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Farris earned her bachelor's degree from [[Ohio State University]] (OSU) in 1940.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34422188/|title=For the Record|last=|first=|date=3 November 1981|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> At OSU, she was part of the [[School integration in the United States|integration]] of the school [[Dormitory|dormitories]] in 1939.<ref name=":3" /> Farris married her husband, physician Melvin Farris around 1943.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />
Farris earned her bachelor's degree from [[Ohio State University]] (OSU) in 1940.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34422188/|title=For the Record|last=|first=|date=3 November 1981|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> At OSU, she was part of the [[School integration in the United States|integration]] of the school [[Dormitory|dormitories]] in 1939.<ref name=":3" /> Farris married her husband, physician Melvin Farris around 1943.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />


Farris moved to [[Stow, Ohio]] in 1954.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qWOvC9RY1KMC&lpg=PA44&dq=%22leona%20farris%22&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=%22leona%20farris%22&f=false|title=Stow and Munroe Falls|last=Daugherty|first=Beth E.|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2010|isbn=9780738583884|location=Charleston, South Carolina|pages=44|language=en}}</ref> This was their second attempt at buying a house in the city. The first time, was in 1948, when because they were black, the price was raised by $3,000 on the spot and "two other parties were interested in the house" by the time they arrived to look at the house.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34436065/|title=Participants Share a Common Ground|last=|first=|date=26 September 1999|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}} and {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34436403/|title=Walk|last=|first=|date=26 September 1999|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In the community, she volunteered while she was staying at home, raising her four children.<ref name=":2" /> Farris also raised a [[Foster care|foster child]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7267680/leona_farris_bio/|title=Honoring Excellence|last=|first=|date=8 February 2004|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Her children were the only African American kids in the school district.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34437099/|title=1950s Girl Scout Leaders Enjoy Lifelong Friendship|last=Schleis|first=Paula|date=18 March 2018|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}} and {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34437003/|title=Race|last=|first=|date=18 March 2018|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Farris was involved with her husband's work in the [[Summit County, Ohio|Summit County]] Medical Auxiliary.<ref name=":3" /> In the 1960s, she helped stop the local [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scout]] group's use of [[Minstrel show|minstrel shows]] for fund-raising activities.<ref name=":4" />
Farris moved to [[Stow, Ohio]] in 1954.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qWOvC9RY1KMC&lpg=PA44&dq=%22leona%20farris%22&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=%22leona%20farris%22&f=false|title=Stow and Munroe Falls|last=Daugherty|first=Beth E.|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2010|isbn=9780738583884|location=Charleston, South Carolina|pages=44|language=en}}</ref> This was their second attempt at buying a house in the city. The first time, was in 1948, when because they were black, the price was raised by $3,000 on the spot and "two other parties were interested in the house" by the time they arrived to look at the house.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34436065/|title=Participants Share a Common Ground|last=|first=|date=26 September 1999|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}} and {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34436403/|title=Walk|last=|first=|date=26 September 1999|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The second time, in 1954, four doctors got together to build homes on Fishcreek Road, using a white contractor to purchase the land.<ref name=":7" /> In the community, she volunteered while she was staying at home, raising her four children.<ref name=":2" /> Farris also raised a [[Foster care|foster child]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7267680/leona_farris_bio/|title=Honoring Excellence|last=|first=|date=8 February 2004|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Her children were the only African American kids in the school district.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34437099/|title=1950s Girl Scout Leaders Enjoy Lifelong Friendship|last=Schleis|first=Paula|date=18 March 2018|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}} and {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34437003/|title=Race|last=|first=|date=18 March 2018|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=31 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Farris was very careful helping her children integrate into the neighborhood and helped create lifelong friendships in the process.<ref name=":7" /> As a volunteer at the time, Farris was involved with her husband's work in the [[Summit County, Ohio|Summit County]] Medical Auxiliary.<ref name=":3" /> In the 1960s, she helped stop the local [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scout]] group's use of [[Minstrel show|minstrel shows]] for fund-raising activities.<ref name=":4" />


While still working on her graduate degree at [[Kent State University]], she was hired as an assistant professor at the [[University of Akron]] in 1969 to teach home economics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34407250/|title=AU Activist Leaves for Frisco State|last=|first=|date=20 February 1969|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was the first African American woman to work as an assistant professor there.<ref name=":0" /> She graduated from Kent State in 1970.<ref name=":3" /> Her teaching methods included working on a film created with students and also encouraging her students to design games based on their studies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34407939/|title=AU Students Show How to Cut Utility Bills|last=Lilly|first=Kathy|date=27 December 1971|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She also directed consumer workshops at the university.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34408078/|title=Consumer Workshop|last=|first=|date=20 July 1972|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Farris retired from Akron University in May of 1998.<ref name=":5" />
While still working on her graduate degree at [[Kent State University]], she was hired as an assistant professor at the [[University of Akron]] in 1969 to teach home economics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34407250/|title=AU Activist Leaves for Frisco State|last=|first=|date=20 February 1969|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was the first African American woman to work as an assistant professor there.<ref name=":0" /> She graduated from Kent State in 1970.<ref name=":3" /> Her teaching methods included working on a film created with students and also encouraging her students to design games based on their studies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34407939/|title=AU Students Show How to Cut Utility Bills|last=Lilly|first=Kathy|date=27 December 1971|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She also directed consumer workshops at the university.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34408078/|title=Consumer Workshop|last=|first=|date=20 July 1972|work=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 July 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Farris retired from Akron University in May of 1998.<ref name=":5" />

