Frankie E. Harris Wassom (1850-1933) was an American writer and educator.

Early life
Frankie Emma Harris was born in Monroe, Michigan and raised in Oberlin, Ohio, the daughter of Beverly Harris and Rebecca E. West Harris. Her parents were involved in the activities of the Underground Railroad before Emancipation. Frankie E. Harris attended Oberlin College, like her older sisters did, to study music and fine arts.[1] She graduated in 1870.[2]

Career
Frankie E. Harris taught school in Virginia after college. She became a school principal in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1871. In 1874 she accepted a position as teacher in Mississippi, but only stayed a year. After she married, Frankie E. Harris Wassom taught and wrote poetry for newspapers in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

She taught aspiring teachers at the Goldsboro Normal School[3] and was an officer of the Colored Teachers Council of Wayne County.[4] By 1893 she was teaching in Knoxville again.[1] In 1907, she was teaching at the Lincoln Institute in Kansas.[5] In 1916, she was a school principal in Odessa, Missouri.[6] In all, she taught for 54 years, including two faculty positions at black colleges.[7]

In 1886 her first book of poems was published. She showed some of her art at the North Carolina State Colored Industrial Fair that same year, and a song she wrote, "Coming to the Fair", was performed at the fair's educational convention.[1][8]

Personal life
Frankie E. Harris married Col. George T. Wassom, a lawyer and politician, in 1874.[1] They had two daughters, Pearl and Mabel. F. E. H. Wassom died in North Carolina in 1933, aged 83 years.[9]

Her sister's Elizabeth's husband was James E. O'Hara, a lawyer and congressman from North Carolina.

Source: Wikipedia
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This bio below of Mrs. Frankie E. Harris Wassom is from the book, "Noted Negro women : their triumphs and activities", Authors Vivian, C. T. Monroe and Alphus Majors, (M. V. Link Publishing 1893): pg. 72.
This book was digitized by Google from the library of Harvard University and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb.
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MRS. FRANKIE E. HARRIS WASSOM.

Teacher and Bxttu.

RAXKIE E. HARRIS WASSOM^ daughter of Bererly and R E. Harris^ was born in Monroe, Michigan, and while quite small her parents moved to Obcrlin, Ohio, so that their children might be eilucated. Having sprunpf from a noble ancestry of wliicb she may be proud, not many of her race can boast of such noble parentage.

Her father figured very conspicuously in the underground railroad with Dr. Wm. Wells Brown, of Boston, and others, always trying to lend a helping hand to his race, while her mother was smart, intelligent and independent, always laboring for the gooil of her race. Mr. and Mrs. Harris believed that freedom was a gift from God to every man, and that all children should be educated alike. Thev left their beautiful home in Michigan, with their four children, and moved to Oberlin.

The oldest daughter, having gone on before, was in school. Frankie was yet too young, but when she became of suitable age was entered into the city school, wberd she spent nine years ; after which she entered Oberiin College and spent four years. During this time she also studied music and fine arts. When through studying, although not in the best of health, she had a desire to go out in the world and make her mark.

Wo find her quite young, a mere cliild, going south to teach school. She had that force of purpose, and strong, determinate will to conquer whatever obstacles might come, and fight life's battle, aiming to reach the goal some day. She met with success, and was encouraged to go on. We next find her teaching in the public schools of Virginia. During her vacation in '71, she went with her sister, then Miss Blanche V. Harris, on a visit to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Here they were both employed as principals of schools in Knoxville. Frankie £. Harris remained teaching in the city schools of Knoxville for nearly three years, when she received a letter requesting her to go to Mississippi to teach. Wages were better than in Knoxville, so she concluded to resign and go to Mississippi. The board, finding out her reason for leaving, offered to raise her wages if she wnuld remain, but she told them it was too late; she had accepted the position in Mississippi, where she went in February, '74. Here she taught a successful terra.

At the close, the superintendent asked Miss Harris to please return and teach for them the next year ; but as she had an. other engageitient in June, she told him she could not come back. She left Mississippi Juno the 1st, and on June 10, 1S74, was married to Col. George T. Wassom, who is one of Americans bright sons, and who has won for himself a lasting reputation. He is not only a politician, but a shrewd lawyer. Although quite a young man, he has filled places of honor.

In 1878 ho was apiK)inted colonel of the Fourth battalion of eastern North Carolina. In 1882, under Arthur^s administration, he was appointed postal clerk ; was also one of the delegates to the national convention held in Chicago which nominated Harrison ; and we find him again reappointed as postal clerk. Frankic E. Harris Wassom published her first book of poems in '86.

She wrote a number of years for two periodicals, and was on the staff of the Gojdsboro Star for three years. After marrying, she stopi>eil her school work for a sliort time, but feeling she must go back into this field of labor, resumed her teaching, and is still teaching. During this time she has contributed to a number of newspapers, and since '85 has done a great deal of work in the fine arts. In '86 she put on exhibition some of her cra3^on work at the North Carolina State Industrial Fair, and was awarded first premium.

At the same fair ex-Senator Blair delivered the annual address, and Mrs. Wassom comiK>scd a song and music in honor of Senator Blair's coming. The piece was entitled '^ Coming to the Fair," and many were the compliments she received from friends and through the press. We quote only a few ; The jBaj)(!st CoM" panion said : '^ At the Educational Convention held in Kaleigb^ in 1886, in the Metropolitan Hall (and which was fully at* tended) the exercises were of a high order. Rev. J. C. PricCt president of the Association, delivered an able address, after which ex-Senator Henry W. Blair delivered a i)owerful address. One of the most entertaining and inspiring features of the evening was afforded in a song entitled * Coming to the Fair,' composed by Mrs. F. E. H. Wassom, who now resides and is teaching in Goldsboro, N. 0. ' It was a quartette, and . most beautifully rendered, being very appropriate for the oc< casion.

No higher compliments need to be paid to the merits of this soul-stirring, highly musical composition than the. enthusiastic applause tendered th^ author during and after its rendition at the fair. The whole audience was intensely delighted. Senator Blair^ in honor of whoso visit it composed, evinced the keenest interest in its merits. Xo one, especiall}' in North Carolina, should be without this piece of music. Senator Blair, at the close of the exercises, requested Mrs. Wassom to send him a copy.''

Mrs. Wassom's book of poems is highly meritorious. The author possesses great proficiency as a poet, which is evidently the bent of her genius.

The Charlotte iVV?r^, said : ** The song composed by Mrs. Wassom, and sung by an able quartette in his honor, was loudly applauded at the conclusion of each verse.''

We could write many such compliments from different periodicals, but we have taken enough of your good time. Mrs. Wassom is now teaching in the city graded schools of Kooxville, Tennessee, where siie has been for the past five or six years. We copy one of her poeais :

LIFE'S STRUGGLE.

If you wish .to be successful In the pathway of your life,

Press forward ever seeking The burden of the strife.

If the struggle be a fierce one Fight it with patience, Tim,

The end will come before you think And in it you will win.

If you struggle thus with courage The barriers will surely fill.

And you'll find a way to conquer Be that power great or small.

Let the maxims of your conscience Guide and guard you in the fight»

And with duty as your watchword^ Tou will ever go aright.

Push onward then and upward. Always strive to lead the van,

*' For as fire doth prove the metal' So do struggles prove the man.