Eliza B Wallace

Knoxville College  photo credit: "Knoxville-college-1903-tn1" by Unsigned photograph - H.F. Kletzing and W. H. Crogman, Progress of a Race: The Remarkable Advancement of the Afro-American (Napierville, Ill.: J.L. Nichols and Co.: 1903), p. 434. Downloaded from Google Books, Full View.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - Link

Eliza B Wallace was born on June 6, 1838 to John and Jane McClenanhan Wallace in Fairvew, Guerney County, Ohio.

Her brother David was president of Monmouth College when she attended.

Eliza Wallace lived in Illinois, in 1866, where she is listed as a Science Course Senior from Monmouth.
In 1870, Eliza Wallace lived in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1870.
Post Office: Monmouth, Occupation: College Professo

Eliza's brother David wrote the following about their parents:

She was eight years of agee when her parents came to America. They were married, June 14, 1825,
when they settled on a farm near Fairview. John Wallace was a ruling elder in the Fairview congregation of the Associate Reformed (Presbyterian) Church for over twenty years: first under the pastoral care of the Rev. Samuel Findley, D. D., afterward under that of the Rev. Hugh Forsythe. He died April 20, 1850.

His pastor, the Rev. Hugh Forsythe, writes: "He was a man of good sense, sound judgment, very judicious and very prudent. He was kind hearted. ln cases of discipline, if he erred at all. it was on the side of mercy. I suppose he had more influence over me than any other member of session. He had
great influence in the congregation. Two things gave him influence in congregational meetings, good
sense and a perfect willingness to do his part. He befriended a great many poor people, without respect
to race or color. When he was buried, some colored people, whom he had befriended, were standing near the grave looking into it while tears were rolling down their cheeks. John AVallace was emphatically the poor man's friend.'' (Source: A Busy Life: A Tribute to the Memory of the Rev. David A. Wallace, 1885, p. 5) Link

After Eliza Wallace graduated from Monmouth, she came to Knoxville, Tennessee where she worked with Knoxville College to provide better educational opportunities for black children.

Wallace Hall  Photo Credit: Brian Stansberry

She also worked to establish a school of nursing and a hospital.  The hospital was established soon after her death, and was commonly called the Eliza B. Wallace Hospital.

In 1882 she is listed in the city directory as a math teacher at Knoxville College.

 

SUMMARY: The aggregate enrollment in all the schools under uur care this year is 1,518 and in our Sabbath Schools over 1,600, showing a very encouraging increase over last year. Since our last report 110 students from our school were engaged in teaching in the public schools. Of these 90 received their education wholly or in part in the Knoxville College. Source:Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian ..., Volumes 25-28, Board of Publication, 1883, p. 73) Link

"Knoxville exhibits an increase in enrollment the number now being 328. Religious services were conducted regularly with spirit and with profit throughout the year. The normal department received particular attention and it has been especially satisfactory," (Source:Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian ..., Volumes 25-28, Board of Publication, 1883, p.426)

KNOXVILLE: The work here has gone forward without interruption. The only change worthy of note is in the afternoon service on the Sabbath. Instead of holding the Sabbath school in the College in the afternoon, two school houses have been occupied. One is a quarter of a mile distant and the other two miles. At the nearest school house very few attend aside from the pupils who attend at the College in the morning. At the other school house we reach those who seldom attend elsewhere. The design in this change was to lessen the number of meetings in the College building and leave the afternoon free and also to afford an opportunity to students and others to do missionary work. Very little difficulty has been experienced in securing volunteers for the afternoon Sabbath schools. There is a Sabbath school in the morning followed by a sermon. The same personns, old and young, are present in the Sabbath school and at church Prayer Meetings. Two prayer meetings are held on Sabbath evening, one for males and the other for females. These are attended by students mainly who are living in the dormitories. A prayer meeting is held on Monday morning, at which all the students attend and which they conduct, as they do the others themselves.

Day of Prayer for Colleges This day was observed and in addition to a sermon in the morning a prayer meeting was held in the afternoon by the students. Extra Meetings were held throughout the last week of March. They were arranged so as not to interrupt the regular work and were attended with interest bible Lesson. The International Sabbath school lesson for the following Sabbath is recited on Monday, and both teachers and pupils are better prepared for the work ni the Sabbath. The Congregation has 81 colored members and 10 white. Increase by profession 3, by certificate 3, decrease 16, Infant baptisms 7, adult 8. Contributions to all the Boards $49. Total $180.

Average attendance: 161, at nearest school house 70, at the other 36.

The laborers here are: President JS McCulloch, Lady Principal Miss Eliza B Wallace, teachers: DT McClelland, Edgar MacDill, Mac H Wallace, Mrs AH Wait, Miss Ida McCulloch, Miss Henrietta Mason (colored) and Miss Maggie McDill. Miss McDill has charge of the Little Girls Home and Mrs Mary J Johnston has charge of the work in kitchen and dining room.

Miss Mary L Buchanan has assisted throughout the year in the Sabbath school and sewing without pecuniary compensation. She has also given lessons in instrumental music at half the ordinary rates ot tuition.

The Enrollment for the year is 202. The attendance was seriously affected by the prevalence of small pox in the vicinity during December and January. At no time however did a panic seize the students nor was a discontinuance of the school seriously threatened. For this we are devoutly thankful to God. One of the most encouraging things in the work of this year is the disposition of the students to hold on till the end of the term and pass through the examinations preparatory to regular promotion. Some however are still compelled to leave in order to earn money for the support of themselves and their parents. Sewing School The sewing school has been conducted this year very much as it was last year. Nearly all the girls in the school are divided into three classes supervised by teachers. They sew by hand forty minutes a day, and while they sew, they sing, or some one reads from an interesting and instructive book, so that the sewing hour combines both pleasure and profit, Students are encouragud to make garments for their own use and some are able to cut out as well as sew. They have the privilege of purchasing any garment thus made for about half the price of the material. The beginners have made patches for several quilts and put them together and the more advanced have made about 160 garments. A Mother's Meeting was carried on from September 1st to March 16th. It was held on Friday afternoons when about two hours were spent. It was opened and closed with devotional exercises, memorizing scriptures, singing and prayer, and a talk was given on the lesson sometime during the meeting.