Revision as of 21:05, 31 July 2019


Leona Wright Farris (born 1918) is an American educator.

Biography

Farris grew up in poverty.[1] Her father died when she was four and one of her sisters died at age 9.[1] Farris' mother helped provide for her education as long as Farris took care of her sister who had schizophrenia.[1] Farris's mother was a lifelong volunteer.[2]

Farris earned her bachelor's degree from Ohio State University (OSU) in 1940.[3] At OSU, she was part of the integration of the school dormitories in 1939.[1] Farris married her husband, physician Melvin Farris around 1943.[1][4]

Farris moved to Stow, Ohio in 1954.[4] This was their second attempt at buying a house in the city. The first time, was in 1948, when because they were black, the price was raised by $3,000 on the spot and "two other parties were interested in the house" by the time they arrived to look at the house.[5] The second time, in 1954, four doctors got together to build homes on Fishcreek Road, using a white contractor to purchase the land.[6] In the community, she volunteered while she was staying at home, raising her four children.[7] Farris also raised a foster child.[8] Her children were the only African American kids in the school district.[6] Farris was very careful helping her children integrate into the neighborhood and helped create lifelong friendships in the process.[6] As a volunteer at the time, Farris was involved with her husband's work in the Summit County Medical Auxiliary.[1] In the 1960s, she helped stop the local Girl Scout group's use of minstrel shows for fund-raising activities.[2]

While still working on her graduate degree at Kent State University, she was hired as an assistant professor at the University of Akron in 1969 to teach home economics.[9] She was the first African American woman to work as an assistant professor there.[4] She graduated from Kent State in 1970.[1] Her teaching methods included working on a film created with students and also encouraging her students to design games based on their studies.[10] She also directed consumer workshops at the university.[11] Farris retired from Akron University in May of 1998.[8]

Farris was involved in the community and also in national groups. She helped raise money for the NAACP in Akron in 1962.[12] By 1982, Farris was involved in 16 different groups and had been designated an alternate delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1981.[7] Among the other groups she was involved in were the United Way, the Western Reserve Girl Scout Council, American Field Service and Alpha Kappa Alpha, in which she was a member for more than 75 years.[13][14]

She learned to belly dance as a senior citizen in order to get more exercise and also performed for other seniors.[15]

In 1981, the Home Economics Alumni Association at OSU awarded Farris a distinguished service award for her leadership in the field.[3] In 1985, she received one of 2 Distinguished Service Awards for her service in the United Way of Summit County.[16] The University of Akron established a Leona W. Farris Scholarship in 1987.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "A Woman Who Dares to Be Different". Akron Beacon Journal. 27 November 1994. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Cannon, Carole (25 April 1995). "Making a Difference in Volunteer's Blood". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com. and "Work". Akron Beacon Journal. 25 April 1995. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "For the Record". Akron Beacon Journal. 3 November 1981. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Daugherty, Beth E. (2010). Stow and Munroe Falls. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 44. ISBN 9780738583884.
  5. ^ "Participants Share a Common Ground". The Akron Beacon Journal. 26 September 1999. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com. and "Walk". Akron Beacon Journal. 26 September 1999. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c Schleis, Paula (18 March 2018). "1950s Girl Scout Leaders Enjoy Lifelong Friendship". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com. and "Race". Akron Beacon Journal. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Galloway, Barbara (17 December 1982). "Being 'Useful,' a la Farris". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com. and "Being Useful, Farris-Style". Akron Beacon Journal. 17 December 1982. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Honoring Excellence". Akron Beacon Journal. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "AU Activist Leaves for Frisco State". Akron Beacon Journal. 20 February 1969. Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Lilly, Kathy (27 December 1971). "AU Students Show How to Cut Utility Bills". The Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Consumer Workshop". Akron Beacon Journal. 20 July 1972. Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Money for the Cause". The Crisis. 69 (1): 30. January 1962 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Women of the Year Award Finalists". Akron Beacon Journal. 20 February 1983. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Milestone in Sorority Sisterhood". Akron Beacon Journal. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Nevada, Charlene (16 May 1979). "Tap and Belly Dancers Put Zip in 'Senior Citizen Day'". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Cole, Patrick E. (9 May 1985). "United Way Salutes Two for Hard Work". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 31 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.


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