Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938)
MSA SC 3520-13584

Biography:

“Strong Arm”¹ Annie Armstrong was “a writer, a distributer of literature, a promoter and organizer of a dream.”² She fought adamantly for two causes: helping those in need and women’s rights. Because of her determination, bravery, and modern visions, she shook societal ideals so much that the effects of her work are still felt today.

As the great, great, great granddaughter of Henry Sater, builder of the first known Baptist Church in Maryland, and Dorcas Towson, descendant of those for whom Towson, Maryland was named after, Annie Armstrong was part of a family of action.³  She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1850, to James Dunn and Mary Walker Armstrong. She was the youngest of three children⁴ and lived in a row home on present day North Calvert Street. The family later moved to McCullough Street.⁵ Ms. Armstrong’s father passed away when she was two years old, but due to his work in the tobacco business, his family was wealthy and remained so long after his death.⁶

Ms. Armstrong’s mother, a devout Baptist, was an original member of the early Southern Baptist women’s missionary group, the Woman's Mission to Woman, in the 1870’s.⁷ Such faith and actions became largely influential on Ms. Armstrong’s life, the earliest evidence being that she was a Sunday school teacher before the age of ten.⁸ However, Ms. Armstrong was not fully committed to faith and actions until, as a young adult, she witnessed a struggling school for Native Americans.⁹

Ms. Armstrong had an epiphany and realized she could use faith to help those in need. At the age of nineteen she was baptized by Richard Fuller into the Seventh Baptist Church of Baltimore, located on Paca and Saratoga streets.¹⁰ In 1871, Ms. Armstrong left this church to help pioneer the Eutaw Place Baptist Church, where she began teaching an infant class, also called a Primary Department class, for children up to the age of twelve.¹¹ She continued to teach this infant class for fifty years, and remained a member of the church until her death, about 70 years after she first joined.¹²  

Ms. Armstrong’s passion for helping those in need, namely mothers, immigrants (she had a special interest in immigrants from China), the underprivileged, the sick, African-Americans, and Native Americans grew over the years. One of her first actions was organizing the meeting of Baptist women at a dock in order to greet a gathering of newly arrived German immigrant women and provide them with prayer, Bibles, baggage assistance, bread and water, and help with children.¹³ She extended the same care to other immigrant groups as they became more populous.¹⁴ In addition, she created the Bay View Mission to help those in poverty. This was built on the site of the present day Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.¹⁵

A passion for furthering women’s rights developed simultaneously because she saw great potential in women's ability to help others through independent women’s organizations. Thus, she “devoted all her energies to furthering the missionary work of the women of the Southern Baptist Convention.”¹⁶ In 1882, she called for a meeting which led to the development of the Women’s Baptist Home Mission Society of Maryland, an organization to aid the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ms. Armstrong served as the first president of the newly formed organization, her first major leadership role, and remained in the position for twenty-four years.¹⁷ The organization encouraged women to help the Home Mission Board with local projects, the first couple being the establishment of a school for Native Amricans and ministering to immigrants from China.¹⁸ This organization eventually extended its care to Cuba and New Orleans as well.¹⁹

Although the Women’s Baptist Home Mission Society was successful, Ms. Armstrong became increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of general organization amongst Baptist women and resistance to the creation of it.²⁰ For instance, in 1885, women at the Southern Baptist Convention proposed a female superintendent of women’s work for home missions; however, it was “rejected on the grounds that it was ‘an entering wedge to women’s rights.’”²¹  
Ms. Armstrong nevertheless continued to strive for a women’s organization and to improve missionary efforts. In 1886, she became secretary and editor-in-chief of the Maryland Baptist Mission Rooms, later renamed the Mission Literature Department, after its' pastors sought the help of women to publish literature which would inform the Southern Baptist Convention about the group’s missionary work. Being skilled with literature, Ms. Armstrong quickly built the organization into a “major publisher [and distributer] of missionary material.”²²  

In 1887, she actively strove for the approval of a general women’s organization from the Southern Baptist Convention. At a meeting in Kentucky, she was able to secure the decision that at the next Southern Baptist Convention three women delegates from each Baptist State Central Committee would meet and vote on the creation of a general organization.²³ Ms. Armstrong spent the rest of the year actively writing letters and articles to support the need for such an organization.²⁴ The task was so substantial that she encouraged her sister, Alice, to help.²⁵ 

At the 1888 Southern Baptist Convention, Ms. Armstrong met with thirty-one other women in a basement of a Methodist church because the men of the Southern Baptist Convention had filled the Southern Baptist church, leaving no room for the women.²⁶ With encouragement from Dr. F. M. Ellis of the Eutaw Place Church, Ms. Armstrong successfully persuaded the women to create a general group of women that would be an auxiliary to Southern Baptists.²⁷ With fellow church member Mrs. James Pollard, she drafted a constitution that led to the formation of the Women’s Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist (W.M.U.).²⁸ The formation of this organization marked the first time since before 1860 that Maryland Baptist Women and beyond were united.²⁹

