Myrtle Craig Mowbray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Myrtle Craig Mowbray
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| Born | March 16, 1883 |
| Died | November 8, 1974 (aged 91) |
| Education | George R. Smith College Michigan Agricultural College |
| Employer | Western University, Lincoln Institute, Sumner High School |
Myrtle Craig Mowbray (born March 16, 1883 – died November 8, 1974) was a very important African-American woman. She made history as the first African-American woman to graduate from the Michigan Agricultural College in 1907. This college is now known as Michigan State University. After college, she became a dedicated schoolteacher and a professor. She taught at two special colleges for Black students in Kansas and Missouri. Today, a scholarship program at Michigan State University is named in her honor. It is called the Mowbray Scholars Program.
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Her Early Life
Myrtle Craig Mowbray was born in a town called Adrian, Michigan. Her father worked as a messenger for the secretary of state in Lansing. Lansing is the capital city of Michigan. Before she went to college in East Lansing, she graduated from George R. Smith College. This college was in Sedalia, Missouri. For one year, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Missouri.
College Days at Michigan Agricultural College
Myrtle Craig's father convinced her to attend the Michigan Agricultural College (M.A.C.). She chose M.A.C. instead of the University of Michigan. Myrtle worked very hard to pay for her education. She waited tables and took on other jobs to earn money. She did not live in the Women's Building on campus. This was likely because she needed to work to afford her studies.
She first lived with the family of Addison M. Brown. He was a secretary for the State Board of Agriculture. Myrtle worked as a cook for his family. Later, she lived with the family of a professor named Chance Newman. After that, she moved to Lansing.
Myrtle was one of only four African-American students at the college. She was the only African-American woman in her class. There were only 15 women in her graduating class of 1907. Even though there were few Black students, she felt accepted. She said, "I didn't feel any different because of my race." She also mentioned that she was too busy working to join sororities. During her studies, she was involved with the A.M.E. Church in Lansing. She received her diploma on May 31, 1907. The president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, gave her the diploma. He was the speaker at her graduation ceremony.
Her Teaching Career
After graduating from Michigan Agricultural College, Myrtle Craig spent the next forty years teaching. She taught African-American young people in Kansas and Missouri. From 1907 to 1910, she taught at Western University. This school was in Quindaro, Kansas.
Then, for two years, she taught domestic art at Lincoln Institute. This was in Jefferson City, Missouri. Domestic art includes skills like sewing and cooking. In 1911, she showed her work at the Missouri State Fair. She won a blue ribbon and other awards for her domestic arts projects.
After that, she taught for three years at Sumner High School. This school was in Kansas City, Kansas. She returned to teach at Lincoln Institute from 1917 to 1922. From 1922 to 1934, she taught elementary school in Fulton, Missouri. Finally, she taught at Lincoln Institute again from 1934 until 1947.
Her Personal Life
Myrtle Craig got married to Rev. W.H. Bowen in 1915. Later, she married George H. Mowbray in 1951. She passed away on November 8, 1974. At that time, she was living in Kansas City, Missouri.
