Anne Marie Becraft facts for kids
Anne Marie Becraft, OSP (1805 – December 16, 1833) was an American teacher and nun. She was one of the first African-American nuns in the Catholic Church. Anne Marie started a school for black girls in Washington, D.C. Later, she joined the Oblate Sisters of Providence.
Her Life Story
Early Life and Schooling
Anne Marie Becraft was born in 1805. Her parents, William and Sara Becraft, were free Black Catholics. They were well-known in their community.
Anne Marie was the oldest of seven children. She started school at age four. This was at the Potter School in Washington, D.C.. In 1812, she had to leave because of racial problems. Becraft then went to another school called New Georgetown. This school closed in 1820. At that time, people did not want White people teaching Black students.
When she was 15, Becraft opened her own school. It was a day school for girls. The school was in a house on Dunbarton Street in Georgetown. About 35 girls attended her school. These girls came from important Black families. They were from Georgetown, Washington, and nearby areas.
Her school became known as the Georgetown Seminary. It was an academy for students who lived there and those who came for the day. It was one of the first schools for girls in the area. Becraft ran the school for eight years. In 1831, she moved to Baltimore. She joined the Oblate Sisters of Providence there. This was the first Catholic religious group for African-American women. Ellen Simonds took over the school after Becraft left.
Life as a Nun
On September 8, 1832, Becraft became a nun. She took the religious name Sister Aloysius. The next year, she made her vows. She became the 11th sister to join the Oblates. Sister Aloysius was a teaching nun. She taught her students subjects like math, English, and embroidery.
Her Death
Since she was 15, Becraft had a long-term chest problem. In 1833, she became very ill. She was taken to the order's hospital. Anne Marie Becraft died on December 16, 1833. She was 28 years old. She was buried in Baltimore's Old Cathedral Cemetery.
Her Impact
On April 18, 2017, Georgetown University honored Anne Marie Becraft. They renamed a building after her. It was called Remembrance Hall before. The building was originally named for Fr. William McSherry. He was involved in a difficult event from 1838.
The dedication of Anne Marie Becraft Hall was a special event. Georgetown president John DeGioia attended. Students, leaders, and Becraft's family members were also there. Anne Marie Becraft Hall is the first building at Georgetown University named after an African-American woman.
Marcia Chatelain is a professor at Georgetown. She said Becraft was "a very religious Catholic." She was also "deeply committed to educating young girls of color." Becraft faced challenges because she was Catholic and Black. But she still followed her calling to teach and serve God.
An 1870 report about schools in Washington, D.C. remembered Becraft. It said she was "a woman of rare kindness." She was also "graceful and charming." The report noted she was "gifted, well educated, and fully dedicated to doing good."
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