Helen Louise B. Babcock (August 13, 1867-July 5, 1955) was an American educator, elocutionist, and dramatic reader.

Early years and education

Helen Louise Bailey was born in

Galva, Illinois Galva is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,589 at the 2010 census, down from 2,758 in 2000. History Cousins William L. Wiley (1820-1900) and James Wiley (1817-1886) founded Galva in 1854. The name Galva hono ...

. August 13, 1867. She early displayed a marked talent for elocution and on reaching woman's estate she decided to make dramatic reading her profession. With that aim she became a pupil in the Cumnock School of Oratory of the

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

, and, being an earnest student, she was graduated with the highest honors.

Career

Afterwards, she became an assistant instructor in the same oratorical school, and was very successful in the work of developing

elocutio ''Elocutio'' (l''exis or phrasis'' in Greek) is a Latin term for the mastery of rhetorical devices and figures of speech in Western classical rhetoric. ''Elocutio'' or style is the third of the five canons of classical rhetoric (the others being ...

nary and dramatic talents in others. Perfectly familiar with the work, she was able to guide students rapidly over the rough places. After severing her connection with the Cumnock school, she taught for a time in Mount Vernon Seminary and College,

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

After the death of her mother, in 1890, she accompanied her father abroad and spent some time in visiting the principal countries of Europe. In 1891, she married Dr. F. C. Babcock, a successful physician of

Hastings, Nebraska Hastings is a List of cities in Nebraska, city and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, Adams County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 25,152 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is known as the town where Kool-Aid ...

, where she lived afterwards. In 1917, she graduated from the Posse Gymnasium.

References

Attribution

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Babcock, Helen Louise 1867 births People from Galva, Illinois Educators from Illinois 19th-century American women educators 19th-century American educators Northwestern University alumni Northwestern University faculty 1929 deaths American women academics