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Mary McLeod Bethune was born.
Mary McLeod Bethune was born in South Carolina, her parents which were former slaves and had seventeen children, Mary being the fifteenth. Mary grew up on a small farm near Mayesville, South Carolina. Mary's parents noticed how bright and intelligent she was at a young age, so she was the only sibling in her family to attend school. -
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Mary McLeod Bethune
Overarching Lesson: Mary McLeod Bethune is important in American History because she was one of the first African American women to open her own school for African American girls and was a political activist who had a voice for the civil rights movement. -
Mary McLeod Bethune entered Scotia Seminary.
Mary McLeod Bethune entered Scotia Seminary for Negro Girls in Concord, North Carolina college with a scholarship that she won for her passion for learning. During this time Mary grew a bigger passion for educating girls to become leaders in their communities. -
Mary started her own school in Daytona.
Mary McLeod Bethune started her school Daytona Literary and Industrial Training Institute for Negro girls. Mary had only $1.50 and used her resources around her to make pencils, ink, and mattresses. She started with five young girls and her only son. Less than two years later Mary McLeod Bethune had 250 students. -
Mary Bethune merges schools.
Mary McLeod Bethune merged her school with Cookman Institute in Jacksonville Florida. Mary was a well-known respected leader in black education which led to both schools creating a four-year college named Bethune-Cookman college. -
Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women.
Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women. Her mission was to lead, advocate, and empower women of African descent and their families. Her work branched out all over that she became a leader and a voice for the black community. -
Mary McLeod Bethune joins the National Youth Administration.
President Roosevelt invited Mary McLeod Bethune to join the National Youth Administration. Mary Bethune being a special advisor to President FDR allowed her to be an advocate to push rights for African American inclusion and rights. -
Mary McLeod Bethune becomes director of Negros Affairs.
President Roosevelt made Mary McLeod Bethune director of Negro Affairs. As director, Mary employed hundreds of thousands young African American that supported 4,000 students in better education. Mary Bethune was the highest paid African American in government with a $5,000 salary. -
Mary McLeod Bethune names honorary General of Women's Army.
Mary McLeod Bethune was named honorary General of the Women’s Army for National Defense. Mary created a training school while recruiting Black women for army training. She conducted blood drives and war bond drives. Mary Bethune successfully convinced President FDR to end segregation in veteran rehabilitation centers and end violence against Black service members in the South. -
Mary McLeod Bethune dies. (quote)
Mary McLeod Bethune dies in Florida. In her will, she strongly writes the importance of education and rights for everyone. Her legacy continued as she was the first Black woman to have a national monument dedicated to her in the Nation’s Capital. In her honor, places are named after her such as schools, streets, and public parks. "Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough" - Mary McLeod Bethune.