Katherine D. Tillman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine D. Tillman
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Katherine Davis Tillman, in a 1916 publication
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Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman
February 19, 1870 |
| Died | November 29, 1923 (aged 53) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Writer, Missionary |
Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman (February 19, 1870 – November 29, 1923) was an important American writer. She wrote many poems, stories, and plays. She also worked as a missionary and helped lead women's groups.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Katherine Davis Chapman was born on February 19, 1870. Her hometown was Mound City, Illinois. Her mother, Laura, was a teacher. Her father was Charles Chapman.
Katherine didn't go to school right away. When she was about twelve, her family moved to Yankton, South Dakota. There, her father raised hunting dogs. It was in Yankton that Katherine finally started school. Later, she attended the State University of Kentucky. This school is now known as Simmons College of Kentucky. She also studied at Wilberforce University.
A Career in Writing
Katherine started writing when she was in high school. She wrote poetry and sent her work to newspapers. Her first poem, "Memory," was printed in 1888. It appeared in a newspaper called The Christian Recorder.
That same year, she wrote a series of articles. These were published in The Christian Recorder and American Baptist. These articles helped her become well-known. She also wrote for other magazines, like Our Women and Children and the Indianapolis Freeman.
Katherine wrote many different things. She created short stories, poems, essays, and plays. She often wrote for religious magazines. One of these was the A. M. E. Church Review, which was read all over the country.
Her Famous Works
Tillman wrote two novellas, which are like short novels. One was Beryl Weston's Ambition: The Story of an Afro-American Girl's Life (1893). The other was Clancy Street, which came out in parts from 1898 to 1899.
She also wrote plays about history. These included Thirty Years of Freedom (1902) and Fifty Years of Freedom (1910). Her book of poems, Recitations, was published in 1902.
Katherine's writing often shared positive messages. She especially wanted to inspire young Black women. For example, in her essay "Afro-American Women and their Work" (1895), she wrote:
We have been charged with mental inferiority; now, if we can prove that with cultivated hearts and brains, we can accomplish the same that is accomplished by our fairer sisters of the Caucasian race, why then, we have refuted the falsehood.
This quote means she believed Black women could achieve just as much as anyone else. She wanted them to show their intelligence and talent.
Community and Missionary Work
Katherine D. Tillman was married to a pastor, Rev. George M. Tillman. Because of his work, they lived in many different states. Katherine taught and gave lectures. She also worked with women's groups in churches. She was involved with missionary organizations, which help people and spread religious messages.
In the 1910s, she became an officer. This was for the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. This group worked to improve the lives of African-American women.
During World War I, Katherine played an important role. She was chosen to be the director of publicity. This was for the National Association of Negro Women's Clubs. Her job was to show all the great war work done by African-American women. This included their efforts with the Red Cross and other groups.
Personal Life and Legacy
Kate Chapman married Rev. George M. Tillman in 1894. They had one daughter named Dorothy.
In October 1923, Katherine fell ill. She was at a church convention in Brooklyn. She passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1923. She was 53 years old.
Years later, in the 1960s and 1970s, a group was named after her. The Katherine D. Tillman Missionary Society was at Bethel A. M. E. Church in Leavenworth, Kansas. This showed how much she was remembered and respected for her work.
