Mary Elizabeth Branch

Mary Elizabeth Branch (May 29, 1881 – 1944) was an educator who served as president of Tillotson College. She helped it grow and develop. A Black American female, she was an influential leader.

Early life and education

Branch was born on May 29, 1881, in Farmville, Virginia, to formerly enslaved parents Tazewell Branch and Harriet Branch. Her father served two terms the Virginia House of Delegates. Both her parents were literate, and taught Mary at home, though she also attended school. After high school she earned her teaching degree at Virginia State University, and taught at an elementary school in Blackstone, Virginia.[1]

Professional career

Branch returned to Virginia State College to teach; she stayed there for twenty years, and at the same time earned a BA (1922) and then an MA (1925) from the University of Chicago.[1]

After Virginia State College, Branch became a dean at Vashon High School in St Louis. After that she became president at Tillotson College in Austin, Texas, where she stayed until retirement. The college had seen enrollment decline, and the year before Branch's arrival it was demoted to a junior college for women. Branch had new buildings built and existing ones renovated. The library was enlarged, and so was the number of teachers.[2] With a successful recruitment strategy, aided by her ability to raise funds, she managed to grow enrollment from less than 150 in 1930 to 500. She also strengthened ties with the community.[3]

After five years, Tillotson became a co-ed four-year college and joined the American Association of Colleges. Branch was the first and only African American female president of an institution in this Association. In 1944, she assisted in establishing the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and served as President of the Austine chapter. She died in 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland. Branch was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. [4]

Awards

In 1935, Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to the National Youth's Administration's Negro Advisory Board for Texas. At her alma mater, Virginia State University named a residence after Branch. Branch was awarded degrees of honor from Virginia State College and Howard University.[5]

See also

References
  1. Howard, Judy (2018-09-30). "Mary Elizabeth Branch (1881-1944)". Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  2. Glasrud, Bruce A.; Pitre, Merline (2008-03-03). Black Women in Texas History. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-60344-031-8.
  3. Ohles, Frederik; Ohles, Shirley G.; Ohles, Shirley M.; Ramsay, John G. (1997). Biographical Dictionary of Modern American Educators. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-29133-3.
  4. "Southeastern Region Meets at Tuskegee: Theme The Alpha Kappa Alpha woman and racial responsibility". The Ivy Leaf. 16 (2): 25. 1938.
  5. "Mary Elizabeth Branch". Women in Texas History. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
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