Ida R. Cummings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ida R. Cummings
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Ida R. Cummings, from a 1912 issue of The Crisis
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| Born | March 17, 1867 |
| Died | November 1958 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Morgan College |
| Occupation | teacher |
| Known for | National Association of Colored Women's Clubs |
Ida R. Cummings (born March 17, 1867 – died November 1958) was an American teacher. She was also a leader in the women's club movement. She lived and worked in Baltimore, Maryland. In the 1910s, she was an important officer for the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. This group worked to improve life for African American communities.
Early Life and Education
Ida Rebecca Cummings grew up in Baltimore. Her parents were Henry and Eliza Jane Davage Cummings. Her father was a chef. Her mother ran a boarding house, which is like a small hotel.
Ida and her brothers and sisters were very active in Baltimore. Her brother, Harry Sythe Cummings, was the first black person to serve on the City Council. In 1904, he even supported Theodore Roosevelt at a big political meeting. Ida's sister Estella married another city councilman. Her brother Charles was a respected clergyman.
Ida R. Cummings went to Morgan College. She also took classes at Columbia University in New York in 1922. Later, she made history by becoming the first female trustee at Morgan College. A trustee helps manage the college.
A Teacher and Community Leader
Ida R. Cummings was the first black kindergarten teacher in Baltimore. She taught in schools that were separate for black and white students. She taught first in Sparrow's Point, and later in Baltimore city. In 1902, she was chosen to be on a special committee for black teachers in Maryland.
She became a national leader in the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. In 1912, she was elected as the corresponding secretary. This meant she handled important letters and communications. In 1916, she became the vice president of the organization. She also helped organize a conference for farmers' wives and women in rural areas in 1917.
Ida R. Cummings was also very involved in her church. She was a member of Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church. She led a group called the Colored Empty Stocking and Fresh Air Circle. This group held a yearly event to raise money. They used the money to buy Christmas gifts for poor black children. They also paid for summer trips to a farm for these children. She even wrote an essay for a book about Methodism in 1910.
During World War I, she was chosen to lead the Women's Section Council of Defense for her state. This group helped organize women's efforts during the war. In 1938, the governor of Maryland appointed her to a board. This board helped manage the Cheltenham School for Boys.
Later Years
Ida R. Cummings passed away in 1958. She was 91 years old.
