Emma Chambers Maitland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emma Chambers Maitland
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Photograph of Emma Chambers Maitland, published in a 1924 newspaper.
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Jane Chambers
1893 Virginia
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| Died | March 1975 Massachusetts
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Performer, boxer, teacher |
| Years active | 1920s-1950s |
Emma Chambers Maitland (1893 – March 1975), originally named Jane Chambers, was an amazing American woman. She was a talented dancer, a dedicated teacher, and even a professional boxer!
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Emma's Early Life
Emma, born Jane Chambers, grew up near Richmond, Virginia. Her parents, Wyatt and Cora Chambers, were farmers. They worked on land owned by others, sharing their crops. Emma had seven brothers.
She went to a special school at a convent in Rock Castle, Virginia. There, she studied hard and became qualified to be a teacher. When she was older, she moved to Washington, D.C. and decided to change her first name to Emma.
A Career of Many Talents
Teaching and Moving to Paris
Emma started her career as a teacher in Virginia. Later, after her husband passed away, she moved to Paris, France, with her young daughter. In Paris, Emma explored new talents.
She became a dancer at the famous Moulin Rouge. She also worked as a model for artists. But one of her most exciting ventures was a boxing act!
Becoming a Boxer
Emma performed a boxing act with another American, Aurelia Wheedlin. She loved boxing so much that she trained seriously with a boxer named Jack Taylor. Emma and Aurelia toured all over Europe. They were known as the world's lightweight female boxing champions!
Emma also boxed in other countries, including Canada, Cuba, and Mexico. She was a true pioneer for women in sports.
Performing in the United States
In 1926, Emma Maitland returned to the United States. She settled in New York City and continued her boxing performances. She was often called a "boxeuse," which is the French word for a female boxer.
Emma and Aurelia Wheedlin performed in many places. They appeared in clubs, on vaudeville stages (a type of variety show), and in black revues in New York. Some of these shows included Messin' Around (1929), Change Your Luck (1930), and Fast and Furious (1931).
Besides performing, Emma also worked as a bodyguard. She taught dance and gymnastics, sharing her skills with others. In her later years, she moved to Martha's Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts.
Emma's Personal Life and Legacy
Emma Maitland married Clarence Maitland, who was studying medicine at Howard University. They had a daughter in 1917. Sadly, Clarence passed away about a year after they were married. Emma lived a long life, passing away in March 1975 at the age of 82.
Preserving Her Story
Emma wanted her story to be remembered. In 1943, she gave her personal papers and souvenirs to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This is a special collection at the New York Public Library that focuses on Black history and culture.
Honoring Her Memory
Emma's contributions are still recognized today. In 2015, her former home in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts became a stop on the African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard. This trail highlights important places in African American history. In 2020, the Martha's Vineyard Museum even created an exhibit all about Emma Chambers Maitland. She truly left a lasting mark as a teacher, dancer, and groundbreaking boxer.
