Mary Jane Patterson
Encyclopedia
Mary Jane Patterson was born September 12, 1840, in Raleigh, North Carolina
. She was the first African American
woman to receive a B.A degree
. She was the oldest of Henry Irving Patterson and Emeline Eliza (Taylor) Patterson's children. There is conflicting data on how many siblings she had, but most sources cite between seven and ten. Henry Patterson worked as a bricklayer and plasterer who gained his freedom, after Mary was born, in 1852. After this, he moved his family north to Ohio. The Pattersons settled in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1856. Oberlin had a large community of black families, some were freed slaves and some were fugitive slaves. Oberlin was popular because it had a racially integrated Co-ed college. Henry Patterson worked as a master mason, and for many years the family boarded large numbers of Black students in their home.
in 1857 for a one year preparatory course. After one year she enrolled in what was called a “gentleman’s” or classical course. At the time, women would take the “ladies” course which gave one a literary certificate not a bachelor’s degree. Patterson’s classmate Emma Brown (a black educator) wrote in a letter on May 27, 1860, quoted by Dorothy Sterling in We Are Your Sisters: Black Woman in the Nineteenth Century, saying:
There are 200 lady students. Quite a number . . . There are very few colored students - that is comparatively speaking . . . There is one colored girl [presumably Mary Jane Patterson] taking a classical course. I have been told that she is a pretty good scholar.
Mary Patterson’s siblings John, Emma, and Chanie Ann all attended Oberlin College as well. Patterson graduated with a B.A. and highest honors from Oberlin. She was the first black woman to graduate from an established college with a four year degree. Eventually, all the Patterson children graduated from Oberlin College and became teachers.
In 1865 Patterson became an assistant to Fanny Jackson Choppin at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia. In 1869 to 1871 Patterson taught in Washington, D. C., at the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth (later named Dunbar High School.) She served as the school's first Black principal, from 1871 to 1872. Patterson was demoted and served as assistant principal under Richard Theodore Greener
, the first black Harvard University graduate. She was reappointed from 1873 to 1884. During her administration, the school grew from less than 50 to 172 students, the name "Preparatory High School" was dropped, high school commencements were initiated, and a teacher-training department was added to the school. Patterson's commitment to thoroughness as well as her "forceful" and "vivacious" personality helped her establish the school's strong intellectual standards. Patterson continued to teach at the High School until her death. While in D.C., Mary Patterson Lived with her sisters, Emma and Chanie, and her brother, John at 1532 Fifteenth Street Northwest. In the Late 1880’s Patterson’s parents came to live with them due to financial difficulties. Neither Mary nor her sisters ever married.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. She was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman to receive a B.A degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. She was the oldest of Henry Irving Patterson and Emeline Eliza (Taylor) Patterson's children. There is conflicting data on how many siblings she had, but most sources cite between seven and ten. Henry Patterson worked as a bricklayer and plasterer who gained his freedom, after Mary was born, in 1852. After this, he moved his family north to Ohio. The Pattersons settled in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1856. Oberlin had a large community of black families, some were freed slaves and some were fugitive slaves. Oberlin was popular because it had a racially integrated Co-ed college. Henry Patterson worked as a master mason, and for many years the family boarded large numbers of Black students in their home.
Education
Mary Jane Patterson enrolled in Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in 1857 for a one year preparatory course. After one year she enrolled in what was called a “gentleman’s” or classical course. At the time, women would take the “ladies” course which gave one a literary certificate not a bachelor’s degree. Patterson’s classmate Emma Brown (a black educator) wrote in a letter on May 27, 1860, quoted by Dorothy Sterling in We Are Your Sisters: Black Woman in the Nineteenth Century, saying:
There are 200 lady students. Quite a number . . . There are very few colored students - that is comparatively speaking . . . There is one colored girl [presumably Mary Jane Patterson] taking a classical course. I have been told that she is a pretty good scholar.
Mary Patterson’s siblings John, Emma, and Chanie Ann all attended Oberlin College as well. Patterson graduated with a B.A. and highest honors from Oberlin. She was the first black woman to graduate from an established college with a four year degree. Eventually, all the Patterson children graduated from Oberlin College and became teachers.
Teaching Career
After graduation Mary Patterson was listed as teaching in Chillocothe, Ohio. September 21, 1864 she applied for a position in Norfolk Virginia at a school for black children. On October 7, 1864 E. H. Fairchild, principal of Oberlin College’s preparatory department from 1853-1869, wrote a recommendation for an “appointment from the American missionary Association as a . . . teacher among freedmen.” In this letter he describer her as “a light quadroon, a graduate of this college, a superior scholar, a good singer, a faithful Christian, and a genteel lady. She had success is teaching and is worthy of the highest . . . you pay to ladies.”In 1865 Patterson became an assistant to Fanny Jackson Choppin at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia. In 1869 to 1871 Patterson taught in Washington, D. C., at the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth (later named Dunbar High School.) She served as the school's first Black principal, from 1871 to 1872. Patterson was demoted and served as assistant principal under Richard Theodore Greener
Richard Theodore Greener
Richard Theodore Greener was the first African-American graduate of Harvard College and dean of the Howard University School of Law....
, the first black Harvard University graduate. She was reappointed from 1873 to 1884. During her administration, the school grew from less than 50 to 172 students, the name "Preparatory High School" was dropped, high school commencements were initiated, and a teacher-training department was added to the school. Patterson's commitment to thoroughness as well as her "forceful" and "vivacious" personality helped her establish the school's strong intellectual standards. Patterson continued to teach at the High School until her death. While in D.C., Mary Patterson Lived with her sisters, Emma and Chanie, and her brother, John at 1532 Fifteenth Street Northwest. In the Late 1880’s Patterson’s parents came to live with them due to financial difficulties. Neither Mary nor her sisters ever married.