Who was Frances E.W. Harper?

Frances E.W. Harper (1825–1911) was an American author, orator, and social reformer prominent for her writings and speeches on abolition, temperance, and woman suffrage. Born to free Black parents in Baltimore, she was educated at her uncle's school and later worked as a domestic while continuing her studies. Around 1845, she published Forest Leaves , a collection of verses and prose. Harper's public address in 1854 on the importance of education for Black people led to lecturing for the Maine Anti-Slavery Society. Her second book, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (1854), gained success and addressed topics such as motherhood and abolition. After her husband's death in 1864, she lectured on education and temperance in the South. Harper was also involved in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and helped organize the National Association of Colored Women.

What kinds of books or writings did Frances E.W. Harper create?

Frances E.W. Harper was a prolific American author, orator, and social reformer known for her writings on abolitionism, temperance, and woman suffrage. Her literary works include poetry, essays, and novels. In 1845, she published Forest Leaves , a collection of verses and prose. Harper's second book, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (1854), addressed motherhood, separation, and death and included the antislavery poem "Bury Me in a Free Land". Her story "The Two Offers" is said to be the first published by an African American author. Harper also wrote Sketches of Southern Life (1872), a series of poems told in Black vernacular, and the novel Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted (1892). Additionally, she serialized three novels in The Christian Recorder : Minnie’s Sacrifice , Sowing and Reaping , and Trial and Triumph .

What social issues did Frances E.W. Harper care about?

Frances E.W. Harper was an American author, orator, and social reformer who addressed various social issues through her poetry, speeches, and essays. Harper was an advocate for abolitionism . In August 1854, she delivered a public address on "Education and the Elevation of the Colored Race". After the Civil War, she lectured on education, temperance, and other topics. From 1883 to 1890, she was in charge of activities among blacks for the national Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1896, she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women, and she was elected vice president in 1897.

How did Frances E.W. Harper work to improve the lives of African Americans?

Frances E.W. Harper was an American author, orator, and social reformer who worked to improve the lives of African Americans through abolitionism, temperance, and women's suffrage. Harper lectured for two years in Maine for the Anti-Slavery Society, beginning in 1856, and spoke throughout the East and Midwest until 1860. After the Civil War, she lectured in the South on education and temperance. From 1883 to 1890, she was in charge of activities among blacks for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1896, she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women, becoming vice president in 1897.

What organizations or movements was Frances E.W. Harper involved in?

Frances E.W. Harper was involved in several organizations and movements, including abolitionism, temperance, and women's suffrage. She lectured for the Maine Anti-Slavery Society and spoke throughout the East and Midwest. After the Civil War, Harper lectured on education and temperance. From 1883 to 1890, she worked with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Harper also became a director of the American Association of Education of Colored Youth in 1894. In 1896, she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women , where she was elected vice president in 1897.

How did Frances E.W. Harper's writings and activism influence American society?

Frances E.W. Harper, born in 1825, was an American author, orator, and social reformer prominent for addressing abolitionism, temperance, and woman suffrage in her works. Harper's literary work and activism challenged the social norms and racial prejudices of her time. Her 1892 novel, Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted, countered idealized depictions of slavery and promoted the ideals of socially committed, middle-class African Americans. Additionally, she used her platform to advocate for racial justice, education, and temperance, significantly influencing African American reform movements. Harper also helped organize the National Association of Colored Women in 1896, where she was elected vice president in 1897.

Frances E.W. Harper

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In full:: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Née:: Frances Ella Watkins

Born:: September 24, 1825, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Died:: February 22, 1911, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (aged 85)

Notable Works:: “Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted”; “Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects”; “Sketches of Southern Life”; “The Two Offers”

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Frances E.W. Harper

American author and social reformer

Also known as: Frances Ellen Watkins, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper(Show More)

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Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 20, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who was Frances E.W. Harper?
Frances E.W. Harper (1825–1911) was an American author, orator, and social reformer prominent for her writings and speeches on abolition, temperance, and woman suffrage.

Born to free Black parents in Baltimore, she was educated at her uncle's school and later worked as a domestic while continuing her studies. Around 1845, she published Forest Leaves, a collection of verses and prose. Harper's public address in 1854 on the importance of education for Black people led to lecturing for the Maine Anti-Slavery Society. Her second book, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (1854), gained success and addressed topics such as motherhood and abolition.

After her husband's death in 1864, she lectured on education and temperance in the South. Harper was also involved in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and helped organize the National Association of Colored Women.
1 Britannica Source
1. Frances E.W. Harper
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What kinds of books or writings did Frances E.W. Harper create?
Frances E.W. Harper was a prolific American author, orator, and social reformer known for her writings on abolitionism, temperance, and woman suffrage. Her literary works include poetry, essays, and novels. In 1845, she published Forest Leaves, a collection of verses and prose. Harper's second book, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (1854), addressed motherhood, separation, and death and included the antislavery poem "Bury Me in a Free Land". Her story "The Two Offers" is said to be the first published by an African American author. Harper also wrote Sketches of Southern Life (1872), a series of poems told in Black vernacular, and the novel Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted (1892). Additionally, she serialized three novels in The Christian Recorder: Minnie’s Sacrifice, Sowing and Reaping, and Trial and Triumph.
1 Britannica Source
1. Frances E.W. Harper
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What social issues did Frances E.W. Harper care about?
Frances E.W. Harper was an American author, orator, and social reformer who addressed various social issues through her poetry, speeches, and essays.

