Lillian Thomas Fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lillian Thomas Fox
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Lillian Thomas Fox in 1905, around age 51.
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| Born | November 1854 |
| Died | August 29, 1917 (aged 62) |
| Resting place | Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis |
| Occupation | Journalist, clubwoman, and civic activist |
| Employer | Indianapolis Freeman; Indianapolis News |
| Organization | Woman's Improvement Club; Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs |
| Spouse(s) | Wm. R. James (married in 1872, divorced in 1880)
Charles M. Thomas (married in 1881, divorced in 1889) James E. Fox (married in 1893, separated in 1898) |
| Children | Maud (Maudie) Thomas, (1872-1889) |
| Parent(s) | Rev. Byrd Parker; Jane Janette (Johnson) Thomas |
Lillian May Parker Thomas Fox (born November 1854 – died August 29, 1917) was an amazing African American journalist and community leader. She became well-known in the 1880s and 1890s. Lillian wrote for the Indianapolis Freeman, a major national newspaper for black Americans.
In 1900, Fox joined the Indianapolis News. She became the first African American writer to have a regular column in a white newspaper in Indiana. She was honored for her work in 2014, when she was added to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.
Lillian Fox used her writing, speaking, and organizing skills to help the black community in Indianapolis. In 1903, she helped start the Woman's Improvement Club with Beulah Wright Porter. She also led the group that founded the Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in 1904. Fox worked hard to improve public health and care for people with tuberculosis in the black community. She was also part of national groups like the National Afro-American Council and the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Lillian Fox was born in November 1854 in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Her mother, Jane Janette (Johnson), was a teacher. Her father, Reverend Byrd Parker, was a pastor. Her father passed away in 1860. Later, her widowed mother married Robert E. Thomas.
Lillian learned to read and write when she was young. She went to public schools in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the 1880s, she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, with her mother. There, she continued her studies at special schools for speaking and young ladies.
Family Life
Lillian married Wm. R. James in 1872 and had a daughter named Maud that same year. Lillian and Wm. James later separated.
She then married Charles M. Thomas in 1881. Lillian and her daughter Maud moved to Indianapolis in 1885. Lillian and Charles later divorced.
In November 1889, Lillian's daughter Maud passed away from tuberculosis. This was a very sad time for Lillian.
Lillian's third marriage was to James E. Fox in 1893. He was a merchant from Jamaica. Lillian stopped working outside the home after her marriage. She continued to give public speeches. After they separated and James passed away in 1898, Lillian went back to her career as a journalist. She also became very active in women's clubs.
A Career in Journalism and Activism
Lillian Fox started her career as a speaker and writer. She became well-known in the 1880s and 1890s as a leader and journalist. She wrote for the Indianapolis Freeman, a major national black newspaper.
In 1900, Fox joined the Indianapolis News. She became the first black writer to have a regular column in a white newspaper in Indiana. Fox was also a very active clubwoman in Indianapolis. She helped start the Woman's Improvement Club in 1903. She also led the group that founded the Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in 1904. She worked hard to improve public health and care for people with tuberculosis in the black community.
Early Work
When Fox moved to Indianapolis in 1885, she worked as a seamstress. She also wrote for black newspapers as a freelance writer. In 1891, she passed a test that could have given her a government job. But she chose to be a journalist, speaker, and social activist instead.
Journalist and Speaker
In September 1891, the Indianapolis Freeman hired Fox as an assistant editor. She wrote for the newspaper until 1893. She was the only woman on the editorial team. Her writings supported Booker T. Washington's ideas for black economic progress. Fox left the newspaper when she got married. But she kept working as a public speaker. She was also an active member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. After she separated from her husband and he passed away in 1898, Fox returned to journalism.
In 1900, Fox spoke at a meeting about women in journalism. After her speech, the Indianapolis News hired her. Fox became the first African American to write a regular news column for a white newspaper in Indiana. For fifteen years, Fox wrote a weekly column about the black community. She used her position to support and encourage efforts to help black community groups.
Fox's column in the Indianapolis News was called "News of the Colored Folk." It ran from 1900 to 1915. She did not use her name on the column. It covered local events and stories about black men and women. It also reported on national black events. Through her articles, Fox shared information about social issues. She supported efforts to improve health, nutrition, and care for families and seniors in Indianapolis.
Clubwoman and Community Leader
Fox became a well-known speaker and social activist. She founded the Woman's Improvement Club of Indianapolis. She also founded the Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. She was involved in several national groups too. Fox was a state representative for the National Afro-American Council. She was also a member of the Indianapolis Anti-Lynching League. She was active in the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
In 1895, Fox was asked to speak at a meeting of black women activists. The goal was to encourage women's and children's clubs across the country. Fox became interested in starting such a club in Indianapolis. In 1903, she and Beulah Wright Porter founded the Woman's Improvement Club. This club was for African American women in Indianapolis.
The Woman's Improvement Club started as a group for reading and learning. It helped members express themselves and improve their education. It also offered support to each other. The club's goals soon grew to include social work. The club was best known for raising money to help people with tuberculosis in the city's black community. They also helped poor black residents. As part of their efforts, the club created Oak Hill Camp. This was one of the first outdoor fresh air camps for tuberculosis patients in the country.
In 1904, Fox led the group of women who founded the Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. This was a group of fourteen black women's clubs in the state. Fox was the federation's state organizer at first. She remained an honorary president until she passed away in 1917.
Besides her work with women's clubs, Fox spoke for political and religious groups. She was also a leader in other community organizations. Fox was a member of her church's literary group and other community groups. She was also a superintendent at the Sisters of Charity Hospital in Indianapolis.
Later Years and Legacy
Lillian Fox's eyesight began to fail, and her health declined. She took a break from the Indianapolis News in 1914. She retired from the News in 1915 because she could no longer write.
Fox had a stroke in August 1917. She passed away from a heart attack at a friend's home in Indianapolis. Fox is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
After she passed away, the Indianapolis Freeman newspaper called Fox "an original thinker." They said she fought for social justice. Her work at the Indianapolis News was very important. She was the first African American journalist to write a regular column in a white newspaper in Indiana. This opened the door for other black journalists.
Besides her writing, Fox was known for her public speaking and strong organizing skills. She used these skills to help many organizations in the black community. Her special interest in tuberculosis and healthcare for black patients continued after her death. This work was carried on by the Woman's Improvement Club and other groups she worked with.
Honors and Awards
Lillian Fox was added to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014. This honor happened after her death.
Important Image Notes
Recent studies have shown that some pictures thought to be Lillian Thomas Fox are actually of other women. It is also not clear if another picture at the Library of Congress is really her.
Images for kids
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This image has been thought to be Lillian Thomas Fox, but it is actually a picture of a different woman. Lillian J.B. Thomas was a stenographer in Kentucky.
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This image is kept by The Library of Congress. It is not certain if this picture is actually Lillian Thomas Fox. If the date of 1890 is correct, she would have been in her mid-thirties. The woman in the picture looks younger.
