Pérola Ellis Byington (3 December 1879 – 6 November 1963) was a Brazilian philanthropist and social activist. She was an advocate for mother and children's health assistance in Brazil during the first half of 20th century.[1]
Pérola Byington | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pearl Ellis McIntyre 3 December 1879 |
| Died | 6 November 1963 (aged 83) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | Brazilian–American |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Spouse | Albert Jackson Byington |
Early life edit
On 3 December 1879, Byington was born as Pearl Ellis McIntyre in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo, Brazil.[2] Byington's parents were Mary Elisabeth Ellis and Robert Dickson McIntyre, American Confederado immigrants who settled in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste. She adopted the Portuguese form of her name (Pérola) and in 1894 when Pérola was fourteen years old, she completed the preparation for the Normal School, but was not admitted because the minimum age requirement was sixteen years old.
Education edit
Byington received private lessons in education, except Latin, which she took at a boys' school , where Pérola had to hide behind a folding screen so as not to attract the attention of the teacher and the boys. In 1897, Pérola took the entrance exams for the annex course of the Law Academy of São Paulo. She didn't pass the geography test and neither was well received by the academics, who did not want to admit women. In 1899, at the age of 19, Byington finished the normal course.
Career edit
During the First World War, Byington was in the United States, where she was responsible for a section of the Red Cross. Upon returning to Brazil, she continued participating in philanthropic activities. From the 1930s, Byington alongside the teacher Maria Antonieta de Castro led a campaign to combat child mortality, called "Cruzada Pró-Infância", (Crusade for Childhood) a task which she held for 33 years.[3] She also dedicated herself to several other programs in defense of the disadvantaged, especially children, having been awarded several commendations of merit.
Personal life edit
On 4 July 1901, Byington married Albert Jackson Byington, an electrical engineer who imported the first electric motor to Brazil. They had two children.[2]
On 6 November 1963, Byington died in New York City, New York, United States.[2]
Legacy edit
In her honor, a hospital dedicated to women's health in São Paulo is named after her.[4]
Pérola, a municipality of the state of Paraná, was named after her; Alberto Byington Júnior, Pérola's son, was one of the partners of the Companhia Byington de Colonização Ltda., the company that bought land and settled in the region.[5]
Byington is the great-grandmother of actress Bianca Byington and singer Olivia Byington. She is also the great-great-grandmother of the actor Gregório Duvivier.
References edit
- ^ Klein, Marian van der; Plant, Rebecca Jo; Sanders, Nichole; Weintrob, Lori R. (30 April 2012). Maternalism Reconsidered: Motherhood, Welfare and Social Policy in the Twentieth Century. Berghahn Books. ISBN 9780857454676.
- ^ a b c "Mr. Albert Jackson Byington". rmslusitania.info. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Pérola Byington: Em prol da infância e juventude". Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ "Hospital Pérola Byington - Centro de Referência da Saúde da Mulher". www.hospitalperola.com.br. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ Ferreira, João Carlos Vicente. "Municípios paranaenses- origens e significados de seus nomes" (PDF).