1290:
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1160:
1127:
1096:
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252:, where she founded and led a music school. It was flourishing by 1886. The following year, she returned to Muskogee, Indian Territory, where she taught in a private girls academy. Her school charged a tuition of eight dollars per month. Leslie also founded the Afro-American International Institute and School of Arts. In the summer of 1891 she was hired as principal of the
267:
to help him raise his remaining daughter. There she opened a music conservatory for girls. Known throughout the region for her teaching skill, Leslie also performed music and was considered a "composer of some prominence". None of her works is known to be extant. After working for several years in
305:
states Leslie is nearly 100, the age seems improbable, as does her age of 65 that is recorded on the 1920 census. Her brother was born in 1844, and she began her career in 1865 after some schooling, so may have been in her early 20s. If the birth year of 1855 given on the census was correct, she
271:
She resumed teaching at the
Tallahassee Mission in 1895, where she served as the music director for at least three years. In 1920, she was still living in Muskogee, now in the state of Oklahoma, which was admitted to the union in 1908. In 1921, Leslie performed at a Baptist gathering in
31:
150:. She was the fourth daughter of Nannie and Charles P. Coles and had one brother, Solomon Melvin Coles (1844-1929/1930). After emancipation, Ramsey went north and gained some education in Ohio. She started to work as a young woman for the
190:. He also taught freedmen's children here in the Negro school. In the late 1870s, he became the first black principal of the school. About 1895 he moved to a school in San Antonio, where he taught until he reached retirement.
750:
157:
Despite laws forbidding education of blacks, Solomon Coles had learned to read at age 14. He was first trained as a coachman for his master's wife. When the Civil War ended, Solomon took night courses at the
310:, 1821, is correct, she would have been 72 when the photograph published by Scruggs in 1893 was taken. It seems more likely that Leslie was born in the 1840s, as was her brother.
122:, where she founded a musical conservatory for girls. Born into slavery in Virginia, after emancipation she gained schooling in Ohio and moved to Louisiana to teach for the
206:(AMA), which helped support numerous teachers in the South as part of their educational mission for freedmen and their children. For the 1870–1871 term, she studied at the
1412:
1332:
292:
It is unknown whether her name was Ramsey or Coles at birth. DeBoer states that her maiden name was Ramsey, but the source misidentifies her brother
Solomon as Samuel.
773:
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Her brother
Solomon Cole had married late in life and become widowed. He and his wife had two daughters, but one died in infancy. Leslie moved to
306:
would have been only ten years old after completing her schooling and going to work at the
Freedmen's Bureau. If the birth year indicated by the
214:, founded by the AMA. The following year, she began teaching primary school at Straight, which had a range of preparatory classes, and then in
848:
1317:
929:
875:
739:
1392:
946:. Washington, D. C.: National Archives and Records Administration. January 17, 1920. p. 17B. NARA Microfilm Series T625, Roll #1478
837:
167:
221:
Ramsey taught in Amite City until 1874. That year she married Rev. R. A. Leslie, a
Presbyterian minister, and moved to a school in
1352:
1347:
241:, the couple remained in Indian Territory for several years. They returned to Mississippi, where Rev. Leslie died in April 1884.
798:
203:
179:
1023:
114:
Coles; c. 1840s-c. 1920s) was notable as a teacher, musician and composer, working in
Louisiana and Mississippi, and then in
202:. In time, her salary was paid through a shared funding agreement between the first public school board of the city and the
751:"Triangular Integration in a Black Denomination: James Sisson, African Methodism, and the Indian Mission Annual Conference"
130:
and gained further training as a teacher. Teaching in
Louisiana, Mississippi, Indian Territory, and Texas, Leslie educated
1024:
Catalogue of the
Officers and Students of Straight University with the Courses of Study for the Academical Year 1870-1871
142:
Nellie A. Ramsey was born into slavery in
Virginia. Very little is known of her early life. Scruggs says she was born in
245:
731:
His Truth is
Marching On: African Americans Who Taught the Freedmen for the American Missionary Association, 1861-1877
832:(Reprint 1971 by Freeport, New York: Books for Libraries Press ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Donohue and Henneberry.
257:
1342:
764:(3). Lake Junaluska, North Carolina: United Methodist Church (U.S.) Commission on Archives and History: 133–151.
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1167:
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48:
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218:. She was highly regarded for her work and in 1872, received a glowing testimonial from a Catholic priest.
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900:
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1307:
264:
215:
187:
175:
119:
734:. Routledge Library Editions (Education 1800-1926 ed.). New York, New York: Taylor & Francis.
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in Pennsylvania. After graduating, he became the first person of African descent to be admitted to the
171:
159:
151:
147:
123:
855:
211:
127:
883:
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Ramsey started to work for the Freedmen's Bureau in 1865. She first taught elementary school in
186:. Starting in the 1870s, he was the third Congregational minister called to the black church in
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882:. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Archived from
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992:
380:
378:
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1251:
1218:
1185:
1152:
1119:
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977:
960:"Attention to the Colored People of the Five Civilized Nations of the Indian Territory"
811:
256:, which was a school for Creek Freedmen. Leslie already had vacation plans for time in
234:
1301:
207:
30:
249:
680:
678:
260:, a summer resort town in upstate. Leslie served as principal until October 1891.
