Sallie Holley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sallie Holley
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| Born | February 17, 1818 |
| Died | January 12, 1893 |
Sallie Holley (born February 17, 1818 – died January 12, 1893) was an important educator in the mid-1800s. She taught African Americans and was a strong supporter of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Sallie Holley worked closely with her friend Caroline Putnam. Together, they started the Holley School, which is still standing today.
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Sallie Holley's Early Life
Sallie Holley was born in Canandaigua, New York. From a young age, she loved learning and reading. In 1831, she went to a boarding school in Lyons, NY. There, she heard her first speech about ending slavery.
Even before this speech, Sallie knew a lot about the topic. Her father, Myron Holley, strongly believed that slavery was wrong. He also supported religious freedom. Her father even started the Liberty Party. This was the first political group to make ending slavery a main goal.
How Education Shaped Her Views
Sallie Holley's passion for fighting slavery grew stronger when she went to Oberlin College in 1847. Oberlin was special because it had students and teachers of different races. This was very unusual for the time. At Oberlin, Sallie studied a classical curriculum, which means she learned about subjects like history, literature, and languages.
It was at Oberlin that Sallie met Caroline Putnam. Caroline quickly became Sallie's best friend for life. They would later work together on many important projects.
Becoming an Abolitionist
After finishing college in 1851, Sallie Holley became a very active member of the American Anti-Slavery Society. This was a big deal because it was rare for women to speak up for their own freedom, let alone for others. It was even rarer for them to do so publicly, like Sallie did.
In 1853, Sallie Holley helped to restart the Michigan Anti-Slavery Society. She worked with other famous abolitionists like Stephen Symonds Foster, Abby Kelley Foster, Sojourner Truth, Marius Robinson, and Jonathan Walker. They reorganized the group in Adrian, Michigan. The state society had first been started in 1836 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Sallie Holley traveled around, giving speeches about why slavery should end. Caroline Putnam was always by her side. After this speaking tour, Caroline decided to focus on teaching. She especially wanted to teach formerly enslaved people in Lottsburg, Virginia.
Sallie Holley's Impactful Career
Even while teaching, Sallie Holley kept inspiring people with her speeches and ideas. For example, after a speech she gave in 1851 about the anti-slavery movement, someone wrote about it. They said that Miss Holley gave a "powerful" and "deeply interesting" speech.
The person noted that everyone listened very carefully. As Sallie shared sad and moving stories, many people cried. It was a time that made people feel strong sympathy for enslaved people. At the end, Sallie offered a simple prayer. She wanted to end what she called the "atrocious hatred of color."
The Holley School's Legacy
Sallie Holley followed Caroline Putnam to Lottsburg, Virginia. In 1869, Sallie bought land there. This land soon became the permanent home of the Holley Graded School. The school was designed to be like Oberlin College. It was a private school with teachers and students of different races.
Younger students went to classes during the day. Older students attended classes at night. When Sallie Holley passed away in 1893, Caroline Putnam took over the school. Later, Caroline gave the land to a group of Black trustees. This was to make sure that Black education would continue.
The local school district in Lottsburg then helped run the school. More and more students wanted to attend. So, the school was renovated in 1922 and finished in 1933. This new building is the Holley School schoolhouse that stands today as a community center.
