Raleigh, North Carolina (September 12, 1840 – September 24, 1894) age 54 yrs

Mary Jane Patterson, born enslaved, was the first African American woman to earn a bachelor’s degree in the United States. In 1862, at Oberlin College in Ohio, she stood at a podium and delivered her graduation speech. Despite societal norms, she took the “gentleman’s course” of study, which included Latin, Greek, and mathematics. Her determination and academic prowess led her to graduate with high honors. Afterward, she continued her journey as an educator, teaching in Ohio and later moving to Virginia and Philadelphia. In 1871, she became the first Black principal of her school. She broke barriers and left an indelible mark on history. Patterson was a humanitarian. She was active in many organizations and devoted time and money to Black institutions in Washington, D.C. In 1865 she became an assistant to Fanny Jackson Coppin at the Philadelphia’s institute for Colored Youth. She is known as a pioneer in Black education by paving the way for other Black female educators.