199:
921:
From Spirituals to Symphonies: African-American Women Composers and Their Music
110:
849:
Solomon M. Coles: Preacher, Teacher, and Former Slave—The First Black Student
769:
182:, which planted black churches in the South and also sponsored teachers for
910:
183:
131:
854:(Report). New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Divinity School. Archived from
902:
Women of Distinction: Remarkable in Works and Invincible in Character
174:. Although he did not graduate, he was accepted as a minister in the
1267:"We are pleased to learn of the good Mrs. Leslie is doing in Texas"
1026:(Report). New Orleans, Louisiana: Pelican Print Corporation. 1871
665:
663:
474:
166:
before migrating north to further his schooling. He attended
333:
331:
154:
in 1865, going to Louisiana soon after the end of the war.
1209:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. October 8, 1891b. p. 5
1110:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. August 11, 1881. p. 5
1079:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. August 26, 1880. p. 5
940:"1920 U. S. Census: Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma"
429:
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425:
423:
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348:
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1176:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. June 18, 1891a. p. 5
446:
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396:
365:
363:
361:
1143:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. July 28, 1887. p. 5
968:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. July 17, 1890. p. 5
847:
Moore, Moses N. Jr.; Smith, Yolanda Y. (May 1, 2007).
794:"Solomon Coles, First Negro Principal, Was Born Slave"
237:. Establishing a boarding house the following year in
1273:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. July 1, 1886. p. 9
1242:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. July 7, 1898. p. 5
585:
384:
1048:. Muskogee, Indian Territory. May 1, 1895. p. 3
651:
636:
570:
543:
91:
83:
75:
67:
55:
37:
21:
924:. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press.
528:
513:
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244:After her husband's death, Leslie studied at the
829:Noted Negro women, their triumphs and activities
486:
999:. Tulsa, Oklahoma. January 29, 1921. p. 1
684:
8:
669:
268:Texas, Leslie returned to Indian Territory.
624:
905:. Raleigh, North Carolina: L. A. Scruggs.
749:Dickerson-Cousin, Christina (April 2015).
699:
558:
462:
29:
18:
233:, where he helped establish schools for
1413:20th-century African-American musicians
1333:19th-century African-American educators
711:
433:
352:
327:
285:
229:. Around 1880 he and his wife moved to
612:
600:
450:
410:
369:
337:
1403:20th-century American women educators
1398:19th-century American women educators
1383:20th-century American women musicians
1378:19th-century American women musicians
109:
7:
802:. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 167
126:. She attended the Normal School of
1418:19th-century African-American women
1408:20th-century African-American women
1323:People from Amelia County, Virginia
475:Straight University Catalogue 1871
14:
792:Dodson, Anne (January 18, 1959).
178:. He became a missionary for the
1388:Freedmen's Bureau schoolteachers
1338:African-American music educators
1328:African-American women musicians
1288:
1257:
1224:
1191:
1158:
1125:
1094:
1063:
1014:
983:
817:
146:and DeBoer says she was born in
1373:20th-century American musicians
1368:19th-century American musicians
1363:20th-century American educators
1358:19th-century American educators
899:Scruggs, Lawson Andrew (1893).
799:The Corpus Christi Caller-Times
204:American Missionary Association
180:American Missionary Association
79:Nellie A. Ramsey, N.A.R. Leslie
728:DeBoer, Clara Merritt (2016).
1:
16:American teacher and composer
1318:19th-century American slaves
876:"Colleges, African American"
246:Boston Conservatory of Music
918:Walker-Hill, Helen (2007).
880:Oklahoma Historical Society
1434:
1393:Straight University alumni
1073:"The First Baptist Church"
826:Majors, Monroe A. (1893).
258:Saratoga Springs, New York
254:Tullahassee Mission School
1168:"Superintendent Proposed"
301:Though the clipping from
210:of the newly established
87:Teacher, music instructor
28:
1040:"Commencement Exercises"
1353:Musicians from Virginia
1348:Educators from Virginia
144:Amelia County, Virginia
102:Nellie A. Ramsey Leslie
49:Amelia County, Virginia
874:O'Dell, Larry (2009).
700:Moore & Smith 2007
463:Moore & Smith 2007
134:and their children.
487:Dickerson-Cousin 2015
265:Corpus Christi, Texas
225:. Rev. Leslie was a
216:Amite City, Louisiana
188:Corpus Christi, Texas
176:Congregational Church
120:Corpus Christi, Texas
861:on February 11, 2017
779:on February 11, 2017
653:The Muskogee Phoenix
638:The Muskogee Phoenix
587:The Muskogee Phoenix
572:The Muskogee Phoenix
545:The Muskogee Phoenix
386:The Muskogee Phoenix
340:, pp. 183, 192.
