Naomi Willie (Pollard) Dobson (1883 - 1971)

Born Oct 1883 in Mexico City, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Richard Allen Dobson — married 17 Sep 1916 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States

Died 3 Aug 1971 at age 87 in New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Naomi Willie (Pollard) Dobson is Notable.

Naomi Willie Pollard was the first black woman to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

Naomi Willie Pollard was born in 1883, in Mexico City, Missouri, United States, the third child, second daughter of John William Pollard and Amanda Hughes.^[1]

On the 8th June 1900 the Pollard family was living at 4316 East Ravenswood Park, Evanston Township. Home at the time were the head of the household, John, a barber, his wife of 25 years, Amanda; and their children: 25-year-old daughter, Artie, a schoolteacher; 22-year-old son Luther, a barber; 17-year-old daughter Naomi; 14-year-old son Leslie; 11-year-old daughter Ruth; 9-year-old John Hughes (later known as Hughes); 6-year-old Fred (later to be renowned as Fritz), all attending school; and 4-year-old Franklin, too young for school.^[2]

Naomi attended Northwestern University, and had two entries in the Yearbook for her time there -1904,and1905.^{[3] [4]}

NAOMI WILLIE POLLARD, 1883–1971

Based on University Archives’ records, Naomi Willie Pollard was the first black woman to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern.

She was the third of eight children whose parents had moved in 1886 from Missouri to Rogers Park (then a village north of and later annexed by Chicago), becoming one of the first African American families in the area. Pollard entered Northwestern in 1901 and likely commuted to campus from home, as did many students at the time; a black woman would not have been permitted to live in campus housing. While at Northwestern, she published a short story about racial discrimination in the student literary magazine. After graduating in 1905 (her Syllabus yearbook portrait from that year at left), Pollard taught high school before working as a librarian; in 1916, she married Richard Dobson. She went on to participate in church activities and civic organizations, including the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, and the American Association of University Women, and she served as president of the Iowa Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.^[5]

Naomi Willie was a Teacher in a Chicago area public school.

On the 21st April 1910, Naomi, now a teacher in a public school, was living with her family on East Ravenswood Park, Tract y4 City of Chicago. Home at the time were her father: John, mother: Amanda, and her siblings: Artie, now a nurse; Luther, now working in advertising& promoting; Leslie, a barber; Ruth, not working; Hughes, also now a barber (a trade encouraged by their father as being a way to always be able to earn a living, no matter what other trade, or calling, they followed); Fritz; and Frank – both not listed as working, but most likely still at school, considering how strongly the family believed in education.^[6]

Naomi Willie was an Assistant Public Librarian.

In 1914 Naomi was working as an assistant public librarian, and had an entry in the Chicago City Directory.^[7]

Naomi and Richard Allen Dobson were married on the 17th September 1916, in Chicago. Perhaps to not appear as older than her husband, she gave her age as 27 years, instead of her actual 33 years.^[8]
Naomi and Richard were to have one known child, a son they named Richard Allen for his father.

In 1917 Naomi was named on her husband's draft registration card.^[9]

On the 8th January 1920 Naomi (again giving her age as younger than she actually was), was living with her family at West 7th Street, Sioux City, Iowa. Home at the time were her husband, Richard senior, a physician and surgeon; and their son, 2-year-old Richard junior.^[10]

On the 1st January 1925 Naomi was still living at West 7th Street, Sioux City. Home with her were both Richard senior, and Richard junior (now 8). Although not residing with them, her father is listed as John Pollard, aged 78 years, birthplace, Virginia; and her mother as Amanda Hughes, aged 68 years, birthplace Missouri.^[11]

On the 14th April 1930, the small Dobson family was living at 1826 West 5th St, Sioux City. Home at the time were Richard senior, now an independent physician; Naomi; and their son: Richard junior, now 13-years-old.^[12]

On the 3rd April 1940, Naomi was still living with her family in Sioux City. Home at the time were her husband, Richard senior, now a Medical Doctor running his own practice, and their son, 22-year-old Richard junior.^[13]

Naomi Willie Dobson née Pollard passed away on the 3rd August 1971, in New York City, New York, United States. An obituary, naming her brothers: Fritz, and Luther, was published in her long-term home: Sioux City, Iowa.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Various sources, including census returns.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSQX-9P7 : accessed 1 February 2021), Naomi L Pollard in household of John Pollard, Precinct 38 Lake View Chicago city Ward 25, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 777, sheet 11A, family 208, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,276.
3. ↑ Naomi Willie Pollard in the U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999; "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Northwestern University; Year: 1904. Name: Naomi Willie Pollard; Estimated Age: Abt 20; Birth Year: abt 1884; Yearbook Date: 1904; School: Northwestern University; School Location: Evanston, Illinois; Yearbook Title: Syllabus
4. ↑ Naomi Willie Pollard in the U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999" U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Northwestern University; Year: 1905. Name: Naomi Willie Pollard; Yearbook Date: 1905; School: Northwestern University; School Location: Evanston, Illinois, USA
5. ↑ Northwestern University Library (opens a pdf)
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKZJ-TDQ : accessed 1 February 2021), Naomi Pollard in household of John Pollard, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1037, sheet 9A, family 201, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 267; FHL microfilm 1,374,280.
7. ↑ Naomi W Pollard in the U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995; Name: Naomi W Pollard; Residence Year: 1914; Street Address: 1928 Lunt Ave; Residence Place: Chicago, Illinois, USA; Occupation: Assistant Public Librarian; Publication Title: Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1914
8. ↑ “Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871–1920.” Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Illinois Department of Public Health records. "Marriage Records, 1871–present." Division of Vital Records, Springfield, Illinois. Name: Naomi W. Pollard; Age: 27; Gender: Female; Birth Year: abt 1889; Marriage Type: Marriage; Marriage Date: 17 Sep 1916; Marriage Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Spouse Name: Richard A. Dobson; Spouse Age: 30; Spouse Gender: Male; FHL Film Number: 1030629
9. ↑ United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls.; Name: Naomi Dobson; Draft Board: 1; Spouse: Richard Allen Dobson
10. ↑ Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1920; Census Place: Sioux City Precinct 5, Woodbury, Iowa; Roll: T625_520; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 209
11. ↑ Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925. Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest
12. ↑ Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Year: 1930; Census Place: Sioux City, Iowa; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0033; FHL microfilm: 2340424
13. ↑ Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls. United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Year: 1940; Census Place: Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa; Roll: m-t0627-01215; Page: 61A; Enumeration District: 97-67
14. ↑ Obituary — Sioux City Journal; Publication Date: 14 Aug 1971; Publication Place: Sioux City, Iowa, United States of America

• BDM records, census returns, public directories.