Adelaide Casely Hayford’s life falls out of the time period of the Victorian era, but British rule and Victorian ideals were greatly influential on Sierra Leone as the time she would have been there, especially since much of her formative life was spent in Victorian England.
Timeline
Table of Events
| Date | Event | Created by |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 1868 | Adelaide Casely Hayford is born in Freetown, Sierra LeoneAdelaide is born to a mixed race father and Creole mother, William Smith Jr. and Anne Spilsbury. |
Allison Schroeder |
| 1872 | Adelaide Casely Hayford moves to EnglandAdelaide and her family migrated to England where she attended Jersey Ladies' College until she was 17. She would then travel to Germany for more schooling and would only return to Freetown after about 25 years abroad. Her English background would serve as her main ideology: that women deserve equal rights as men. This was especially relevant in terms of education as girls in her hometown were unable to receive a higher education. Adelaide was able to attend schooling and gain the ultimate freedom: knowledge. |
Allison Schroeder |
| 1920 | Adelaide goes to AmericaCasely Hayford traveled to the United States for the first time in 1920 with her niece Kathleen. She would make a separate trip in 1925 with her daughter Gladys (who would teach in her school) with the aim of fundraising for her school.While fundraising was her main goal, she also used these trips to study Western education to use their methods in her own school. She also spoke to crowds of people about her culture in ideas to garner support. This would help her accumulate donors to fund her school. |
Allison Schroeder |
| circa. 1924 | The Girls’ Vocational and Industrial Training School is openedAdelaide opens The Girls’ Vocational and Industrial Training School in her family home in Freetown with the help of Mrs. Osora. She brought her daugther on as a teacher for the school.The school opened to around 40 pupils but would later expand due to Mrs. Osora's help. Ultimately, her school proved to be a success and paved the way for women in |
Allison Schroeder |
| circa. 1924 | The Girls’ Vocational and Industrial Training School is openedAdelaide opens The Girls’ Vocational and Industrial Training School in her family home in Freetown with the help of Mrs. Osora. She brought her daugther on as a teacher for the school.The school opened to around 40 pupils but would later expand due to Mrs. Osora's help. Ultimately, her school proved to be a success and paved the way for women in |
Allison Schroeder |
| 1925 | Adelaide goes to America again with GladysAdelaide returns to America to do more speaking and garner more funding. This times she travels with her daughter Gladys, who taught at her school. |
Allison Schroeder |
| circa. 1960 | Adelaide's short story "Mista Courfier" is publishedIn Langston Hughes' African Treasury: Articles, Essays, Stories, Poems, Adelaide's shirt story "Mista Courifer" is published. |
Allison Schroeder |
| 16 Jan 1961 | Death of Adelaide Casely HayfordAt the age of 91, Adelaide passes away in Freetown. |
Allison Schroeder |