Deborah Wolfe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe
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| Born |
Olive Deborah Juanita Cannon
December 22, 1916 |
| Died | September 3, 2004 (aged 87) |
| Alma mater | New Jersey City University Columbia University |
| Occupation | Minister Educator Education Chief of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor |
| Employer | Tuskegee University University of Pennsylvania Queens College First Baptist Church of Cranford, New Jersey |
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe (born December 22, 1916 – died September 3, 2004) was an amazing African American woman. She was a teacher, a minister, and even worked for the United States government. She was the Education Chief for a special committee in the United States House of Representatives.
Deborah Wolfe called herself a "teacher and preacher." She achieved many great things in her life. She helped change how people thought about education. She also bravely broke down barriers related to race and gender.
Contents
Growing Up
Deborah Wolfe was born Olive Deborah Juanita Cannon on December 22, 1916. Her parents were Reverend David Wadsworth and Gertrude Moody Cannon. They lived in Cranford, New Jersey. Her father was a pastor at the First Baptist Church. He also served as a chaplain in World War I. After being hurt in the war, he could no longer preach.
Her mother, Mrs. Cannon, then became the main support for the family. She had a degree and worked as a teacher and social worker. She also fought for women's rights, like the right to vote. Deborah's parents taught her to respect herself and others. They also showed her that education could help change people's unfair ideas.
Deborah went to public schools in Cranford. These schools had both Black and white students. But she still faced unfair treatment because of her race. She was a great student at Cranford High School. She joined many clubs, like the National Honor Society. She also played tennis and basketball.
Her Education Journey
Deborah Wolfe earned three advanced degrees. She got her first degree from New Jersey City University. Then she earned two more degrees from Columbia University.
College Days
Deborah dreamed of going to Oberlin College. It was known for being open to women and African Americans. But in 1929, the Great Depression started. Money became very tight for her family. So, she went to New Jersey State Teachers College instead. It was much more affordable.
She traveled to school by train and worked many jobs to pay for her studies. She taught piano, tutored other students, and worked in the cafeteria. She even worked as a secretary for her professors. In the summer, she helped set up programs for children of migrant workers in Maryland. This experience later inspired her work in rural education.
Deborah also spent a summer working for world peace. During her last two years of college, she was the principal and a teacher at an adult night school. She organized classes and led teacher meetings. This helped her learn how to lead groups in a fair and democratic way. She graduated in 1937 with a degree in Social Studies Education.
Advanced Degrees
After college, Deborah went to Columbia University’s Teachers College. She earned her Master's degree in Rural Education in 1938. Her professors encouraged her to join Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society for educators. She later returned to Columbia University. She earned her Ph.D. in 1945. Her special research was about improving schools in rural areas.
A Career in Education
Deborah Wolfe taught at the Tuskegee Institute from 1938 to 1950. She was a principal there. She also led the Elementary Education Department. She directed the Graduate Studies Program too. In this role, she trained teachers to work in rural schools. She made sure they did strong research for their Master's degrees.
In 1944, Deborah attended a summer program at Vassar College. There, she met First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Deborah was very inspired by Mrs. Roosevelt. She felt that the First Lady "really cared about all people" and was not prejudiced.
In 1950, Deborah left Tuskegee. She then worked at several different places. She studied at the University of Pennsylvania. She also became a Professor of Education at Queens College. She was the first African American professor at Queens College. She became a permanent professor there in 1954. At Queens College, she helped with student admissions. She also directed a program for students to study in Africa.
She stayed at Queens College until 1962. Then she took a big job in Washington, D.C. She became the Education Chief for the Committee on Education and Labor. This committee was part of the United States House of Representatives. While working there, she also studied religion at the Union Theological Seminary and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
As Education Chief, Deborah worked with the Kennedy Administration. She helped create important new education laws. Her work led to programs like Head Start, which helps young children. She also helped create financial aid for college students. Her efforts also supported community colleges and modern job training programs. She helped pass laws like the Economic Opportunity Act (the War on Poverty) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Deborah left her role as Education Chief in 1965. Her son was graduating from high school, and she wanted to be there for him. She went back to Queens College. There, she continued to be very involved in school groups and committees.
Later Life and Legacy
Deborah Wolfe was married twice. First, to Henry Roy Partridge in 1940. Later, to Alvis Wolfe in 1959.
In the 1960s, Deborah was very active in the Civil Rights Movement. She had always fought for the rights of African Americans. Even after retiring from teaching, she stayed involved. She was a member of the NAACP. She was also a leader in the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She marched in Washington, D.C., and was close to Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
In 1970, Deborah Wolfe made history again. She was the first African American woman to become a minister in the American Baptist Church. Starting in 1975, she served as an associate minister. She worked at the same First Baptist Church in Cranford, New Jersey, where her father had been a pastor.
She continued to be involved with many important groups. She was president of the National Alliance for Black School Educators. She also served on boards for education in New Jersey. She was the first person to serve on both the New Jersey State Board of Education and the State Board of Higher Education at the same time. She was also involved with the United Nations.
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe passed away on September 3, 2004. She received many awards and twenty-six honorary doctorate degrees. Several schools and buildings are named in her honor. These include a high school at the Tuskegee Institute and a building at Cranford High School, where she once was a student. Her important papers are kept at the Schlesinger Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Images for kids
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Deborah Wolfe posing for a portrait in red and white robs, wearing a golden cross, hands crossed in her lap.