172:Yale Divinity School
148:Petersburg, Virginia
23:Nellie Ramsey Leslie
886:on October 28, 2016
212:Straight University
128:Straight University
1271:The Indian Journal
1108:The Indian Journal
1077:The Indian Journal
530:The Indian Journal
515:The Indian Journal
500:The Indian Journal
223:Osyka, Mississippi
168:Lincoln University
62:Muskogee, Oklahoma
931:978-0-252-07454-7
758:Methodist History
741:978-1-315-40832-3
670:U. S. Census 1920
274:Bristow, Oklahoma
164:Norfolk, Virginia
160:Freedmen's Bureau
152:Freedmen's Bureau
124:Freedmen's Bureau
104:(better known as
99:
98:
92:Years active
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1343:Indian Territory
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772:. Archived from
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248:. She moved to
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42:Nellie A. Coles
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1219:Newspapers.com
1197:
1186:Newspapers.com
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1153:Newspapers.com
1131:
1120:Newspapers.com
1104:"Leslie House"
1100:
1089:Newspapers.com
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1058:Newspapers.com
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1009:Newspapers.com
997:The Tulsa Star
993:"Bristow News"
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812:Newspapers.com
789:
746:
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719:
717:
716:
714:, p. 246.
704:
692:
686:The Tulsa Star
674:
672:, p. 17B.
659:
644:
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617:
615:, p. 244.
605:
603:, p. 242.
593:
578:
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536:
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491:
489:, p. 149.
479:
467:
455:
453:, p. 192.
438:
436:, p. 248.
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374:
372:, p. 183.
357:
355:, p. 247.
342:
326:
324:
321:
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303:The Tulsa Star
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235:Creek Freedmen
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839:0-8369-8733-0
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106:N.A.R. Leslie
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94:
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84:Occupation(s)
82:
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70:
66:
58:
54:
50:
40:
36:
32:
27:
20:
1313:1920s deaths
1308:1840s births
1281:– via
1275:. Retrieved
1270:
1250:– via
1244:. Retrieved
1237:
1234:"(untitled)"
1217:– via
1211:. Retrieved
1204:
1201:"(untitled)"
1184:– via
1178:. Retrieved
1171:
1151:– via
1145:. Retrieved
1138:
1135:"(untitled)"
1118:– via
1112:. Retrieved
1107:
1087:– via
1081:. Retrieved
1076:
1056:– via
1050:. Retrieved
1043:
1028:. Retrieved
1007:– via
1001:. Retrieved
996:
976:– via
970:. Retrieved
963:
948:. Retrieved
944:FamilySearch
943:
920:
901:
888:. Retrieved
884:the original
879:
863:. Retrieved
856:the original
828:
810:– via
804:. Retrieved
797:
781:. Retrieved
774:the original
761:
757:
730:
721:Bibliography
712:Scruggs 1893
707:
702:, p. 8.
695:
690:, p. 1.
685:
657:, p. 5.
652:
647:
642:, p. 3.
637:
632:
620:
608:
596:
591:, p. 5.
586:
581:
576:, p. 5.
571:
566:
554:
549:, p. 5.
544:
539:
534:, p. 9.
529:
524:
519:, p. 5.
514:
509:
504:, p. 5.
499:
494:
482:
470:
458:
434:Scruggs 1893
390:, p. 5.
385:
353:Scruggs 1893
307:
302:
297:
288:
270:
262:
250:Paris, Texas
243:
227:Creek Indian
220:
197:
156:
141:
105:
101:
100:
1277:11 February
1246:11 February
1213:11 February
1180:11 February
1147:11 February
1114:11 February
1083:11 February
1052:11 February
1030:11 February
1003:11 February
972:11 February
950:11 February
890:11 February
865:11 February
806:11 February
783:11 February
613:Majors 1893
601:Majors 1893
559:O'Dell 2009
451:DeBoer 2016
411:Dodson 1959
370:DeBoer 2016
338:DeBoer 2016
200:New Orleans
68:Nationality
1302:Categories
318:References
138:Early life
770:0026-1238
323:Citations
95:1865-1899
239:Muskogee
184:freedmen
132:freedmen
71:American
59:c. 1920s
45:c. 1840s
911:4255360
928:
909:
836:
768:
738:
194:Career
859:(PDF)
852:(PDF)
777:(PDF)
754:(PDF)
589:1891b
388:1891a
280:Notes
1279:2017
1248:2017
1215:2017
1182:2017
1149:2017
1116:2017
1085:2017
1054:2017
1032:2017
1005:2017
974:2017
952:2017
926:ISBN
907:OCLC
892:2017
867:2017
834:ISBN
808:2017
785:2017
766:ISSN
736:ISBN
688:1921
655:1898
640:1895
574:1890
547:1887
532:1886
517:1881
502:1880
308:Star
118:and
56:Died
38:Born
162:in
111:née
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