Anna E. Owens

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Anna Elnora Owens was an Assistant Professor of Home Economics Education at Virginia State College for Negroes.


Life and Education

Anna E. Owens was born to Waddie L. Hill and George Washington Owens.

George Washington Owens was born on a farm near Alma, Kansas to Samuel D. and Anna M. Owens who were both formerly enslaved. They migrated to Kansas and received 50 acres of free public land in Wabaunsee County. George was the only black student enrolled at Kansas State Agricultural College and its first black graduate in 1889. He was on faculty at Tuskegee with Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. Later, he took a position at Virginia Normal and Industrial School and established the agricultural program there in 1908. In recognition of 25 years of service, the new agricultural building at Virginia State College for Negroes was named Owens Hall in 1932. He died in 1950 at age 75.

Waddie L. Hill graduated from Clark Atlanta University. She married George in 1901 and they had four children -- one died and the other three (including Anna) graduated from Virginia State College. Waddie died in 1921.

No records are available regarding her exact date of birth or death.

HBCU Contribution

Anna (sometimes spelled Ana) is listed as an Assistant Professor of Home Economics Education at Virginia State College for Negroes (as A. Elnora Owens) in the 1942-1943 USDA Directory. She worked as the Supervisor of Directed Teaching in the Division of Home Economics.


References