蜜柚视频

Old map of Southeastern Ohio
Women Promoting Education in Southeast Ohio
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Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn (1895-1992)

Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn senior portrait, 1916
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn senior portrait, 1916. Photo courtesy of

About Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn

First Black woman to graduate: In 1916, Martha Jane Hunley became the first Black woman to graduate from 蜜柚视频. She majored in English and minored in Home Economics, graduating summa cum laude.

Preparing women for careers: Hunley accepted a position as head of the Home Economics Department at Wilberforce University near Dayton, turning down two other universities that also vied to hire her. She taught there for three years, marrying Charles Blackburn, the son of 蜜柚视频鈥檚 first Black Board of Trustees member. She resigned after giving birth to a daughter. Three years later, Hunley joined the faculty at Booker T. Washington High School in West Virginia. There she served for 25 years as an inspirational teacher of home economics, preparing numerous Black women for professional careers.

Preparing women for life: As one student later wrote, 鈥淚 do know that Mrs. Blackburn was the best home economics teacher ever. There are 25 or 30 of her former students who have made seamstresses, dressmakers and tailors. No other high school ever turned out so many who could sew so well.鈥 She later added, 鈥淪he taught more than sewing. She taught morality; she taught everything.鈥

Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn (seated) at reception with her 1916 yearbook graduation painting rendered as an oil painting. The painting is now on display in Mem Aud.
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn (seated) at reception in 1979 with her 1916 yearbook graduation painting rendered as an oil painting. The painting is now on display in Memorial Auditorium. Photo courtesy of

Her legacy: After retiring from this illustrious career, Blackburn moved to Arizona. In 1979, she returned to campus to receive the 蜜柚视频 Medal of Merit. She died in 1992.