Mary Jane Patterson

Mary Jane Patterson
Patterson in 1862
Born(1844-09-12)September 12, 1844
Raleigh, North Carolina, US
Died(1894-09-24)September 24, 1894
Washington, D.C., US
Alma materOberlin College (BA)
Occupations

Mary Jane Patterson (September 12, 1844 – September 24, 1894) was an American educator born to a previously enslaved mother.[1] She is notable because she is claimed to be the first African-American woman to receive a B.A degree. In 1862, she completed the four-year 'gentlemen's course' at Oberlin College.[2] She first taught at the Philadelphia's Institute for Colored Youth. She then went on to teach at the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth, known today as Dunbar High School, in Washington, D.C.. She became its first Black principal.[3][4][5] She was a lifelong advocate for Black education, helping to found the Colored Woman's League which later became the National Association of Colored Women.[6][7] A humanitarian, Patterson also devoted time and money to Black institutions in Washington, D.C.[8]

  1. ^ Bishir, Catherine (2018). "Patterson, Henry J. (1805-1886) and John E. (1804-1880)". North Carolina Architects & Builders: A Bibliographical Dictionary. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "Mary Jane Patterson". oberlin.edu. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Watson, Terri; McClellan, Patrice (June 30, 2020). Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford University Press.
  4. ^ Stewart, A (2013). First Class: The Legacy of Dunbar, America's First Black Public High School. Chicago, Il: Lawrence Hill Books. p. 32.
  5. ^ Ostrom, Hans (2023). Forgotten African American Firsts: An Encyclopedia of Pioneering History. Greenwood. ISBN 978-1-4408-7535-9.
  6. ^ "Historical profile of Mary Jane Patterson". Dayton Daily News. February 28, 2005. p. 12. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).