Katherine Call Simonds facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Katherine Call Simonds
Born	Katherine Lillian Call December 12, 1865 Franklin, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	January 28, 1946 (aged 80) Concord, New Hampshire
Occupation	musician, dramatic soprano, composer, songwriter, social reformer
Notable works	"There's a Soldier Lad in Khaki Over There"
Spouse	Arthur B. Simonds ​ (m. 1885)​

Katherine Call Simonds (born Katherine Lillian Call; December 12, 1865 – January 28, 1946) was an American musician, composer, and social reformer. She was known for her powerful singing voice, called a "dramatic soprano." Katherine wrote many songs, both the words and the music. She often performed entire concerts using only her own creations.

Beyond music, Katherine was a leader in her community. She worked to improve society, especially by supporting women's right to vote and the temperance movement. She led important groups like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) in her area. She also helped with the Golden Rule Farm Homes Association, which was an organization for boys.

Early Life and Learning

Katherine Lillian Call was born in Franklin, New Hampshire, on December 12, 1865. Her parents were Joseph L. and Martha Ann Call.

She went to public schools in Franklin. Katherine also studied singing with famous teachers like Gertrude Franklin Salisbury and Clara Munger in Boston.

A Career in Music and Change

Katherine Simonds taught singing to many students. She also led and sang in several church choirs. She was the main singer, or soprano, in various churches, including the First Baptist Church in Concord, New Hampshire. She also directed the choir at the Christian Church in Franklin.

Katherine wrote and composed many songs. Some of her music was published by C. W. Thompson & Co. in Boston. She wrote two songs about the Prohibition Era, a time when making and selling alcohol was illegal. These songs were called "The Nation's Going Dry" and "The Land Where Old Glory Waves." The National W.C.T.U. Publishing House released them.

Her most famous song was "There's a Soldier Lad in Khaki Over There." She wrote and set this song to music in 1919. Katherine sang it for many audiences, including at Tremont Temple in Boston. People loved the song so much that they cheered for her and her music.

Working for Social Change

Katherine Simonds was very active in making society better. She strongly supported equal suffrage, which meant women having the right to vote. She was the president of the Franklin Equal Suffrage Club.

She also believed in the Temperance movement, which aimed to reduce or stop the use of alcohol. Katherine was a leader in the W.C.T.U. at both the local and county levels. She also served as the state music director for the New Hampshire W.C.T.U.

Katherine attended important meetings, like the National Prohibition Convention in 1916. There, she sang "The Land Where Glory Waves." In 1917, she sang "New Hampshire Voted Dry" at the National W.C.T.U. Convention in Washington, D.C.. This song celebrated New Hampshire's decision to become a "dry" state, meaning alcohol was banned.

She was also the Vice-president of the Golden Rule Farm Homes Association starting in 1916. This group helped provide homes for boys. During World War I, she was a singer for the Red Cross. In 1931, she became the president of the New Hampshire division of the League of American Penwomen.

Personal Life

On November 25, 1885, Katherine married Arthur B. Simonds. He was the Superintendent of Public Instruction for New Hampshire. They lived in Franklin but spent their winters in St. Petersburg, Florida. Katherine Simonds passed away on January 28, 1946, in Concord.