Fannie Franklin Wall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fannie Franklin Wall
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| Born | 1860 |
| Died | 1944 |
| Resting place | San Francisco National Cemetery |
| Monuments | Fannie Wall Head Start |
| Occupation | Clubwoman, civic leader, community activist, children's home founder |
| Employer | Fannie Wall Children's Home and Day Nursery |
| Organization | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Urban League; California State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs; National Association of Colored Women; First African Methodist Church |
| Spouse(s) | Archy H. Wall |
| Children | 3: Lillian, Florence, Clifton |
| Relatives | Archie Williams (grandson) |
Fannie Franklin Wall (born around 1860, died 1944) was an important leader in her community. She was known for starting clubs, helping her city, fighting for what was right, and creating a home for children.
Fannie Wall's Early Life
Fannie Franklin was born in 1860 in Gallatin, Tennessee. We don't know much about her early years or schooling. She married Archy H. Wall, who was a staff sergeant in the US Army. Archy Wall was also a musician. He was part of the all-black 24th Infantry.
Fannie and Archy had three children: two daughters, Lillian and Florence, and a son, Clifton. The family moved to California. This happened after Archy Wall was sent from New Mexico to San Francisco. This was during the Spanish–American War. After Archy retired from the army in 1900, they settled in Oakland. In Oakland, Fannie Wall became a very active community leader. She joined many groups that worked to help African Americans. These groups also fought against racism.
Helping Her Community
Fannie Franklin Wall was very active in the National Association of Colored Women (NACW). She was also the longtime President of the California Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. The National Association of Colored Women was started in 1896. It was the first national group for black women. Its motto was 'Lifting As We Climb'. This meant they wanted to help others as they improved themselves. The group focused on community service, fairness, and civil rights.
Wall helped plan the NACW's Fifteenth Biennial Session in 1926. This big meeting took place in Oakland. She became a close friend of Mary McLeod Bethune, who started the association. Mary McLeod Bethune even stayed at the Walls' home during the conference.
Wall was also very involved in the Oakland National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She also worked with the Urban League. She was active in Oakland's First African Methodist Church. This church was a central place for the black community. Many people involved in Oakland's social and civic life went there.
Wall also joined other groups. These included the King's Daughters Circle and the Sisters of the Mysterious Ten. She was also president of the Art and Industrial Club of Oakland. Under her leadership, this club joined the Child Welfare League. They were the first club to help start the Fannie Wall Children's Home. They gave $50.00 to help.
Wall became known as a strong and dedicated community activist. She was famous for not leaving the office of Oakland mayor John L. Davies. She would stay until her concerns were properly addressed. She worked to improve rights for African Americans. She also promoted better relationships between black and white people in Oakland.
The Fannie Wall Children's Home
Fannie Wall was the main person behind the home for black children. This home later became the Fannie Wall Children's Home and Day Nursery. Plans for the Home began in 1914. Wall and Hettie Tilghman started these plans. They were leaders in the Northern Federation of California Colored Women's Clubs. They wanted to help black working mothers. They also wanted to care for black children who had no parents. They aimed to provide services that African Americans badly needed.
The Fannie Wall Children's Home and Day Nursery opened in 1918. It was located at 1215 Peralta Street in West Oakland. Its goal was to 'care for homeless, dependent, neglected children from broken homes'. It also aimed to 'provide day care for children of working parents'.
This was the first place in Northern California to offer housing, boarding, and day care for black orphans. For many years, it was the only day care in the Bay Area open to African American children. It created a family-like place for children aged four to fourteen. It offered both day care and places for children to live. It accepted children from nearby counties, as well as from Oakland. The staff included teachers, doctors, dietitians, and social workers.
The Fannie Wall Children's Home received money from the Oakland Community Chest. It also got money from a will by Theodore Dreiser. Another former board member, Josephine Hutton, also gave money. Many other people and groups also helped fund the Home.
In 1928, the Children's Home moved to a new building. It was at 815 Linden Street, a large house built in the 1880s. The Northern Federation of Colored Women's Clubs ran the Home until 1941. Then, the home became its own independent organization. It moved again in 1964. It reopened at 647 55th Street in 1967. Today, it is called the Fannie Wall Head Start. It is a Pre-K Program for young children.
Wall also helped start the Linden Street YWCA. This was because the downtown Oakland YWCA did not allow black people. The Linden Street YWCA was open to African Americans. It was also close to the children's home.
Later Years
Archy Wall, Fannie's husband, died on May 11, 1931. In 1936, Wall's grandson, Archie F. Williams, won a gold medal in the Olympics in Berlin. The Oakland Tribune newspaper wrote about his family celebrating at home. They said Wall, who was 75, was 'still active in the affairs of the Fannie Wall Home for Children, which she founded.'
Fannie Franklin Wall passed away at age 84 on April 14, 1944. She died in her home in North Oakland. She left her home to her daughters. She was buried next to her husband in the San Francisco National Cemetery.
