{"id":7,"date":"2023-08-04T15:51:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T15:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2023-09-07T13:52:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T13:52:09","slug":"firstblackstudents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/firstblackstudents\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Were the First Black Students at Mount Holyoke?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1845 the Trustees voted not to admit Black women to Mount Holyoke. While Mary Lyon received letters of protest, she never took a public stand on slavery or the education of Black women.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mount Holyoke did not openly admit Black students until the mid 1900s. The first Black students were admitted without their race being known. Until the 1950s, there were usually only a couple Black students on campus at a time and in many years there were none. By 1950, only 23 African American students had graduated from Mount Holyoke.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The early Black graduates of the Seven Sisters colleges were generally light-skinned and\/or came from prominent families whose parents had received higher education. Both of these factors served to mitigate their racial \u2018otherness\u2019. These students still faced the struggle of being a minority on a predominantly white campus however.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite this, Black students at Mount Holyoke are and always have been active, integral, and full members of the Mount Holyoke community, both excelling in academics and being leaders in campus organizations. Of the Black women who attended Mount Holyoke before the 1960s, almost all said that they would attend the institution again and many had daughters or other family members attend.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1973, a History 265 class called \u201cBlack and White Americans,&#8221; interviewed and researched Black alumnae. This section highlights some of the alumnae who were interviewed, showing how they felt and experienced their time at MHC between 1878-1958. While no one thing can define the history and legacy of the Black community at Mount Holyoke, these alumnae all demonstrate the leadership, community, activism, and achievement that defines a Mount Holyoke education.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Click on the images below to learn more about each student<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/hortense-parker-1883\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1995\" data-id=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-1024x798.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-768x599.jpg 768w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-1536x1197.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801-2048x1596.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hortense Parker, 1883<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/martha-rolston-1898\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1546\" height=\"2170\" data-id=\"33\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001.jpg 1546w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001-730x1024.jpg 730w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001-768x1078.jpg 768w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001-1094x1536.jpg 1094w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0001-1459x2048.jpg 1459w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1546px) 100vw, 1546px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Martha Rolston, 1898<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/frances-williams-1919\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"739\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"52\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-copy-cropped-739x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-copy-cropped-739x1024.jpg 739w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-copy-cropped-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-copy-cropped.jpg 744w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Frances William, 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/alice-elizabeth-stubbs-1926\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"905\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"48\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-copy-cropped-905x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-copy-cropped-905x1024.jpg 905w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-copy-cropped-265x300.jpg 265w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-copy-cropped-768x869.jpg 768w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-copy-cropped.jpg 981w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 905px) 100vw, 905px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alice Elizabeth Stubbs, 1926<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/miriam-iris-cunningham-1932\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"651\" height=\"841\" data-id=\"43\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-cropped.jpg 651w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0002-cropped-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 651px) 100vw, 651px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Miriam Iris Cunningham, 1932<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/laura-lee-spencer-1936\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"751\" height=\"822\" data-id=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-cropped.jpg 751w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0003-cropped-274x300.jpg 274w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Laura Lee Spencer, 1936<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/frances-monroe-king-1942\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1372\" height=\"973\" data-id=\"38\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0004.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0004.jpg 1372w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0004-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0004-1024x726.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0004-768x545.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1372px) 100vw, 1372px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Frances Monroe King, 1942<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/vida-h-timbers-carson-1945\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"949\" height=\"1354\" data-id=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0005.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0005.jpg 949w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0005-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0005-718x1024.jpg 718w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0005-768x1096.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 949px) 100vw, 949px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vida H. Timbers Carson, 1945<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/eleanor-m-milton-johnson-1946\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1023\" height=\"1376\" data-id=\"30\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0006.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0006.jpg 1023w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0006-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0006-761x1024.jpg 761w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0006-768x1033.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eleanor M. Milton Johnson, 1946<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/carolyn-h-howard-french-1947\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"853\" height=\"1381\" data-id=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-copy.jpg 853w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-copy-185x300.jpg 185w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-copy-632x1024.jpg 632w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-copy-768x1243.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carolyn H. Howard French, 1947<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/katherine-butler-jones-1957\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1210\" height=\"1540\" data-id=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0008.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0008.jpg 1210w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0008-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0008-805x1024.jpg 805w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0008-768x977.jpg 768w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0008-1207x1536.jpg 1207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1210px) 100vw, 1210px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Katherine Butler Jones, 1957<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/margaret-claytor-woodbury-1958\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"834\" height=\"932\" data-id=\"31\" src=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-31\" srcset=\"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007.jpg 834w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-268x300.jpg 268w, https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/890\/2023\/08\/HollyExhibit20230801_0007-768x858.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 834px) 100vw, 834px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Margaret Claytor Woodbury, 1958, Trustee 1985-1997<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1845 the Trustees voted not to admit Black women to Mount Holyoke. While Mary Lyon received letters of protest, she never took a public stand on slavery or the education of Black women.&nbsp; Mount Holyoke did not openly admit Black students until the mid 1900s. The first Black students were admitted without their race [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2199,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-nosidebar.php","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":686,"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions\/686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/blackhistoryatmhc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}