Rowena Woodham Jelliffe
Born in Albion, Illinois, Rowena Woodham Jelliffe (1892-1992, OC 1914) became a social worker and staunch advocate for gender and racial equality. During her student days at Oberlin College, she was an active member of the Sigma Gamma Literary Society and the President of the Equal Suffrage League in her senior year. After graduating from Oberlin, Jelliffe continued her education at Chicago University where she received a master’s degree in sociology.“Privileged indeed is that person who sees the beginning of learning and senses the ways into which it may lead.”
In 1915 she co-founded Karamu House, “an integrated community center dedicated to fostering human relations through the arts and humanities,” in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, Russell. While Karamu is known primarily for its theater productions, it also played a central role in the community as a nursery, arts and music center, and host of social outreach programs. Karamu House comprised the Jelliffes’ life work from its founding to their retirement in 1963. Rowena was also on the Board of Trustees for the Cleveland Guidance Center, Cleveland Adult Education Association, and the Board of Directors for the American National Theater and Academy.
In 1941 the Jelliffes were jointly awarded the Eisenman Award for “outstanding contributions to the civic and social betterment of Cleveland.” They received Honorary Doctors of Law Degrees from Oberlin College in 1944 and Honorary Doctors of Humanities Degrees from Western Reserve University in 1951.
Sources:
Student File (Rowena W. Jelliffe), Alumni & Development Records, Box 528, Oberlin College Archives
Hi-O-Hi Oberlin College Yearbook, 1915, Oberlin College Archives