K-State Libraries
Minnie Howell Champe: Chronology
| 04 July 1878 | Minnie M. Howell was born in Strawberry Plains, Jefferson County, TN, to J.M.T. (Jerry) and Francis Howell. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1886 | The Howell family (Minnie, her parents, two sisters and a brother) moved to Manhattan, KS. J.M.T. Howell was a stone mason and served as a member of the city council from his area. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Photo overlooking the town of Manhattan, ca. 1890, very similar to how it would have appeared when the Howell family arrived. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1895 | According to the 1895 Kansas State Census Minnie Howell, age 16, lived with her parents, two sisters, and six brothers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1896 | Minnie graduated from the public schools of Manhattan, KS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08 Sep 1896 | Minnie Howell enrolled at Kansas State Agricultural College. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Main Campus Path, 1900 The unpaved length of this main path to campus, now named Vattier Street, was traveled by students in rain, snow, or sunshine. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 Oct 1896 | The Ionian Literary Society elected Minnie as a member. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02 Dec 1897 | J.M.T. Howell died of typhoid fever when Minnie Howell was a sophomore. Education was so important to the family that even though Francis Howell was now a single parent with nine children, Minnie continued her college education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Many blacks in Kansas believed that only through education would they be able to achieve economic prosperity and improve their social status."
From "The African-American Community in Manhattan, Kansas, 1865-1940"
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| 1900 | During the 1900 Federal Census Minnie M. Howell, age 21, lived with her mother, sister, and six brothers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13 Jun 1901 | Minnie M. Howell graduated from Kansas State Agricultural College with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Domestic Science. Her senior thesis was entitled "Healthful Homes."
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| 1901 - 1905 | Minnie Howell taught Domestic Science and English Grammar at the Topeka Industrial Institute in Topeka, KS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1905 - 1906 | Returning to Manhattan, KS, Minnie taught in the city schools. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1905 | During the 1905 Kansas State Census Minnie Howell, age 26, was a teacher living with her mother, two sisters, and six brothers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1906 - 1914 | 
Faculty of Sumner High School, 1911 [Minnie M. Howell has been identified as the woman seated on the right.] (Photo credit: Sumner High School Collection, Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas) At Sumner High School in Kansas City, KS, Minnie taught Domestic Science and Art. This photograph of the Sumner High School Faculty from the 1911 Sumnerian is the only known image of Minnie M. Howell. Sumner High School faculty in 1911 were: Mr. J. M. Marquess, principal; Mr. J. J. Lewis, vice-principal; Mr. G. F. Porter; Mr. G. B. Buster; Mr. J. P. King; Mr. J. A. Hodge; Mr. H. N. Jenkins; Mr. W. A. Jackson; Miss M. M. Howell; Miss B. E. Burke. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 04 June 1912 | Minnie M. Howell married Elmer John (E.J.) Champe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08 May 1913 | Francis Annette Champe was born to Minnie and E.J. Champe.
Most surviving information indicates her name is spelled 'Frances,' but according to
her birth certificate, her name is spelled 'Francis.'
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| 1920 | During the 1920 Federal Census Minna Champe, age 41, was a teacher living with her husband, step-son, and daughter in La Cygne, KS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01 Mar 1922 | Due to illness Minnie took a year's absence from her position as Assistant Matron
at the Kansas Educational and Industrial Institute in Topeka, KS. Her daughter, Francis
Annette, was taking fourth grade cooking and sewing under Addie (Poston) Groves, a 1907
Kansas State Agricultural College graduate.
Addie Groves, 1907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1925 - 1928 | Minnie taught Home Economics in a high school located on the campus of Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA. In 1927, she was promoted to Director of the high school Home Economics Department and taught Household Science. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1927 | Minnie Howell-Champe wrote a congratulatory letter to Professor Walters on the occasion of his semi-centennial anniversary at Kansas State Agricultural College.
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| 1931 - 1932 | Alumni Association records show that Minnie paid $50 in eight installments for a "Life Paid Membership." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1931 - 1938 | Minnie Champe served as Head of the Home Economics Department at Southern University, Negro A & M College in Scotlandville, LA, located just north of Baton Rouge, LA. During this period, her daughter, Francis Annette, earned her college degree. Minnie resigned at the end of the 1938 spring semester due to ill health. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01 Jan 1946 | Minnie served as director of the Douglass Community Center in Manhattan, KS. Minnie was a community leader, taking an active part in civic affairs. She was a member of the board of the Douglass USO center during World War II and the League of Women Voters, as well as several other organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Douglass Community Center, Manhattan, KS Don Slater Remembers
"I called her the 'Cookie Lady,'" said neighbor Don Slater, "I was only seven or eight years old at the time. I would walk by her home, she'd be sitting on the front porch, and she'd give us kids cookies. She was frail, but had a sharp wit." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 July 1948 | Minnie M. (Howell) Champe, 70, died in St. Mary Hospital in Manhattan, KS, after a lingering illness of 18 months and was laid to rest in Sunset Cemetery. She was survived by her daughter, Francis Annette Allen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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University Archives, Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Dept. of Special Collections, K-State Libraries.
Information presented for research or promotional purposes and may be reproduced without permission provided proper credit is given.
All photographs, unless otherwise stated, are the property of Morse Dept. of Special Collections and may not be used without prior written permission from the Archivist.
University Archives, Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Dept. of Special Collections, K-State Libraries.
