Page:Women of distinction.djvu/89

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
43

which to present the subjects she taught. It was not long before her work as teacher and author became well known to the public. It attracted, among others, the attention of such well-known educators as President Mitchell, of Wilberforce, Booker T. Washington, of Tuskegee, and the late Miss Briggs, of Washington. In 1886, Mr. Washington, feeling that she was just the one needed for the work in Tuskegee, urged her to become lady-principal of that institution, but, after giving; the matter careful thought, she decided to remain at Lincoln Institute.

In 1889 she resigned her position in this institution to become the wife of Professor W. U. Yates, Principal of Wendell Phillips School, Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Yates carried with her the love of the pupils and patrons, the best wishes of President Page and the Board of Regents, and all felt that in parting with her they were losing the services of an able and enthusiastic educator.

Mrs. Yates has many friends among the colored and white citizens of Kansas City, where she was well known in educational circles before her marriage. Previous to this event she had, on request, read a paper before the general section of the "Kansas City Teachers' Institute," a highly educated body, consisting of about three hundred white and thirty colored teachers. During the first winter of her stay in Kansas City she was invited by Superintendent Greenwood to read a paper before the "Greenwood Scientific Club," a circle composed of the leading educators and literary lights of Kansas City.