Zelia Ball Page
| Zelia Ball Page | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Zelia R. Ball June 21, 1850 Alexandria, Virginia |
| Died | July 15, 1937 (aged 87) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Zelia R. Page |
| Occupation | educator |
| Years active | 1875-1920 |
| Known for | first matron of Langston University |
Zelia Ball Page (1850-1937) was a freeborn African-American teacher who spent her career teaching black youths in Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Her husband was the first head of Langston University and she was the first matron.
Zelia R. Ball was born on June 21, 1850 in Alexandria, Virginia to a free black woman who raised her in Washington, D. C. Her mother worked with the Underground Railroad and fearing for her daughter's safety, she made an arrangement with Dr. Peter Parker to assist her in taking her child to New England. Mother and child pretended to be slaves of Parker until they reached the port of New York and were able to make their way to Providence, Rhode Island. Once in Providence, the school systems were found to be lacking and Ball was sent to be educated in Boston. In 1870, she entered Wilberforce University, graduating with a B.S. degree in 1875.
Upon completion of her schooling, Ball returned to Providence and applied to become a teacher in Washington, D. C. On June 27, 1878, she married Inman E. Page. That same year, the couple moved to Jefferson City, Missouri to begin teaching at the Lincoln Institute. Page was hired as a science teacher and her husband was initially the assistant principal, though he was promoted to principal in 1880. Page taught botany, physiology and zoology and in 1885 was appointed as matron. During this time, the couple had three children: Zelia N., Mary and Inman, Jr., who died when he was seven years old. In 1891, Page organized the Union Training School to teach skills to poor black youths and continued teaching at Lincoln for seven more years.
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