Flanner, Hildegarde (1899–1987)

Hildegarde Flanner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was the youngest daughter of Francis William and Mary Ellen Hockett Flanner. Her parents instilled in her at an early age a sense of respect, fairness, and equality in regard to all humans. Her mother as a child was in a production of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and both her parents created a house to aid the poor situation for Africans in Indianapolis. She was also raised with a religious background, which created in her a moral foundation.

Flanner recalled her childhood as one that created pleasure and ease for her mother. She attended an all-girls' school in Indianapolis called Tudor Hall. Her family traveled internationally to educate their daughter Marie in the arts of the piano from the ...