Frances Rollin Whipper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frances Rollin Whipper
Born	19 November 1845  Charleston
Died	17 October 1901  (aged 55) Beaufort
Occupation	Suffragist, writer
Spouse(s)	William James Whipper
Children	Ionia Rollin Whipper, Leigh Whipper

Frances Anne Rollin Whipper (born November 19, 1845 – died October 17, 1901) was an important political activist, a dedicated teacher, and a talented author. She and her four sisters, known as The Rollin Sisters, were very active in South Carolina's government and society during the Reconstruction era.

In 1867, Frances won an early Civil Rights lawsuit. She had been denied a first-class ticket on a steamship because of her race. This ship traveled between Beaufort and Charleston, South Carolina. Frances also wrote the first full-length biography by an African American. It was about Martin Delany, a key figure in the fight against slavery and a high-ranking Black officer in the Union army. She published it in 1868 under the name Frank A. Rollin. Her 1868 diary is one of the earliest known diaries by a Black woman from the South. It shares details about her social life in Boston and her early marriage to William James Whipper. He was a member of the South Carolina legislature and supported women's suffrage, which means women's right to vote.

Early Life and Education

Frances Rollin Whipper was born on November 19, 1845, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her parents, William and Margarette Rollin, were free people of color. Her father, William Rollin, was a successful lumber merchant. He was biracial and could sometimes pass as a white person. The Rollin family was part of Charleston's "colored aristocracy." This was a small group of wealthy and educated families. Even though laws often prevented Black people from getting an education, this community found ways to learn.

Frances was the oldest of five daughters. Her younger sisters were Charlotte, Katherine, Louisa, and Florence. Their father made sure his daughters received an excellent education. They had private tutors and went to parish schools. In 1859, Frances moved to Philadelphia to live with family friends. She attended the Institute for Colored Youth, a school run by Quakers. In Philadelphia, Frances found many opportunities to get involved in politics and learning. This is where she began her work as a writer and an activist for civil rights and women's right to vote.

Her sisters Charlotte, Katherine, and Louisa also went to school in Philadelphia and Boston before the American Civil War. All the Rollin sisters, except for the youngest, Florence, stayed in the North until the war ended.

Reconstruction Era Activities

Frances Rollin was 20 years old when she returned to Charleston in 1865. The war had greatly affected her father's business. Frances became a teacher at a school supported by the Freedmen's Bureau. This was a U.S. government agency that helped formerly enslaved people during the Reconstruction era. She later taught at a school sponsored by the American Missionary Association.

Civil Rights Lawsuit

In 1867, Frances was denied a first-class ticket on the steamer Pilot Boy. She sued the captain, W.T. McNelty. The court found the captain guilty of discrimination and fined him $250. Major Martin R. Delany, who worked for the Freedmen's Bureau, helped her with this lawsuit. He was impressed by her writing skills.

Writing Martin Delany's Biography

Because of her writing talent, Delany asked Frances to write his life story. In the fall of 1867, Rollin went to Boston to write the biography and find a publisher. She stayed there for eight months. During this time, she was very active in Boston's intellectual life. She attended lectures by famous thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and a reading by Charles Dickens. She also met important anti-slavery leaders like William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips.

Frances finished the book, Life and Public Services of Martin R. Delany, and it was published in early summer 1868. She used the pen name Frank A. Rollin. This book was the first full-length biography ever written by an African American.

Return to South Carolina

Frances returned to South Carolina in July 1868. She took a job in the law office of William James Whipper. He had recently been elected to the state legislature. After a short time, Frances and William married on September 17, 1868. Even though her family had some concerns, Frances agreed to marry him.

Frances became very involved in her husband's career. She edited the Beaufort Tribune, a newspaper for his voters. She also wrote articles for other newspapers. People knew her as his most trusted advisor. They were often called "the Whippers" around town.

The Rollin Sisters' Activism

Frances also supported her politically active sisters. Katherine and Charlotte Rollin moved to Columbia, the state capital, in 1867. They found jobs working for the state government. They were known for being smart and charming. Their home became a popular meeting place for important social and political leaders.

Frances's husband, William J. Whipper, strongly supported women's rights and the right to vote. He was the only representative to support women's suffrage at the state constitutional convention in 1868. Charlotte spoke publicly and before the state House of Representatives to support voting rights for women. She and Katherine organized a women's rights convention in Columbia in 1870. The next year, Charlotte led the first meeting of the South Carolina Branch of the American Woman Suffrage Association at the Whippers' home.

Frances Anne Rollin's 1868 Diary

Frances Ann Rollin kept a detailed diary during 1868. This diary is now kept at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her diary describes her writing experiences. It also mentions her meetings with famous abolitionists and other important people from the Civil War era. The diary also shares how Martin Delany faced money problems after the Civil War.

This diary is the earliest known diary written by a Black woman from the Southern United States. It offers a rare look into the social life of Columbia, South Carolina. It also recorded the violence against Black people and Republicans happening in the state during Reconstruction.

Marriage and Family Life

Frances Rollin married William James Whipper on September 17, 1868. She became Frances Whipper. She had five children, but only three lived to adulthood: Winifred (born 1870), Ionia (born 1872), and Leigh (born 1876). William Whipper also had children from a previous marriage and an adopted son.

Frances continued to write in her diaries after she was married. These diaries focused on social life in Columbia. They also recorded the violence against Black people and Republicans in the state.

After 12 years, the Whippers' marriage faced difficulties. In 1880, Frances took her three children to Washington, D.C.. She became a clerk in the General Land Office. Later, she worked in the office of Frederick Douglass, a famous abolitionist. William Whipper joined them in 1882. He practiced law for two years before returning to South Carolina to work in politics again.

Frances's children went to public schools in Washington D.C. and attended Howard University. Winifred Whipper became a teacher and a nurse. Ionia Rollin Whipper taught for ten years before attending and graduating from Howard University College of Medicine. She became one of the first Black women doctors in the United States. Their son, Leigh Whipper, had a long and successful career as an actor in plays and movies.

Later Life

While living in Washington D.C., Frances continued to write. She also stayed involved in politics, even while working and helping her children with their education. In 1892, she became ill while campaigning for a Republican presidential candidate.

Frances later reunited with her husband and returned to South Carolina after 1893. She passed away from tuberculosis on October 17, 1901, in Beaufort, South Carolina.