Mary Henrietta Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Henrietta Graham
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| Born | 1857 or 1858 Windsor, Ontario, Province of Canada
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| Died | January 2, 1890 Chicago, Illinois, US
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| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Known for | Being first American Descendants of Slavery woman to be admitted to, as well as the first biracial person to graduate from, the University of Michigan |
| Spouse(s) | Ferdinand Lee Barnett (m. 1882) |
Mary Henrietta Graham was a very important woman who lived from 1857 or 1858 to 1890. She made history at the University of Michigan. Mary was the first African American woman to be accepted there. She was also the first biracial person to graduate from this well-known university.
Early Life and Family
Mary Graham was born in Windsor, Ontario, which is in Canada. Her mother, Sarah, was white and from England. Her father, Levi, was black and from Illinois in the United States. This meant Mary was biracial.
She was the second oldest of at least four children in her family. At some point when she was young, Mary and her family moved to Flint, Michigan. She finished high school there in 1876. Friends and family often called her "Mollie."
Education and Career
In 1880, Mary achieved a great milestone. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a special degree. It was a Bachelor's of Philosophy in Literature. While she was studying in Ann Arbor, she lived at 10 Maynard Street.
After she graduated, Mary became a teacher. She got a job at Lincoln University in Jefferson, Missouri. This was a big step for her career.
Later Life and Family
In 1882, Mary Graham got married. Her husband was Ferdinand Lee Barnett. He was a journalist, a lawyer, and a civil rights activist. This means he worked hard to make sure everyone had fair rights.
Mary and Ferdinand lived in Chicago. They worked together on Ferdinand's newspaper. It was called The Chicago Conservator. This newspaper was very important because it was the first newspaper in Chicago made by and for black people. Mary and Ferdinand had two sons. Their names were Ferdinand L., born in 1884, and Albert Graham Barnett.
Mary Graham passed away in Chicago on January 2, 1890. She died from heart disease. An obituary, which is a notice about someone's death, said she was in the "prime of useful vigorous life." It also said she was a woman of "highest moral integrity" and had "splendid ability and brilliant promise." After Mary's death, her husband Ferdinand later married another famous civil rights activist, Ida B. Wells, in 1895.
Lasting Legacy
Mary Henrietta Graham left an important mark. In 2017, students at the University of Michigan wanted to honor her. They suggested changing the name of a building to Mary Graham's name. They even put a temporary sign with her name over the existing sign.
In 2018, the university decided to remove the old name from the building. Now, the building is simply known by its address, 1100 North University. This change helps remember Mary Graham's important place in the university's history.
