#TheDailyRecord Women of Agency: The Bishops’ Wives

Rarely are archival photographs accompanied by text identifying the names and titles of those pictured. Researchers are required to do their own investigation into the time period often based on the quality of the photo, the dress of those featured, and any identifying features in the background of the frame. The Wives of the Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the General Conference, Columbus, Ohio, May 1900 bucks the norm. Neatly tucked into the clear polypropylene sheet protecting the photograph are two typed pages listing the women in the order of their seating arrangement along with a short bio for detailing her work beyond the title of “wife”. Who is responsible for the preserving the photo and bios? Who wrote the bios? Did the Bishops Wives provide information to the author? Aren’t you glad we have the opportunity to read them?

Seated Left to Right:
MARY FRISBY HANDY-The second wife of Bishop James A. Handy whom she married in 1886; born in Baltimore, a tailor’ was widowed before she was married to the President Elder James A. Handy; served as President of the Women’s Parent Mite Missionary Society.

FLORIDA MORRIS GRANT- Born in Florida; Married to Bishop Abram Grant; sister to Louisa Rebecca Morris Armstrong Grant; President of the Women’s Parent Mite Missionary Society.

SARAH E. MILLER TANNER-Born on May 18, 1840 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania’ educated at Avery College, and married to Bishop Benjamin T. Tanner in 1858; seven children among whom was the first black woman admitted to practice medicine in Alabama, Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson; famed artist, Henry O. Tanner; A.M.E. minister and missionary to South Africa, Carlton M. Tanner; charter member and Treasurer of the Women’s Parent Mite Missionary Society.

JULIA A. CAMPER GAINES-Wife of Bishop Wesley J. Gaines who she married on August 30, 1863; born probably in Georgia; described as “small in stature, a black but dignified woman…an efficient housekeeper”.

MARY LOUISE GORDON ARNETT-wife of Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett whom she married on May 25, 1858; an Ohio native; there were seven children two of whom were clergymen-Reverends Benjamin W. Arnett, Jr. and Henry Y. Arnett.

M.L. ASHE LEE-wife of Bishop Benjamin F. Lee; born in Alabama and the mother of four children.

PRISCILLA SMITH SALTER-Married to Bishop Moses B. Salter on September 2, 1874; a South Carolina native. In 1895 she along with Christine Shoecraft Smith called a national women’s convention in Nashville to “discuss questions of interest to the colored women and to obtain for them a better recognition in the councils of their church”. Mrs. Salter gave a paper on “Social Purity”

Standing from Left to Right:
MRS. MORRIS M. MOORE- widow of Bishop Morris M. Moore; according to a black female contemporary she was “one of Florida’s most prominent women, greatly beloved by the Florida brethren because of her worth and ability to together with her earnest and courageous work in whatever field she is called upon to labor for the Master (Jesus Christ)”.

MRS. EVANS TYREE-wife of Bishop Evans Tyree; their son Herman, became a minister.

CHRISTINE SHOECRAFT SMITH-second wife of Bishop Charles S. Smith whom she married in 1888; born in Muncie, Indiana; in Alabama she was vice president of the State Normal and Industrial School; active in the National Association of Colored Women; joined Priscilla Smith Salter in spearheading the national women’s convention in Nashville in 1895. Her son, Charles Jr., was an early black graduate of the University of Michigan.

LOUISA REBECCA MORRIS ARMSTRONG GRANT-born in Florida in 1852; sister of Florida Morris Grant; widow of Bishop Josiah H. Armstrong whom she married on May 15, 1870; she was widowed in 1898; wife of Bishop Abram Grant whom she married on October 23, 1902; she was widowed again worked as a matron at Wilberforce University in Ohio after the death of Bishop Armstrong.

LILLIAN M. DERRICK-wife of Bishop William B. Derrick; president of the Women’s Parent Mite Missionary Society; she died in 1907; the Lillian Derrick Institute which Bishop Derrick founded in South Africa was named in her honor.

HARRIED WAYMAN TURNER-widow of Bishop Alexander W. Wayman who died in1895; served as president of the Women’s Parent Mite Missionary Society from 1878 through 1883; became the third wife of Bishop Henry M. Turner in 1900.

ANNIE MARIE TAYLOR SHAFFER-wife of Bishop Cornelius T. Shaffer whom she married in 1870; born in Lexington, Kentucky; they were the parents of two daughters and one son; the son, Carl like Bishop Shaffer earned a M.D. degree.

FANNY M. JACKSON COPPIN-second wife of Bishop Levi J. Coppin whom she married in 1881; born a slave in Washington, D.C. in 1837; her aunt purchased her freedom; reared in Newport, Rhode Island where she attended the Rhode Island State Normal School; was graduated from Oberlin College in 1865 with the A.B. degree; Institute of Colored Youth in Philadelphia; in 1869 she became principal of the whole school; she retired in 1902; she was active with the National Association of Colored Women. She died on January 21, 1913.