Woman of the Century/Helen Almena Parker

PARKER, Miss Helen Almena, dramatic reader and impersonator, was born near Salem, Ore. She is from Puritanic German and Scotch ancestry, and is a near relative of Commodore Oliver H. Perry. Her family is one of patriots. One of her grandfathers went entirely through the Revolutionary War. Her father and his only brother enlisted in the Union service in the rebellion. Miss Parker's parents are both natives of New York State. They are well known to reformers, much of the best years of their lives having been spent in active work in the temperance cause. The mother was one of the leaders in the crusade, and the history of that movement written by her has had a large circulation. She is widely known as a philanthropist; she organized the first "Home for the Friendless" society in Nebraska and was for many years State president of the same. Through her efforts an appropriation was made by the Nebraska Legislature and a home was established in Lincoln. HELEN ALMENA PARKER. Miss Parker's education was begun in Holy Angels' Academy, Logansport, Ind. Later she removed with her parents to Lincoln, Neb., where, after taking a high-school course, she entered the Nebraska State University. During her second year in the university she was chosen to represent that institution in a literary contest with Doane College, in Crete, Neb. She won the laurels and determined to make oratory a study. She entered the special course in oratory in Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., from which she was graduated in 1885. Immediately after graduating she entered upon her work as teacher and reader. After a successful year in the Nebraska Wesleyan University she was called to a position in Cotner University, Lincoln, where she still fills the chair of professor of oratory and dramatic art.