Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955), American educator, born in Mayesville, South Carolina, and educated at Scotia Seminary and the Moody Bible Institute. She taught school in Florida and Georgia from 1897 to 1903, and in 1904 she founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls (now Bethune-Cookman College). From 1904 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1947 she was president of the college. Bethune held many other posts, including those of director of Negro Affairs in the National Youth Administration (1936-44) and consultant to the U.S. secretary of war in the selection of the first female officer candidates for the armed services. She was appointed consultant on interracial affairs and understanding at the charter conference of the United Nations. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women and was a vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.