Crafting Freedom
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: Lover of Literacy
This, the sixth in a series of 10 related resources, examines the life and works of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, an African American author, born in 1825, who advocated literacy for both free and enslaved African Americans.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s “Learning to Read”
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's poem "Learning to Read" is the focus of a lesson that teaches middle schoolers how to do a close reading of a text. The lesson introduces them to a brief biography of the poet, includes a video reading, and...
Center for History Education
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: 19th Century African-American Writer and Reformer
Although some African American abolitionists—such as Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass—are well known, others, like Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, remain in the shadows of history. Harper was a poet and activist who played an...
Curated OER
Before Rosa Parks: Upper Grades Activity: Frances Watkins Harper
Students analyze the rhetorical strategies Frances Watkins Harper used, such as tone, emotional appeal and descriptive language
Crafting Freedom
F.E.W. Harper: Uplifted from the Shadows
Young historians discover the life of an incredible African American woman who, as an anti-slavery lecturer prior to the Civil War, defied stereotypes of what women could accomplish. Pupils explore the concept of stereotyping, read...
Crafting Freedom
F.E.W. Harper: Uplifted from the Shadows
What is stereotyping, and how do we handle stereotyping in our daily interactions? Your young historians will not only have the opportunity to learn about the first African American woman to publish a short story–Frances Ellen...
Curated OER
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: 19th Century African-American Writer and Reformer
Students investigate African-American author Frances Ellen Watkins Harper by analyzing her life and poetry. They explore the reformist messages communicated in her writings and evaluate the potential impact of her work.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Biographical profile of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, the first African American woman to publish a short story and also an influential abolitionist, suffragist, and reformer.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Learning to Read" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
A learning module that begins with the poem "Learning to Read" by Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
Cengage Learning
Studying Francis Ellen Watkins Harper
This Houghton Mifflin site prepared by Elizabeth Ammons is a study site about Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, the 19th century African American author.
University of Toronto (Canada)
Selected Poetry of Frances Ellen Watkins (1825 1911)
Selected full texts of poems by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: "Aunt Chloe", "The Drunkard's Child", and "The Slave Mother." Includes overview of the author's life and works.
University of Michigan
American Verse Project: Atlanta Offering: Poems, by Frances e.w. Harper
Searchable text of poems by Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, from the book "Atlanta Offering."
University of Virginia
Univ. Of Virginia: Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins, Poems
The University of Virginia Library provides a wonderful selection of Frances Harper poems. Each poem is individually linked for easy access to one of interest. Includes images.
Other
Iola Leroy, Or, Shadows Uplifted
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's novel is offered by the Schomburg African American Women Writers project in machine-readable form.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia: Sketches of Southern Life
This University of Virginia Library resource provides the text for Frances Harper's "Sketches of Southern Life," which is a collection of poems. The full text of many of Harper's poems are available.
Other
Mossell, n.f.: A Sketch of Afro American Literature
This site by N.F.Mossell looks at the history of Afro-American Literature. Beginning on page 59 of the text, Francis Ellen Watkins Harper is discussed along with her contributions to Afro-American Literature.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Black Emancipators of the 19th Century
A lesson unit on the people and movements that fought to abolish slavery. Looks at the Triangular Trade, and at the Underground Railroad and famous abolitionists. Includes a play about emancipation, a black history rap and a trivia quiz...