Frances Titus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frances W. Titus
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| Born | 1816 |
| Died | April 19, 1894 |
| Occupation | Abolitionist and Suffragist |
| Known for | Secretary of Sojourner Truth as well as a founder of a school for freed slave men |
Frances W. Titus (1816-1894) was an important American woman who fought for big changes. She was an abolitionist, meaning she worked to end slavery. She was also a suffragist, which means she believed women should have the right to vote. Titus is most famous for being a close friend and helper to Sojourner Truth, a well-known speaker and activist. She helped manage Truth's tours and edited her life story, Narrative of Sojourner Truth. Frances Titus also started a school for men who had been freed from slavery. She played a key role in the movement for women's voting rights.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Frances Walling was born in 1816 in Charlotte, Vermont. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Her family were Quakers, a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs.
In 1844, Frances married Captain Richard F. Titus. He was also a Quaker. They built a new home together. They had two sons. Their first son, Richard Jr., sadly died when he was three years old. Their second son, Samuel John, was born in 1846. Later, the family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. There, her husband became a flour miller. Frances Titus was also interested in new ideas like freethought and spiritualism.
Richard F. Titus passed away in 1868. Frances Titus died on April 19, 1894, in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Fighting for Change
Frances Titus was very active in important movements. She worked hard with other women in the Suffrage Movement. She first met Sojourner Truth in 1856.
Helping Freed People
In December 1866, Titus worked with Josephine Sophia White Griffing in Washington DC. They helped eight men who had been freed from slavery. Their goal was to help these men find jobs and homes. Titus also worked with Sojourner Truth to help freedmen move to Rochester, New York. However, the men preferred to live in Battle Creek, Michigan. So, eight men were brought there for Titus to help them settle.
In 1867, Titus started a school for adult African Americans. Volunteers taught them to read, write, and do basic arithmetic. The school met twice a week at the city hall. She also hosted Parker Pillsbury, another strong abolitionist, when he visited Battle Creek.
Women's Right to Vote
Titus focused a lot on the Suffrage Movement in Michigan. She stayed in touch with Sojourner Truth, who traveled and gave speeches. Frances Titus was one of the people who helped start the Michigan Suffrage Association. She was also on the main committees for both state and national groups working for women's right to vote.
From September to December 1879, Titus and Truth traveled to Kansas. They went to help thousands of African Americans who had left the South. These people, called Exodusters, were poor and hungry. They sought a new life away from unfair treatment. Titus worked with other helpers like Laura Smith Haviland and Elizabeth Rous Comstock. They all worked with the Kansas Freedmen's Relief Association. Their goal was to help the new settlers get used to life in Kansas and build new lives.
Narrative of Sojourner Truth
Frances Titus played a big part in helping Sojourner Truth write her life story. The book, Narrative of Sojourner Truth, was published in 1875. Titus helped update the book in later versions, including those from 1878 and 1884. She used newspaper articles, letters, and other papers that Truth had saved. Titus edited the book to show Truth in a very positive way. Her work helped make Sojourner Truth's story known to many people.
See also
In Spanish: Frances Titus para niños
