by Tamera Lynn Kraft
Oberlin College, founded in
1833 in Northern Ohio, was a college ahead of its time in many ways. In
1835, it became the first college in the United States to regularly admit
African Americans. It’s also the oldest co-educational college in the US. In
1837, it admitted four women, three of whom graduated and earned a college
degree. Mary Jane Patterson, another Obeberlin graduate, became the first
African American woman in 1862 to earn a Bachelor of Arts college degree.
One of Oberlin’s founders once
bragged that “Oberlin is peculiar in that which is good”. Oberlin was peculiar
in many ways in advancing the causes of the time. Charles Finney, the second
president of the college, helped it earn it's controversial reputation. He was
the founder of the Second Great Awakening, a Christian revivalist movement in
the early and mid 1800s.
Oberlin College was the hotbed
of abolitionist activity and a stop for the Underground Railroad before the
Civil War. It was once called “the town that started the Civil War” because of
its participation in the Oberlin Wellington Rescue in 1858. Slave catchers came
to Oberlin to capture an escaped slave and return him to Kentucky. Most of the
town came to the slave’s aid and rescued him. For their trouble, over twenty
were arrested and put on trial for violating the Fugitive Slave Act. During the
raid on Harper’s Ferry by John Brown, three men from Oberlin participated.
Oberlin College was also well
known for the women who graduated from the college and participated in the
suffrage and prohibition movements. My new novel Red Sky over America is about a college student there who is involved in the abolitionist movement. Lucy Stone, considered a pioneer for the
women’s movement, graduated from Oberlin College in 1847.
Oberlin was also very well known in the missionary
movement of the late 1800s. Between 1860 and 1900, 90% of missionaries sent
overseas by the American Missionary Society were graduates of Oberlin College.
Between 1899 and 1901, thirteen missionaries from Oberlin were martyred during
the Boxer Rebellion of China. An arch in Tappan Square at the center of Oberlin
pays honor to their sacrifices.
Tamera Lynn Kraft has always
loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United
States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong
elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She
has received 2nd place in the NOCW contest, 3rd place
TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. Her
published works include Resurrection of Hope, Alice's Notions, and Red Sky over
America. You can find out more about her
on her website at http://tameralynnkraft.net.
Red Sky over America
To be released February 11th
In 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an
abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College, a school known for its radical
ideas. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father
about freeing his slaves.
America's classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach
abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves
in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it
home to Ohio or live through the struggle.
Interesting post about Oberlin College. Red Sky over America is going on to my TBR list--it sounds like a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me aware of another wonderful piece of American history!
ReplyDelete