Gertrude Bustill Mossell

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gertrude Bustill Mossell
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Other namesMrs. N. F. Mossell
SpouseNathan Francis Mossell
ParentCharles Hicks Bustill
RelativesBustill family

Gertrude Emily Hicks Bustill Mossell (July 3, 1855 – January 21, 1948)

black newspapers
and advocated for more women to enter journalism.

Early life and education

Gertrude Bustill was born in

Grace Bustill Douglass and Grace's daughter, activist and artist Sarah Mapps Douglas.[3]

Mossell's father encouraged her education from an early age. She attended

Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, editor of the African Methodist Episcopal newspaper, The Christian Recorder
. McNeal published "Influence" and invited Mossell to contribute poetry and essays to the newspaper.

Journalism and writing career

Gertrude E. H. Bustill Mossell Historical Marker at 1423 Lombard St. Philadelphia PA

After graduating from Robert Vaux Grammar School, Mossell taught school for several years in Philadelphia and

New York Age from 1885 to 1889 and of the Indianapolis World
from 1891 to 1892.

In 1880, Mossell married Philadelphia physician, Nathan Francis Mossell. They had two daughters, Florence and Mary. Two additional children died in infancy.[citation needed]

Though she wrote for both black and white publications throughout her career, Mossell's articles often focused on issues particular to

true womanhood, especially that of the African race. All success progress or need of our women will be given prompt mention." Readers were invited to write directly to Mossell at her home address.[3]

Mossell also covered a variety of political and social issues, where she used her platform to advocate for racial equality, particularly in the realm of employment. Repeatedly, she urged greater numbers of black women to enter journalism. She was a vocal supporter of woman's suffrage and denounced the myth that women fighting for the vote would remain unmarried. "Give women more power in the government offices if the desire is for peace and prosperity," she wrote.[3]

Pdf of the 1892 book The Afro American Press and its Editors by Irvine Garland Penn

In 1894, Mossell published The Work of the Afro-American Woman, a collection of eight essays and seventeen poems that recognized the achievements of black women in a range of fields.[2][4] Regarding her decision to publish the work under her married name, scholar Joanne Braxton offers the following explanation: "By this strategy of public modesty, the author signaled her intention to defend and celebrate black womanhood without disrupting the delicate balance of black male-female relations or challenging masculine authority."[5]

In 1902, Mossell wrote a children's Sunday school book titled Little Dansie's One Day at Sabbath School.[6]

Gertrude Bustill Mossell was also engaged in civic work, leading the fundraising drive for the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School, which opened in 1895. She raised $30,000, and went on to serve as president of its Social Service Auxiliary. Her other civic activities included organizing the Philadelphia branch of the National Afro-American Council.

Death

Mossell died on January 21, 1948, at the age of 92 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Collective Biographies of Women
  2. ^ a b Hatch, Shari Dorantes (2009). "Mossell, Gertrude Bustill 7/3/1855–1/21/1948". Encyclopedia of African-American Writing: Five Centuries of Contribution: Trials & Triumphs of Writers, Poets, Publications and Organizations. Grey House Publishing. p. 417.
  3. ^
    OCLC 623778415
    .
  4. ^ Mossell, N. F. (1894). The work of the Afro-American woman. Wellesley College Library. Philadelphia : G.S. Ferguson.
  5. ISBN 978-0-19-505265-7
    .
  6. ^ "Little Dansie's one day at Sabbath school". NYPL Digital Collections. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  7. New York Times
    . January 25, 1948. Retrieved 2015-06-25.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gertrude Bustill Mossell.
  • Mossell, Gertrude E.H. Bustill (1855-1948), BlackPast.org
  • Mrs. N.F. Mossell (Gertrude Bustill Mossell/Nathan Francis Mossell-her husband) Little Dansie's One Day at Sabbath School. Philadelphia : The Penn Printing and Publishing Co., 1902 [1]
  • Mrs. N.F. Mossell (Gertrude Bustill Mossell/Nathan Francis Mossell-her husband) The Work of the Afro-American Woman. Philadelphia: Geo. F Ferguson Company, 1908. [2] Archived 2020-06-05 at the Wayback Machine
  • Gertrude Bustill Mossell at Collective Biographies of Women at the University of Virginia.[3]
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