About Eliza Champ McCabe
Eliza
Champ McCabe was a woman who succeeded against the odds. She was born
in 1886, the granddaughter of a former slave. Although born into a
family of humble means, Eliza excelled in all of her endeavors.
Graduating Salutatorian of her college class in 1910, she thereafter
became president of The Negro Musicians of Texas.
Eliza came to the Northwest in 1933 and quickly established herself as a leader in the women’s circle. She provided the guidance to form social and civic clubs around the state and was elected president of the Washington State Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. She served in that office from 1943 until 1951, longer than any other state president to date. Some of her other outstanding accomplishments were: Petitioned Beaumont, Texas school board in the 1920’s to implement music in the schools for African American children; Distinguished Citizen Award from the Municipal League; Washington State Music Teacher Citation; Eliza McCabe Day for the city of Tacoma declared on March 30, 1980, for her contributions to senior citizen programs and to the City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.
She was a lover of the arts and was involved in a range of musical arts including soloist, pianist, choir director and piano teacher spanning some seventy years.