Miss Wallace, Mrs McCulloch, and Miss Buchanan had charge of this work. The enrollment was 69; garments cut and made: 275, material used: 600 yards, receipts from garments sold: $24.38, expenditures: $11. About 30 boxes and packages of bed clothing, wearing apparel, material and papers have been received from Ladies Missionary Societies and individuals. These have been distributed with much care so as not to encourage thriftlessness. Comparatively few articles are given away. The prices are very low, but the money thus obtained serves to keep up the sewing schools and is used to assist the needy, both in health and when sick.

Colored Teachers About 70 who have at some time attended the College have been engaged in teaching this year. Their schools continued from two to seven months the average being less than four, perhaps. They taught in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Arkansas. Many of them have taken an active part in Sabbath schools, and in this way not less than 3,000 have been educated to some extent indirectly through this institution.

Aid for Students As a church we are doing comparatively little in the way of direct personal aid to students, however deserving they may be. Some of the oldest colored institutions appeal annually to the churches for a large part of the money necessary for the support of the students. A large proportion of the students in some of the best colored colleges are helped from year to year to the extent of from $25 to $100. We have been entirely too modest in appealing for such help. Our own sons and daughters would in many instances give up in despair or disgust if they had to encounter the actual trials of some of the colored young men or women now in Knoxville College. The President says I could, if it were prudent, give names I could relate simple unvarnished facts. I could tell of patient long continued toil, of pinching economy, of self denial that would appeal powerfully to every real friend of the colored man. Here are boys and girls whom every member of the Faculty would deem it an honor to help through an education. Are there not generous individuals, and societies, and Sabbath schools, and churches ready to promise $25 a year or $50 a year for one such needy student? Let them send for the names and they will be furnished. When a young woman works hard all summer at low wages and succeeds in saving enough to barely support her four months, let us say to her that her heavenly Father has provided enough to finish. When a young man comes with $50 the savings of four months with pick and shovel let us relieve him from worry about the $25 or $50 more that may be needed.

Boarding Department There were 78 boarders this year. The number was not as great as last year. The falling off may be attributed partly to the increase in the price of boarding and partly to a wide spread rumor of small pox in the city referred to above. Among the boarders there are 4 who belong to the Presbyterian Church, 9 to the United Presbyterian, 12 to the Methodist, 14 to the Baptist. the others are not members of any church. What a work there is here to be done. The daily religious exercises consist of worship as in a Christian family all joining morning and evening in the service. Nearly all the boarders grouped in two companies agree to read the same chapters daily in their rooms and on Saturday evening they meet, each company with a teacher, and talk over the chapters read during the week. These meetings are voluntary but nearly all attend. They are opened and closed with prayer. This exercise seems to be much enjoyed and good must result from it. There is a reading room for the girls in this department which is of great benefit. It is open every evening. A donation of $50 worth of books was received from L MS of the Cleveland Ohio congregation. Also a donation from the Western Tract Society. For these good gifts the donors have cordial thanks.

Orphanage or Little Girls Home A new feature has been added to our work here under this title. Little girls from the age of 6 to 15 are received and kept in the Home during the entire term. These children have no homes of their own or live with relatives or strangers who are not able to support their own families. This Home had 8 little girls last year, all orphans or half orphans except one. They were under the charge of Miss Maggie McDill, who lives with them and does for them as nearly as possible all a mother could do. She teaches them to do all kinds of work and requires them to carefully prepare their lessons for school. The number would be greatly increased if the expense could be provided for. A business man in Chicago provides for half the support of two girls. He has our thanks and will have the blessing of the Lord. The Ladies Missionary Society of the Presbytery of Southern Illinois paid the salary of the matron Miss McDill last year and is deserving the thanks of the whole Church. This part of the work must be continued and enlarged. (Source:Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian ..., Volumes 25-28, Board of Publication, 1883,p.767-769)

She died on December 12, 1897, at the home of her sister, in Pennsylvania, at the age of 59. Her death is listed in the Catalogue of Monmouth College, Illinois, 1906-1906 Link

Obit
Sad News.-President J. M. Wallace of the Salem Water Community,has received sad news of the death of his sister, Miss Eliza B. Wallace, in Waters Park, Pa., her demise occurring Sunday night. Miss Wallace's death was sudden and unexpected, in recent letter received by her brother
Indicating an Improvement In her slightly impaired health. Having held the important position of principal of the Knoxville college at Knoxville, Tenn., for the past 25 years, Miss Wallace was only obliged to resign her position owing to ill health.
Interment will be had in the family vault at the old home in Cambridge,Ohio.(Source: Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.), 14 Dec. 1897. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.) Link

One of her dreams did not come true during her lifetime. For years, Wallace wanted to establish a nurse-training program but could not find the funds. In her will, she bequeathed the money for such a program. The Wallace Memorial Hospital opened on the campus in 1907, 10 years after her death. The first black Red Cross nurse in the United States was Frances Elliott Davis who took her initial training at that hospital. Robert J Booker  Eliza B. Wallace

Knoxville College Hospital or Eliza B Wallace Hospital  Photo credit: Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University, Contrubuted by Beck Cultural Exchange Center (accessed May 11, 2016).