As her primary concern was local missionary efforts, Ms. Armstrong was appointed as the secretary of the Women’s Missionary Union, and, in recognition of her efforts to establish it, her hometown of Baltimore was named the union headquarters.³⁰ Ms. Armstrong made stunning accomplishments as secretary which improved the Southern Baptist Convention. For example, she compiled the first mailing list of Southern Baptist pastors and churches, supplied the Sunday school board with a list of Sunday school superintendents, and launched a program for gathering statistics.³¹

Her work as secretary also greatly furthered missionary initiatives. Although distasteful of travel, Ms. Armstrong often went to states such as Oklahoma in order to speak to Native American women and assist other missionaries in need of supplies.³² At one point, she “travelled 3,300 miles in 21 days, visiting 19 places, and making 26 addresses.”³³ Further, Ms. Armstrong wrote letters to Southern Baptist societies around the nation encouraging support for various missionary initiatives.³⁴ It is believed that in “1893 alone, she wrote almost 18,000 letters!”³⁵ She also championed the establishment of organizations to aid African-American Baptist women and children.³⁶ Ms. Armstrong ensured that the Women’s Missionary Union wrote literature, collected offerings, and prepared packages to be sent into the field. She insisted that each package contain “a trinket, a toy, and maybe some candy” because “every self-respecting missionary box should contain something to enrich the spirit.”³⁷

In addition to supporting the Women’s Missionary Union, Miss Armstrong wrote items for different publications including a "Folks and Facts" column, at the request of editors. Further, she contributed to two mission publications, Foreign Mission Journal and Our Home Field.³⁸

One of her most noteworthy accomplishments was when she organized and, through a letter writing campaign, encouraged the contribution of $2,883.49 to a Christmas Offering which would send single American women to China to assist those in need. This is commonly known as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.³⁹ For the first year of the offering, Ms. Armstrong aspired to raise enough money to send one person, but her efforts allowed for the missionary church to send three.⁴⁰ The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering continues today, raising over $2.6 billion in total, and has supported missions in every country, as well as home missions.⁴¹ The offering helps missionaries to perform such tasks as helping community hospitals, helping needy families, and preparing health kits for workers.⁴² It is noted that “so much…depends on the generous and faithful giving of Southern Baptists to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, and we have Annie Armstrong to thank for creating the offering.”⁴³   

Another exceptional achievement of Ms. Armstrong came in 1895 when she encouraged the Women’s Missionary Union to donate $5,000 to the Home Mission Board in order to help with their $25,000 debt.⁴⁴ Such a contribution allowed missionaries to stay in the field instead of abandoning their missions due to lack of financial support.⁴⁵ To further gain support for this cause, the Women’s Missionary Union implemented a Week of Self-Denial where participants would pray and give to home missions.⁴⁶ In 1934, this yearly offering was renamed the Annie Armstrong Offering, or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, to honor both her work towards it, and her work to strengthen Southern Baptist efforts in general.⁴⁷ The offering continues to the day and has raised over $1.1 billion.⁴⁸

“Through her correspondence with missionaries and frontier pastors [Ms. Armstrong] became one of the most well informed persons on the state of the church in both the home and foreign field.”⁴⁹ She continually strove to improve information networks for missions, to expand mission tactics, and to fundraise for missions and churches.⁵⁰ She was viewed as a role model and as a valuable source. In 1901, Nannie Lee Burroughs asked for her assistance in creating a similar organization for African-American Baptist women.⁵¹ The two women worked well together, resulting in Ms. Armstrong being elected president of the Interdenominational Missionary Union of Maryland in 1901.

While Ms. Armstrong was “a modern woman in many respects; a woman of her own time,” she also held steadfast to many traditional religious beliefs.⁵²  In the early twentieth century these views caused her to come in direct conflict with many of her fellow Women’s Missionary Union members who wanted to create a women’s training school in Louisville which would be connected to a male seminary.⁵³ Ms. Armstrong did not believe in the intermixing of the two sexes during school, and firmly believed against women preachers, so she was weary of women being so close to seminary materials.⁵⁴ She also feared that the attempt to run a school would take attention away from the missions.⁵⁵  

This conflict in ideals resulted in Ms. Armstrong’s resignation as secretary of the Women’s Missionary Union in 1905, and from president of the Women’s Baptist Home Mission Society of Maryland in 1906.⁵⁶ For the remainder of her life she worked on local mission projects and would make occasional appearances at national meetings.⁵⁷ The Women’s Missionary Union did not forget her significance, however, and in honor of her they donated $5,000 to a Home Mission Board mountain school, as well as $5,000 to a hospital in China in 1907.⁵⁸

As Ms. Armstrong grew older, her health began to falter and she spent the last two years of her life bedridden. Poetically, she passed away on December 20, 1938, the same year the Women’s Missionary Union celebrated its 50^th anniversary.⁵⁹ She is buried at the architecturally beautiful Greenmount Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.⁶⁰

Ms. Armstrong profoundly changed not only Southern Baptist organizational structures and methods, but society as well. She helped Southern Baptist women find strength and stand up for their rights, work together, and help others. In addition, thousands in need received care because of her endeavors. One pastor from Baltimore noted that “her legacy has left an astounding impact on this church, on Baltimore, and beyond.”⁶¹ Ms. Armstrong accomplished everything without acceptance of monetary compensation for any work or travel expense⁶² and without acceptance of a suitor: she devoted every part of her life to her passions.⁶³ Ms. Armstrong was an astounding woman and an exemplary figure; Baltimore positively changed because of her and the city should be proud to have had her as a resident. 

