Merze Tate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Merze Tate
Born	Vernie Merze Tate (1905-02-06)February 6, 1905 Blanchard, Michigan
Died	June 27, 1996(1996-06-27) (aged 91) Washington, D.C.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Western Michigan Teachers College University of Oxford; Harvard University
Occupation	Academic, educator

Vernie Merze Tate (February 6, 1905 – June 27, 1996) was an amazing professor and expert in how countries deal with each other (called diplomacy). She broke many barriers for African-American women.

Merze Tate was the first African-American graduate of Western Michigan Teachers College. She was also the first African-American woman to study at the famous University of Oxford. Later, she became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University in government and international relations. She was also one of the first two women to join the history department at Howard University.

Early Life and School Days

Merze Tate was born on February 6, 1905. She grew up in a small town called Blanchard, Michigan. Her family had moved to Michigan from Ohio. They received land through the Homestead Act, which helped people get land to farm.

Merze started school at Rolland Township Elementary School. This school was on land owned by her family. When she was 13, she went to Blanchard High School. A fire destroyed this school, so students had to learn in temporary classrooms. Because of this, students graduated after only the tenth grade. Merze Tate was the youngest person in her class. She was also the only African-American graduate. She was chosen as the valedictorian, which means she was the top student.

However, graduating after tenth grade was not enough for college. So, Merze enrolled at Battle Creek High School. She earned straight A's there. Even though she was only there for two years, she won the Hynman Oratorical Contest. This award came with $50. After high school, Merze applied to Western State Teachers College. She received a scholarship that paid for her tuition.

Higher Education and Career

After finishing her teacher's training, Merze Tate taught at an elementary school. This school was in Cass County, Michigan. While teaching, she kept learning through special courses. She then went back to Western Michigan to finish her Bachelor of Arts degree. She completed it in just three years. She also had the highest grades among all her classmates. In 1927, she became the first African-American to earn a bachelor's degree from that school. She was also chosen for a special honor society in social science.

Even with her excellent grades, Merze found it hard to get a job in Michigan. At that time, Michigan schools would not hire African-American teachers for high schools. But with help from Western Michigan, she found a teaching job. She taught at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.

While teaching, Merze also worked on her master's degree part-time. In 1932, she won a scholarship from Alpha Kappa Alpha. This scholarship allowed her to study at Oxford University in England. She earned a degree in International Relations in 1935. She was the first African-American woman to become a member of Oxford University. Later, she earned her Ph.D. from Harvard University.

In 1936, she became the head of the history and social science department. This was at Bennett College for women in North Carolina. She taught there for four years. She also spent a year at what is now Morgan State University. There, she taught political science and was the dean of women. After that, she joined the faculty at Howard University.

Merze Tate in 1982

Later in her life, Merze Tate traveled all over the world. She also wrote articles for an African-American newspaper. She visited the White House every year. She even met with Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady. She also attended the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. From 1950 to 1951, she was a Fulbright Scholar in India.

In 1964, she wrote about how nuclear testing affected people. This was about the people living in the Marshall Islands. Merze Tate also designed and patented a special refrigerator mixing unit.

Awards and Honors

Merze Tate received many awards for her important work:

• American Historical Association Award for Scholarly Distinction, 1991
• Inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, 1991
• Distinguished Alumnus Award, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 1981
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Western Michigan University, 1970
• Graduate Society Award, Harvard and Radcliffe, 1954

Her Lasting Legacy

Merze Tate's impact continues to be felt today:

• The Merze Tate Prize is given for the best article in historical international relations. This award is from the International Studies Association.
• The Merze Tate Award is given for the best Ph.D. paper in international relations, law, and politics. This award is from the American Political Science Association.
• The Merze Tate Explorers started in 2008. This project helps girls in grades 6-12 learn new skills. It was founded by Sonya Bernard-Hollins.
• The Merze Tate Grant and Innovation Center is at Western Michigan University. It is part of the College of Education and Human Development.
• The Merze Tate Student Education Endowment Fund helps students at Western Michigan University. Merze Tate herself started it with a $1 million donation.
• The Merze Tate Room at Oxford's Faculty of History building is named in her honor.