Mary Frances Early
Encyclopedia
Mary Frances Early was the first African-American to earn a degree from the University of Georgia
.
Mary Early was born in Atlanta, Georgia
, attended Atlanta's Turner High School and went on to graduate from Clark College (later Clark Atlanta University
) with a bachelor's degree
in Music Education in 1957. She began her postgraduate work at the University of Michigan
then enrolled at the University of Georgia in 1961 receiving her master’s degree (MMEd) in music education in 1962. She also earned an Ed.S. degree in music education in 1967 from Georgia.
During Early's career she spent time as a music teacher, a planning and development coordinator, an elementary division curriculum specialist, and a music resource teacher at various schools, including John Hope Elementary, Wesley Avenue Elementary Schools and Coan Middle School. In addition, she worked as an adjunct professor at Morehouse
and Spelman
colleges and as a music coordinator and supervisor of Atlanta Public Schools
. She became the first African-American president of the Georgia Music Educators Association in 1981. As of 2003, Early was the head of the music department at Clark Atlanta University.
Early's awards include the STAR Teacher Award, Coan Middle School, 1972; Benjamin E. Mays Black Music Heritage Award, 1995; University of Georgia Outstanding Alumna Award, 2000; and the Foot Soldier for Equal Justice (University of Georgia) Award. In light of this attention, she said, "It wasn't in our vocabulary to think that people were good or bad because of their skin color, so I was just sort of taken aback that it became a big issue later in my life."
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
Mary Early was born in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, attended Atlanta's Turner High School and went on to graduate from Clark College (later Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
) with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Music Education in 1957. She began her postgraduate work at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
then enrolled at the University of Georgia in 1961 receiving her master’s degree (MMEd) in music education in 1962. She also earned an Ed.S. degree in music education in 1967 from Georgia.
During Early's career she spent time as a music teacher, a planning and development coordinator, an elementary division curriculum specialist, and a music resource teacher at various schools, including John Hope Elementary, Wesley Avenue Elementary Schools and Coan Middle School. In addition, she worked as an adjunct professor at Morehouse
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
and Spelman
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
colleges and as a music coordinator and supervisor of Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is a school district based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. APS is run by the Atlanta Board of Education with interim superintendent Erroll Davis...
. She became the first African-American president of the Georgia Music Educators Association in 1981. As of 2003, Early was the head of the music department at Clark Atlanta University.
Early's awards include the STAR Teacher Award, Coan Middle School, 1972; Benjamin E. Mays Black Music Heritage Award, 1995; University of Georgia Outstanding Alumna Award, 2000; and the Foot Soldier for Equal Justice (University of Georgia) Award. In light of this attention, she said, "It wasn't in our vocabulary to think that people were good or bad because of their skin color, so I was just sort of taken aback that it became a big issue later in my life."
External links
- 40th Anniversary of the Desegregation of the University of Georgia, January 9, 2001
- Athens Banner Herald article on Mary Frances Early
- Picture of Mary Frances Early
- New Georgia Encyclopedia:Mary Frances Early
- The University of Georgia College of Education 2003 Magazine
- http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/010901/uga_0109010001.shtml
- Georgia Encyclopedia
- http://www.footsoldier.uga.edu/foot_soldiers/early.html