Bethune, Mary McLeod

Bethune, Mary McLeod
(1875-1955)
   Born one of 17 children to former slave parents in South Carolina, Mary McCleod Bethune attended a one-room schoolhouse before gaining a college education. She taught in Georgia and South Carolina and then established the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls in Florida in 1904, which became the Bethune-Cookman College in 1929. An active member and later vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Bethune was also a leader in the organization of black women’s clubs and president of the National Association of Colored Women from 1924-1928. From 1936 to 1950 she was president of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.
   Bethune took part in the National Commission for Child Welfare during the administration of Herbert Hoover, and in 1936 Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her director of Negro Affairs in the National Youth Administration (NYA). She was the first black woman to hold such a high-ranking federal position. Her role made her an important member of the Black Cabinet. She returned to teaching when the NYA came to an end in 1943 but advised the War Department on the appointment of black women army officers for the Women’s Army Corps. In 1945, Bethune was one of several black advisers to attend the United Nations meetings in San Francisco, California. Her work in race relations was recognized with awards from several African countries in addition to the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal and numerous honorary degrees.
   See also African americans.

Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era . . 2015.

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  • Bethune, Mary McLeod — ▪ American educator born July 10, 1875, Mayesville, S.C., U.S. died May 18, 1955, Daytona Beach, Fla.   American educator who was active nationally in African American affairs and was a special adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the… …   Universalium

  • Bethune,Mary McLeod — Be·thune (bə tho͞onʹ, thyo͞onʹ), Mary McLeod. 1875 1955. American educator who sought improved racial relations and educational opportunities for Black Americans. She was part of the U.S. delegation to the first United Nations meeting (1945). * * …   Universalium

  • Mary McLeod Bethune — Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, April 6, 1949 Born July 10, 1875(1875 07 10) Mayesville, South Carolina, United States …   Wikipedia

  • Mary McLeod Bethune Home — U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. National Historic Landmark …   Wikipedia

  • Mary McLeod Bethune — Mary McLeod Bethune. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (10 de julio de 1875 18 de mayo de 1955) fue una educadora y activista de los derechos civiles estadounidense reconocida por fundar un colegio para estudiantes afroamericanos en Daytona Beach ,… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial — is a bronze statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, by Robert Berks.[1] It is located in Lincoln Park, at East Capitol Street and 12th Street N.E. Washi …   Wikipedia

  • Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site — Mary McLeod Bethune Council House Location 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW W …   Wikipedia

  • Mary McLeod Bethune — (1949) Mary McLeod Bethune, porträtiert von Betsy Graves Reyneau …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mary McLeod Bethune — Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (10 juillet 1875 – 18 mai 1955) est une éducatrice américaine et défenseuse des droits citoyens. Elle a créé une école pour les étudiants noirs de Daytona Beach en Floride qui est devenue l université… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bethune, Mary (Jane) McLeod — orig. Mary Jane McLeod born July 10, 1875, Mayesville, S.C., U.S. died May 18, 1955, Daytona Beach, Fla. U.S. educator. Born to former slaves, she made her way through college and in 1904 founded a school that later became part of Bethune Cookman …   Universalium

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