Henrietta (Turner) Harper
Born: Missouri, December 1875. Married: James L. Harper, Wichita, Kansas, on May 23, 1894. Died: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, about 1923.
Henrietta Turner was born to Lurena (Brown) Turner in Missouri in December 1875. She soon moved with her mother and sisters Stella and Susie to Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. Henrietta attended the Hobson Institute, a normal school of the Society of Friends, for African American students. She was office manager for the Parsons Blade.
Stella and Henrietta became involved with the Baptist church in Wichita, singing in vocal ensembles, and attending conventions as delegates. Stella received rave reviews for her singing with the Wichita Literary Society in 1894. Henrietta served as recording secretary for the Women’s Home and Foreign Mission convention. Henrietta and her sister Stella worked as domestics while building a catering business.
Henrietta soon joined the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and served on the WCTU speaker series in support of suffrage. James Harper was also active in Wichita’s Baptist church. Henrietta married James L. Harper, in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, on May 23, 1894; they had a daughter, Luvenia Harper, born in Kansas in 1902.
James Harper was a grocer and a member of the Wichita police force. Henrietta and Stella’s operated their successful catering business over 18 years.
Henrietta remained dedicated to community service. She was elected president of the Kansas Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs in 1908, where suffrage was a frequent presentation topic. She was the district most noble governess for Wichita’s Grand United Order of the Odd Fellows and Ruths. At the request of social activist Jane Addams of Chicago, Henrietta led an effort to pass a resolution at the Odd Fellows and Ruths convention in 1916 in support of woman’s suffrage.
The sisters announced they would be closing their catering business in 1919 to go to California. The Wichita Beacon apprised readers of the news. “This simple statement many not appear to justify the tempest it has aroused in society circles, but there is a reason. . . who, thru their knowledge of fine cookery, have built up one of the most profitable businesses of its kind in the state. . . . they could absolutely be depended upon to prepare any dish wanted. No Wichita party is considered complete without Henrietta and Stella in the kitchen . . . ”
Henrietta, Luvenia, and Stella moved to Los Angeles, California, but continued to visit Wichita. Luvenia became active with the Baptist church in California. She married and formed the Nash Singers, a choral group that performed across the nation.
Entry: Henrietta (Turner) Harper
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: December 2024
Date Modified: December 2024
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
