# Mary McLeod Bethune

_American educator and civil rights leader (1875-1955)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/mary-mcleod-bethune
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Mary McLeod Bethune was an American educator, philanthropist, humanitarian, womanist, and civil rights activist. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, and proceeded to establish the Aframerican Women's Journal, which was the flagship journal of the organization. She presided over other Black American women's organizations, including the National Association for Colored Women. Shortly after joining the National Youth Administration in 1935, Bethune became the first Black woman to lead a federal agency when she was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the head of a department within the NYA.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 10 July 1875 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Mayesville ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P19))
- **Died:** 18 May 1955 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P570))
- **Place of death:** Daytona Beach ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P27))
- **Occupation:** teacher; journalist; politician; writer; human rights defender; suffragist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P106))
- **Education:** Barber–Scotia College; Moody Bible Institute; Johnson C. Smith University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P69))
- **Positions held:** president (1924–1925); president (1919–1920) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P39))
- **Awards:** Spingarn Medal; National Women's Hall of Fame; Florida Women's Hall of Fame ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068#P166))

## Questions

**When was Mary McLeod Bethune born?**  
Mary McLeod Bethune was born on 10 July 1875 in Mayesville.

**What positions has Mary McLeod Bethune held?**  
Positions held by Mary McLeod Bethune include: president (1924–1925); president (1919–1920).

**Where did Mary McLeod Bethune study?**  
Mary McLeod Bethune was educated at Barber–Scotia College, Moody Bible Institute, Johnson C. Smith University.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Mary McLeod Bethune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_McLeod_Bethune) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q291068](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291068) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, c1910.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Jane_McLeod_Bethune,_c1910.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Mary McLeod Bethune, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, c1910.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Mary McLeod Bethune". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/mary-mcleod-bethune. Retrieved 7 November 2026.