Our Women and Children, a magazine published in Louisville, Kentucky.
In 1890, the Stumms started their own religious journal called The Christian Banner. Elizabeth Stumm managed the business side, and her husband was the editor.
Later Life and New Beginnings
In 1891, the couple moved to Staunton, Virginia. Rev. Stumm became the pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Elizabeth Stumm continued her writing. She had a column called "Women's Influence". This column appeared in The Future State, a magazine from Kansas.
In 1895, the Stumms celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary. Soon after, Rev. Stumm passed away.
After her husband's death, Stumm returned to Philadelphia. She faced financial challenges without her husband's income. So, she started a business that focused on hair care. She hired four or five women to help grow hair for her clients.
