Rosetta Lawson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosetta Lawson
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Lawson in The Woman's Era, 1896
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| Born |
Rosetta E. Coakley
c. 1857 |
| Died | April 19, 1936 |
| Alma mater | Chautauqua Institution, 1884 |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Known for | Social activism, co-founding Frelinghuysen University |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4 |
Rosetta Lawson (born around 1857, died in 1936) was an amazing African American woman. She worked as an educator and was a strong voice for social change. She believed in the temperance movement, which encouraged people to live without alcohol. She also supported women's right to vote.
With her husband, Jesse Lawson, she helped start Frelinghuysen University. There, she taught subjects like anatomy and how the body works. For 30 years, she was a leader for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, traveling to organize groups. Rosetta Lawson also created the first Congress of Colored Women in the United States. She was chosen to be on the main committee of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
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Early Life and Education
Rosetta Lawson was born around 1857 in King George County, Virginia. Her mother was a free Black woman, and her father was enslaved. When she was very young, her father escaped to freedom. In 1862, her mother moved them to Washington, D.C., where slavery was already ended.
Rosetta went to public schools in Washington, D.C. In high school, she became an assistant to the principal of her old elementary school. In 1873, she started working for the school superintendent's office. She continued working in the Washington, D.C., public school system until 1885.
Learning and Growing
While working, Rosetta kept studying. She became very interested in the Chautauqua movement. This was a social movement that helped adults keep learning and enjoy good entertainment. She started classes in 1880. In 1884, she graduated from the Chautauqua Institution. She received her diploma for finishing a special reading and science program. Later, she earned a degree in chiropractic science from Frelinghuysen University.
In 1884, she married Jesse Lawson. He was a lawyer, teacher, and activist. Together, they had four children: one daughter and three sons. Jesse passed away in 1927.
Working for Change
Rosetta Lawson was very active in social work and civil rights. She worked hard in groups that aimed to improve life for African Americans.
Supporting Women and Community
In 1895, she organized the first Congress of Colored Women in the United States. This was a big meeting for Black women leaders. In 1896, two important women's clubs joined together. They formed the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC). Rosetta was chosen to be on their executive committee. This group was created to show the progress of Black people through the efforts of their women. Today, the NACWC is still active. It works to help the African American community and promote peace between different races.
Later, in 1905, Lawson started a Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Washington, D.C. This was the first YWCA in the city. It is also the only independent YWCA for Black women in the United States. Rosetta Lawson spoke out against racial segregation, which was the unfair separation of people based on race. She also helped create the Alley Improvement Association. This group worked to get better homes for poor people in Washington, D.C. She also worked with Bands of Mercy. This group taught people, especially children, to be kind to animals.
Fighting for Temperance
Rosetta Lawson was a strong supporter of temperance. She often gave talks about the importance of not drinking alcohol. She worked for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) for 30 years as a national organizer. She traveled to many places, even other countries, to speak at meetings. She talked about the WCTU's work and the dangers of alcohol. People praised her as "the best colored woman orator in the country." In 1910, a WCTU group in Plainfield, New Jersey, even changed its name to the "Rosetta Lawson Union" to honor her.
Founding Frelinghuysen University
In 1906, Rosetta and her husband started a group called the Bible Educational Association. Later, Rosetta was key in starting the Inter-Denominational Bible College. Her husband, Jesse Lawson, became its president. In 1917, these two groups joined together to form Frelinghuysen University. Jesse Lawson was the head of this new university.
Frelinghuysen University was special because it focused on working Black adults. It helped them continue their education even if they couldn't meet the rules of regular schools. The university charged very little for classes. Often, classes were taught in people's homes. The very first classes were held in Rosetta Lawson's own home! She went on to teach anatomy and physiology at the university.
Rosetta was a Christian and was part of several Christian groups. She was active in her church and taught Sunday school classes. She often spoke at churches to promote temperance and to uplift African Americans.
Later Life and Impact
Rosetta Lawson passed away on April 19, 1936, due to a kidney illness. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. People remember her as a powerful leader. She and her husband dedicated their lives to making things better for their community.
