"Josephine-Silone-Yates"{1852 or November 15,1859-September 3,1912}

Trained in chemistry was one of the first African-American teachers hired at Lincoln University in Jefferson City,Missouri,and,upon her promotion,the first African-American to head a college science department.She may have been the first African-American to hold a full professorship at any U.S. college or university.

She was also significant in the African-American women's club movement.Josephine was a correspond for the Woman's era (the first monthly magazine published by African-American women in the United States) and wrote for other magazines as well.Josephine was instrumental in establishing women's clubs for African-American women: She was the first president of the Women's League of Kansas City (1893) and the second president of the National



Silone.During her childhood,her family lived with her maternal Association of Colored Women (1900-04).

Josephine was the second daughter of Alexander & Parthenia Reeves granddaddy,a freed slave,Lymas Reeves.Her mama taught her to read from the bible.She started school at the age of six,and was rapidly advanced by her teachers.

Josephine's uncle Rev.John Bunyan Reeve,was the pastor of the Lombard Street Central Church in Philadelphia.At the age of 11,she went,to live with him so that she could attend Institute for Colored Youth.There she was mentored by its director,Fanny Jackson Coppin.The next year,
Rev.Reeve moved to Howard University,and Josephine went to live with her maternal aunt Francis I Girard,in Newport,Rhode Island.There she attended grammar school and later Rogers High School.She was was the only African-American student at both,but was given respect and support by her teachers.Her science teacher considered her his brightest pupil and enable her to do additional laboratory work in chemistry.She graduated as valedictorian of Rogers High School class of 1877 and receive for scholarship.She was the first African-American student to graduate from Rogers High School.

Josephine chose to attend the Rhode Island State Normal School in Providence to become a teacher,rather than pursuing a university career.She graduated in 1879,with honors, the only African-American student in her class.Josephine was the first African-American certified in the schools of Rhode Island.She later receive a master's degree from the National University of Illinois.

Josephine was one of the first African-American teachers hired at Lincoln University in Jefferson City,Missouri.President Inman Edward Page considered it essential to replace the previous white faculty with African-American teachers,as role models for the school's African-American students.The teachers lived on campus in the dormitories with the students.Josephine taught chemistry,elocution,and English literature. Upon her promotion to head of the natural science department,she became the first African-American woman to head a college science department and then the first woman to hold a full professorship at any college or university.

Josphine was clear about her purpose in teaching.In a 1904 essay,she wrote: "The aim of all true education is to give to body and soul all the beauty,strength,and perfection of which they are capable,to fit the individual for complete living.

In 1889,she married William Ward Yates.Many schools prohibited married from teaching, and upon her marriage, Josephine gave up her teaching position at Lincoln.She moved to Kansas City,Missouri,where William was the principal of Phillips School. Her daughter Josephine Silone Yates,Jr was born in 1890.Her son William Byden Yates was born in 1895.

In Kansas City,Josephine became active in the African-American women's club movement.She was correspondent for the Woman's Era (the first monthly magazine published by African-American women in the United States), and also wrote for the Southern Workman,The Voice of  the Negro,the Indianapolis Freeman,and the Kansas City Rising Son,
under her her own name and the pseudonym "R.K. Porter." Racial uplift
was one of many topic Josephine spoke and wrote about.She was identified as an exemplar of her race and included as one of  100 "American's greatest Negroes" in Twenieth Century Negro Literature; or, A Cyclopedia of Thought on the Vital Topics Relating to the American Negro in 1902.Her paper addressed the question "Did the American Negro make,in the nineteeth century,achievements did he make? She also published poetry,including "The Isles of Peace,"  "The Zephyr",and
"Royal To-Day."

Josephine helped to found the women's Leaague of Kansas City,an organization for the self-help and social betterment for African-American women,and became its first president in 1893. In 1896 the Women's League joined the National Association of Colored Women (NACW),  a federation of similar clubs from around the country.She serve with the NACW for four years as the treasurer or vice-president (1897-1901) and for four years as president (1901-1904).


A testament to Josephines' accomplishment and acclaim may be found in a speech presented by Anna Julia Cooper in 1893 at the World's Congress of  Representative Women in Chicago:

"In organized efforts for self help and benevolence also our women been active.The Colored Women's League,of  which I am at present corresponding secretary,has active,energetic branches in the South and West.The branch in Kansas City,with a membership of upward one hundred and fifty,already has begun under their vigorous president.Mrs.Yates,the erection of a building for friendless girls.

In 1902,she was recalled by the president of Lincoln Institute to serve as the head of the department of English and history.In 1908 Josephine requested to resign due to illness,the Board of Regents did not accept,and she stayed on as the advisor to women at Lincoln.William died in 1910,after which Josephine chose to return to Kansas City.She died after a short illness.