Fannie Rosalind Hicks Givens

Fannie R. Givens ( Hicks; May 29, 1861 to August 4, 1947) was an artist, missionary, and political activist. Mainly a resident of Louisville, Kentucky, she created and taught art in many forms including painting and poetry and served as a policewoman for the city. Hicks was politically active in many different organizations, traveling around the world to advocate for Black and women's rights.

Early life Fannie Rosalind Hicks is believed to have been born on May 29, 1861, in Sturgeon, Missouri. However, there are several alternate years of birth listed on her documents, such as her death certificate listing 1876 and her headstone listing 1864. Another source cites her place and year of birth as Chicago, 1872. As a young child, she and her parents moved to Louisville, Kentucky.

On June 27, 1895, Hicks married James Edward Givens, a Harvard graduate and professor at State University, now known as Simmons College of Kentucky. She took her husband's name, becoming publicly known as Fannie R. Givens. Although the couple never had children of their own, the couple adopted James' niece and the fostered the four remaining siblings. She also attended State University, Louisville Municipal College, and took a "correspondence course," as Givens describes, at Henry George School of Social Science NYC.

Givens was known for her portraits and presented a portrait of John Lewis Waller to President Benjamin Harris. The portrait was hung in the White House. She is also known for her portrait of Booker T. Washington. Because of her interest in African art, Prince Massaquoi honored Givens as a Princess, most likely when she traveled to Liberia.

Givens taught art from her home in Louisville and was the only Black person listed as an "artist and portrait artist" in the Louisville City Directory commercial ads. Givens attempted to raise $100,000 to build an art institute for Black artists at Howard University, but unfortunately, not enough money was raised. September 30, 1936, the Eta Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority honors Givens. She was the former Grand Basileus for the sorority and is listed as a notable Zeta Phi Beta sister.

Later life and death In 1932, Givens attended the fifty year reunion at Knox College. In Louisville, she was a member of the 5th Street Baptist Church. She was buried with her husband in Eastern Cemetery and has a plaque from Zeta Phi Beta to decorate her grave.