Mary McLeod Bethune, Educator

"I had no furniture. I begged dry goods boxes and made benches and stools; begged a basin and other things I needed and in 1904 five little girls here started school."
- Mary McLeod Bethune

History Mary McLeod Bethune founded Bethune-Cookman College. Documents Interview with Mary McLeod Bethune, and draft of planned biography. Photos Photographs of Bethune, her family, and her school.

Mary McLeod Bethune founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial School for Negro Girls, now Bethune-Cookman College.  Bethune was active in the fight against racism and served as an unofficial advisor to President Roosevelt.

Daniel Mortimer Williams planned to write a biography of Mary McLeod Bethune.  He conducted several interviews with Mrs. Bethune in the summer of 1946 though the biography was never completed.  The records include photographs, letters and drafts of sections of the biography.  This site highlights selections from this collection.