Mary McLeod Bethune was born in Mayesville, South Carolina on July 10, 1875. She was one of 17 children, born to former slaves Samuel and Patsy McLeod. Mary worked in cotton fields with her family. She married Albertus Bethune and they had a son.
Mary attended Mayesville Presbyterian Mission School, Scotia Seminary and the Moody Bible Institute. On August 27, 1935 Mary founded the National Council of Negro Women. She founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls in 1904, and was their president from 1904-1942 and 1946-1947.
She was a leader in the black women’s club movement; she was president of the National Association of Colored Women. She served as a delegate and advisor to national conferences on education, child welfare and home ownership.
Mary was Director of Negro Affairs in the National Youth Administration from 1936-1944. She was a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of War, first selection of female officer candidates. Mary was appointed consultant on interracial affairs and understanding at the charter conference of the U.N.
She was vice-president of the NAACP and was awarded Haiti’s highest award of the Haitian Medal of Honor and Merit. She also received the honor of Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa in Liberia.
