Carrie Ford (1910-2001) is seen at, lower, left, in this "Civil War Heroes" mural, part of the York County History Center's collection.
In 2020 anniversary year, York County women honored for their accomplishments, storytelling
Carrie Ford’s life reminds you of Amanda Berry Smith.
Both women spent years overseas in missionary work.
And the accomplishments of both women with York County ties were highlighted in 2020, the 100th anniversary year of women casting their first votes in a national election.
Ford taught French for years in York city schools in the 20th century and then in retirement ministered in Liberia by teaching English and undertaking Christian missionary work. Her work was highlighted via a 2020 digital site developed by Central York High School’s Anna Lumsargis as part of her Gold Scout project.
In the 19th-century, Amanda Berry Smith served as a Christian missionary on several continents before operating an orphanage in Chicago late in life. Her accomplishments have been highlighted in recent years as research in the Underground Railroad has gained depth in York County since 2000.
In 2020, women have been feted and a host of women have written about women and other topics.
To help gather these stories, we have done two things:
- Developed a York Town Square Women’s History page.
- Targeted 2020 accomplishments in this story on the Witnessing York digital site. This site, just launched in October, tells the stories of numerous women: 1800s activist Frances “Fanny” Wright, suffragist Anna Dill Gamble and others. More will be added.
What Ford’s daughter, Diane Scott, said about her mother applies to many women featured in the anniversary year of 2020: “She affected the world by the (missionary) work she did in Liberia. Locally, she was a role model for many people, especially the children she taught. Everyone looked up to her.”
