Otelia Shields Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otelia Shields Howard
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Otelia Shields, from a 1921 graduation photograph in The Crisis
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Otelia Roberta Shields
September 15, 1900 Petersburg, Virginia
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| Died | December 13, 1945 Petersburg, Virginia
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| Alma mater | Fisk University (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
| Occupation | English professor |
| Relatives | Audrey S. Penn (niece) |
Otelia Roberta Shields Howard (born September 15, 1900 – died December 13, 1945) was an American English professor. She taught for over 20 years at Virginia State College. She also started the school's newspaper, called the Virginia Statesman.
Early Life and Education
Otelia Roberta Shields was born in Petersburg, Virginia. Her parents were James E. Shields and Otelia Jones Shields. Her father was a school principal. He was in the first group to graduate from the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute in 1886.
Otelia trained to be a teacher at the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. Later, she went to Fisk University. There, she was part of the Fisk Pageant Singers. In 1921, she earned a bachelor's degree in English with high honors. She then earned a master's degree from Columbia University in 1926.
Her brother, James E. Shields Jr., became a doctor. He studied at Howard University. Otelia's niece, Audrey S. Penn, is a famous neurologist.
Teaching Career and Achievements
Otelia Shields was a founding member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter at Virginia State. She also led the local YWCA group. During World War I, she helped organize a committee for girls' and women's welfare. This work was part of the Camp Lee War Council in Petersburg.
Howard taught for more than 20 years at her old school, which became Virginia State College. She started as an instructor in 1921. Later, she became an associate professor. In 1929, she started the school's honor society. She also founded the college newspaper, the Virginia Statesman.
In 1930, she created the Shields-Howard Award. This was an annual prize for students who wrote creatively. She also edited the Virginia State College Gazette and Catalogue. Otelia directed student plays too, like A Doll's House in 1928.
Personal Life
Otelia Shields married Roscoe Conklin Howard in 1936. He was a biology professor. Otelia Shields Howard passed away in 1945 in Petersburg. She died from health problems related to multiple sclerosis.
A special "In Memoriam" edition of the Virginia Statesman was published for her. This happened in March 1946. Her creative writing award was continued. It was renamed the Shields Howard Memorial Award. Howard Hall, a women's dorm at Virginia State University, was named after her. It was built in the 1960s and taken down in 2010.
