Olivia Ward Bush Banks (May 23, 1869 - 1944) was an American author, poet and journalist of both African American and Montaukett Native American descent. Ward celebrated both of her heritages in her poetry and writing. She was a regular contributor to the Colored American magazine and wrote a column for the Westchester Record-Courier.
Born May 23, 1869 in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, Ward was the daughter of Eliza Draper and Abraham Ward, b...
more
Olivia Ward Bush Banks (May 23, 1869 - 1944) was an American author, poet and journalist of both African American and Montaukett Native American descent. Ward celebrated both of her heritages in her poetry and writing. She was a regular contributor to the Colored American magazine and wrote a column for the Westchester Record-Courier.
Born May 23, 1869 in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, Ward was the daughter of Eliza Draper and Abraham Ward, both of whom were of mixed African American and Montaukett descent. Ward’s mother died when she was about nine months old, and she and her father moved to Providence, Rhode Island. When Abraham remarried, he handed young Olivia over to her mother's sister, Maria Draper, who reared Olivia as her own.
In 1889, Ward married Frank Bush. The couple had two daughters, Rosamund and Maria. Ward commuted between Providence and Boston, working whatever jobs she could find to support her family. Despite long days working and commuting, she still managed...
less
