Eliza Pearl Shippen Explained

Eliza Pearl Shippen
Birth Date:February 2, 1888
Birth Place:Washington, D.C.
Death Date:May 17, 1981
Death Place:Hyattsville, Maryland
Education:M Street High School (1904)
Miner Teachers College
Howard University (B.A., 1912)
Teachers College, Columbia University (M.Ed., 1928)
University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D. in English Literature, 1944)
Occupation:English professor, college administrator
Employer:D.C. Teachers College
Known For:One of the founding members of Delta Sigma Theta
Relatives:John Shippen (brother)

Eliza Pearl Shippen (February 2, 1888 – May 17, 1981) was an American educator, and one of the founding members of Delta Sigma Theta. She was an English professor and Dean of Women at University of the District of Columbia (then known as Miner Teachers College).

Early life and education

Shippen was from Washington, D.C., the daughter of John Matthew Shippen and Eliza Spotswood Shippen.[1] Her father was a Presbyterian minister, and her older brother, John Shippen, was a professional golfer.[2] [3] She graduated from M Street High School in 1904. She trained as a teacher at the University of the District of Columbia (then known as Miner Teachers College). In 1912, she graduated from Howard University.[4]

In 1913, she became one of the founding members of Delta Sigma Theta.[5] She completed a master's degree in education at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1928, and doctoral studies in English literature at the University of Pennsylvania in 1944.[6] [7] Her dissertation was titled "Eugenia de Acton (1749–1827)".[8] [9]

Career

Shippen taught school in Washington, D.C. before and after her time at Howard University. She was dean of women at Miner Teachers College, and chair of the English department,[10] and taught English literature courses there.[11] She was the 11th president of the College Alumnae Club. She retired from D.C. Teachers College in 1954. In 1958 she published a research article on English poet Rose Fyleman in Elementary English.[12] She was active in Howard and Delta alumnae activities in Washington into the 1970s.[13] [14] [15]

Personal life

Shippen died at a nursing home in Hyattsville, Maryland, in 1981, aged 93 years.[16] [17] Her grave in Hyattville is with the grave of fellow Delta Sigma Theta founder and Washington educator Florence Letcher Toms, with a shared memorial stone donated by the sorority.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hutchinson. Louise Daniel. The Anacostia story, 1608–1930. Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. 1977. Washington : Published for the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum of the Smithsonian Institution by the Smithsonian Institution Press : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.. Smithsonian Libraries.
  2. News: 1968-05-22. John M. Shippen, 90, Early Negro Golfer. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-18. 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: June 13, 2018. John Shippen: Shinnecock's barrier breaker. 2022-02-18. Golf Channel. en.
  4. News: 1912-06-03. Graduate at Howard. 2. The Washington Post. 2022-02-18. Newspapers.com.
  5. Book: Brown. Tamara L.. African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. Parks. Gregory S.. Phillips. Clarenda M.. 2012-02-29. University Press of Kentucky. 978-0-8131-4073-5. en.
  6. Web site: H. Rene. December 8, 2020. Eliza Pearl Shippen. 2022-02-18. Women's Activism NYC.
  7. October 1958. By Way of Introduction. Elementary English. 35. 357. Internet Archive.
  8. Web site: Eliza Pearl Shippen. 2022-02-18. Department of English, University of Pennsylvania.
  9. Book: Shippen, Eliza Pearl. Eugenia de Acton (1749–1827). 1945. University of Pennsylvania. en.
  10. News: November 19, 1949. Three Girl Students Here Given Prizes in Urban Essay Contest. 26. Evening Star. February 18, 2022. NewspaperArchive.com.
  11. Book: District of Columbia Board of Education. Report of the Board of Education to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. 1926. The Board. 13. en.
  12. Shippen. Eliza P.. October 1958. Rose Fyleman. Elementary English. 35. 358–365. Internet Archive.
  13. News: 1929-10-28. Negro Life Study Sessions Opened. 2. Evening Star. 2022-02-18. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: August 16, 1958. Four Delta Sigma Theta Founders Expected at 25th National Meet. 1. Jackson Advocate. February 18, 2022. NewspaperArchive.com.
  15. News: August 21, 1965. Delta Sigma Theta Honors Pat Harris. 5. Detroit Tribune. February 18, 2022. NewspaperArchive.com.
  16. News: May 1981. Eliza Shippen, 93, Professor At D.C. Teachers College, Dies. The Washington Post. February 17, 2022.
  17. June 11, 1981. Died. Jet. 14.