Mary Jane Patterson

Mary Jane Patterson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1840. She became the first African American woman to receive a college degree. She received her degree from Oberlin College in 1862.

Ms. Patterson born into slavery and is the eldest of seven children. Her parents Henry and Emeline Patterson were fugitive slaves. As young child Patterson hoped to one day go to college and get an education.

In 1835, Oberlin accepted their first African American student and two years later became the Americas first coed institution of higher education. The college was also the first one to grant an undergraduate degree to women. These little changes paved the way for Patterson who studied for a year in the colleges Preparatory Department.

Although there were still few African American students in college, Patterson became the first African American woman to earn her bachelors in 1862. Her siblings John, Emma, and Chanie Ann would also graduate from Oberlin to pursue teaching careers.

Patterson taught at the Institute for Colored youth in Philadelphia. Then she accepted a teaching position in Washington D.C at Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. She also became the first African American principal at Preparatory High School for Colored Youth in 1871. She continued her work until her death on September 24, 1894.

Mary Jane Patterson paved the way for African American women to go to college. Because of her, we are all able to seek higher education and become the best version of ourselves we can be. Mary jane Patterson had a dream and worked hard to make her dream come true. Follow your dreams no matter what your struggle is!!