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Fanny crosby12/25/2023 Later she met a fellow instructor a somewhat younger man named Alexander Van Alystyne who was an accomplished musician. In 1844 she published a collection of her verse as “The Blind Girl and Other Poems,” the first of several later volumes of poems. There was another employee who not only copied her poems but also became her life She even published poems for his newspaper. Polk, Henry Clay, General Winfield Scott, and Horace Greeley. In her role as institute poetess she became acquainted with such celebrities as famed singer Jenny Lind, President James K. Fanny learned it so quickly and so completely even years later she could recite the entire contents of her grammar text.įanny continued to demonstrate her poetic talent as she was frequently asked to compose verses for special occasions and to honor prominent visitors to the Institute where she became a teacher in 1842. The pupils would hear the lesson several times and then be expected to not only answer detailed questions but also even paraphrase the lessons. The students learned by means of lectures and readings, and her subjects included English, grammar, science, music, history, philosophy and astronomy. In 1835, Fanny enrolled in the school and there she finally she found what she’d been praying for – a chance to learn among people who could teach her all she wanted to learn. Then at age 14 her mother heard about a new opportunity for Fanny in the newly opened New York Institute for the Blind. However, as Fanny became a teenager it became evident that she had great creative talent – she sang well, played the piano and became quite well known locally as a poet. Her new resolve was expressed in her first poem:įanny had attended local schools occasionally but since the teachers did not know how to help her she never attended long. Still when she became discouraged she prayed and asked God to use her, refusing to let her handicap limit her. Though other physicians reluctantly told her family there was nothing to be done to restore her sight, Grandma Eunice continued to help develop her memory as she grew and played as nearly as possible as normal children. Resolved that Fanny would not be completely dependent on others, as were many blind people at the time, Eunice set about to educate Fanny about many aspects of the world around her as she helped her memorize great portions of the Bible and other books. Not long after Fanny’s father died and her young mother sought domestic work in nearby town, leaving her blind daughter in the care of her mother Eunice and other relatives. Their usual doctor was unavailable and so the family sought help from a man who claimed to be medically qualified but who put a poultice on her eyes that left the infant’s eyes scarred. Still, Fanny never allowed what could have been a seriously limiting handicap caused by a careless mistake to keep her from using her God given talent to create songs that would provide inspiration and encouragement to many.īorn March 24, 1820, Frances Jane Crosby had normal vision at birth but at six weeks suffered an eye inflammation. And she accomplished it all – despite being blind since infancy. While providing many of the appealing gospel hymns that would replace the formerly popular more staid and sober songs, she also gained renown as a preacher, lecturer and home mission worker. As the author of more than 9000 hymns plus 1000 secular poems and songs, hymnwriter Francis Jane (Fanny) Crosby was one of the most beloved Christian figures in the late 1800s.
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