Quotes:

“As we continue to unite to make her vision a reality in North America today, we can be confident that her legacy will also be ours.”⁶⁴ 

“Annie Armstrong of Baltimore, was one of the most important figures in formation and direction of the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year. Group numbers almost 1,500,000.”⁶⁵

"To me, Miss Armstrong was a symbol – a marvel at what a woman could do."⁶⁶

“Through her steadfast prayer, her focused determination and her willingness to put her faith into action, Annie Armstrong modeled for us the difference one person can make.”⁶⁷ 

 “The future lies all before us…shall it only be a slight advance upon what we usually do? Ought it not to be a bound, a leap forward, to altitudes of endeavor and success undreamed of before?”
- Annie Armstrong⁶⁸  

1. Shannon Baker, “Following in the Footsteps of Annie Armstrong in Baltimore,” Baptist Life: News Journal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, March 2010, http://web.archive.org/web/20080529182247/http://www.anniearmstrong.com/atf/cf/%7B6FDE9F58-4DC8-4452-A4C3-E5106CE6BDE1%7D/AnnieSpecialEdition.pdf    return to text 

2. James Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years: The Work of Women Baptists Continues Along the Lines Fixed by Annie Armstrong, of Baltimore,” The Sun, 30 June 1963   return to text 

3. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

4. Carolyn B. Stegman, Women of Achievement in Maryland History, (Eldridge, Maryland: Women of Achievement in Maryland History, 2002), pg. 147   return to text 

5. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

6. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America,1999, Biography In Context,  25 July 2013.   return to text 

7. Ibid.   return to text 

8. Stegman, Women of Achievement in Maryland History   return to text 

9. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America   return to text 

10. “Annie Walker Armstrong.” Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives: Biographies, last modified 2013, http://www.sbhla.org/bio_anniearmstrong.htm   return to text 

11. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

12. Ibid.   return to text 

13. Maryland Bicentennial Commission, Notable Maryland Women, ed. Winifred G. Helmes, (Cambridge, Maryland: Tidewater Publishers, 12   return to text 

14. Ibid, 12   return to text 

15. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

16. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”   return to text 

17. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

18. Ibid.   return to text 

19. Ibid.   return to text 

20. Maryland Bicentennial Commission, Notable Maryland Women, 12  return to text 

21. Ibid, 12  return to text 

22. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America   return to text 

23. Maryland Bicentennial Commission, Notable Maryland Women, 12   return to text 

24. Ibid, 12   return to text 

25. Ibid, 12   return to text 

26. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”   return to text 

27. Ibid   return to text 

28. Ibid   return to text 

29. Ibid  return to text 

30. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America  return to text 

31. Ibid.  return to text 

32. Ibid.  return to text

33. “Annie Walker Armstrong.” Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives  return to text 

34. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”  return to text 

35. “The Annie Offering,” North American Mission Board, last updated 2007,  http://web.archive.org/web/20080402103528/http://www.anniearmstrong.com/site/pp.asp?c=8oILLTOqGnF&b=310528   return to text 

36. “Annie Walker Armstrong.” Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives   return to text 

37. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”   return to text 

38. “Annie Walker Armstrong.” Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives  return to text 

39. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”  return to text 

40. Ibid.  return to text 

41. “Annie Walker Armstrong.” Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives   return to text 

42. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”   return to text 

43. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”  return to text 

44. Ibid.  return to text 

45. Ibid.   return to text 

46. Ibid.   return to text 

47. Ibid.   return to text 

48. Ibid.  return to text 

49. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America   return to text 

50. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

51. Maryland Bicentennial Commission, Notable Maryland Women, 13   return to text 

52. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”   return to text 

53. Maryland Bicentennial Commission, Notable Maryland Women, 12   return to text 

54. Ibid, 12  return to text 

55. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”   return to text 

56. Maryland Bicentennial Commission, Notable Maryland Women, 12   return to text 

57. Ibid, 12   return to text 

58. “Annie Walker Armstrong.” Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives   return to text 

59. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America   return to text 

60. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”  return to text 

61. Ibid.  return to text  

62. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”   return to text 

63. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America   return to text 

64. “The Annie Offering”  return to text 

65. Waesche, “Missionary Union’s 75 Years”  return to text 

66. Baker, “Following in the Footsteps”  return to text 

67. Ibid.   return to text 

68. "Annie Walker Armstrong," Religious Leaders of America   return to text 

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