Harper was an advocate for abolitionism. In August 1854, she delivered a public address on "Education and the Elevation of the Colored Race". After the Civil War, she lectured on education, temperance, and other topics. From 1883 to 1890, she was in charge of activities among blacks for the national Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1896, she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women, and she was elected vice president in 1897.
1 Britannica Source
1. Frances E.W. Harper
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Frances E.W. Harper work to improve the lives of African Americans?
Frances E.W. Harper was an American author, orator, and social reformer who worked to improve the lives of African Americans through abolitionism, temperance, and women's suffrage.

Harper lectured for two years in Maine for the Anti-Slavery Society, beginning in 1856, and spoke throughout the East and Midwest until 1860. After the Civil War, she lectured in the South on education and temperance. From 1883 to 1890, she was in charge of activities among blacks for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1896, she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women, becoming vice president in 1897.
1 Britannica Source
1. Frances E.W. Harper
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What organizations or movements was Frances E.W. Harper involved in?
Frances E.W. Harper was involved in several organizations and movements, including abolitionism, temperance, and women's suffrage. She lectured for the Maine Anti-Slavery Society and spoke throughout the East and Midwest. After the Civil War, Harper lectured on education and temperance. From 1883 to 1890, she worked with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Harper also became a director of the American Association of Education of Colored Youth in 1894. In 1896, she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women, where she was elected vice president in 1897.
1 Britannica Source
1. Frances E.W. Harper
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Frances E.W. Harper's writings and activism influence American society?
Frances E.W. Harper, born in 1825, was an American author, orator, and social reformer prominent for addressing abolitionism, temperance, and woman suffrage in her works.

Harper's literary work and activism challenged the social norms and racial prejudices of her time. Her 1892 novel, Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted, countered idealized depictions of slavery and promoted the ideals of socially committed, middle-class African Americans. Additionally, she used her platform to advocate for racial justice, education, and temperance, significantly influencing African American reform movements. Harper also helped organize the National Association of Colored Women in 1896, where she was elected vice president in 1897.
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1. African American literature: The novel as social analysis
2. Frances E.W. Harper
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Frances E.W. Harper (born September 24, 1825, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.—died February 22, 1911, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American author, orator, and social reformer who was notable for her poetry, speeches, and essays on abolitionism, temperance, and woman suffrage.

Frances Watkins was the daughter of free black parents. She grew up in the home of an uncle whose school for black children she attended. At age 13 she went to work as a domestic in a Baltimore, Maryland, household but continued her education on her own. About 1845 she published a collection of verses and prose writings under the title Forest Leaves. During 1850–52 she taught sewing at Union Seminary, a work-study school operated by the African Methodist Episcopal Church near Columbus, Ohio. Later she taught in Little York, Pennsylvania. The rising heat of the abolitionist controversy and the consequent increasing stringency of slave laws in Southern and border states at length drew her into the public arena.

(Read W.E.B. Du Bois’ 1926 Britannica essay on African American literature.)

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Illustration of "The Lamb" from "Songs of Innocence" by William Blake, 1879. poem; poetry

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In August 1854 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Watkins delivered a public address on “Education and the Elevation of the Colored Race.” Her success there led to a two-year lecture tour in Maine for the state Anti-Slavery Society, and from 1856 to 1860 she spoke throughout the East and Midwest. In addition to her antislavery lecturing, she read frequently from her second book, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (1854), which was quite successful and was several times enlarged and reissued. It addressed the subjects of motherhood, separation, and death and contained the antislavery poem “Bury Me in a Free Land.” Generally written in conventional rhymed quatrains, her poetry was noted for its simple rhythm and biblical imagery. Its narrative voice reflected the storytelling style of the oral tradition. She also contributed to various periodicals; her story “The Two Offers” in the Anglo-African Magazine in September–October 1859 was said to be the first published by an African American author.

In 1860 Frances Watkins married Fenton Harper. When he died in 1864, she returned to the lecture platform. After the Civil War, Harper made several lecture tours of the South with addresses on education, temperance, and other topics, and in 1872 she published Sketches of Southern Life, a series of poems told in black vernacular. From 1883 to 1890 she was in charge of activities among blacks for the national Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She became a director of the American Association of Education of Colored Youth in 1894, and in 1896 she helped organize the National Association of Colored Women, of which she was elected a vice president in 1897.

(Read Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s Britannica essay on "Monuments of Hope.")

Her novel Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted was published in 1892. She also wrote three novels serialized in The Christian Recorder, a religious periodical: Minnie’s Sacrifice, Sowing and Reaping, and Trial and Triumph, all of which were published in book form in 1994. Harper’s works were collected in Complete Poems of Frances E.W. Harper (1988) and A Brighter Coming Day: A Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Reader (1990).

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Frances E.W. Harper

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