Finding aid for the Mary B. Martin Scrapbook
Title:
Mary B. Martin Scrapbook
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Martin, Mary B.
Dates:
1905-1962
Quantity:
0.17 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract:
 Mary Brown Martin was a Cleveland, Ohio, teacher. In 1929, she became the first African-American elected to the Cleveland Board of Education. Martin came to Cleveland from Raleigh, North Carolina in 1886. She received a degree from Western Reserve University in 1903 and began her teaching career in Birmingham, Alabama. Returning to Cleveland, she married attorney Alexander H. Martin in 1905. She died shortly after being elected to a third term on the Board of Education in 1939. An elementary school at East 82nd and Brookline in Cleveland was named in her honor in 1962. The collection consists of newspaper clippings, cards, programs, campaign materials, telegrams, announcements and correspondence, dealing primarily with her election to the Cleveland Board of Education and her death in 1939. Correspondents include members of the Ohio Supreme Court and General Assembly, George Bellamy, and Cuyahoga County Coroner Sam Gerber.
Identification:
MS 4047
Location:
closed stacks
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Mary B. Martin

Mary B. Martin (l877-l939) was the first African American to be elected to the Cleveland Board of Education, serving two terms beginning in 1929. The daughter of former slaves M. Scott and Jane Curtis Brown, she came to Cleveland from Raleigh, North Carolina in 1886. Upon receiving a degree from Western Reserve University in 1903, she began a teaching career in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1905 she returned to Cleveland and married attorney Alexander H. Martin, by whom she had four children. Mrs. Martin died shortly after being elected to a third term on the Board of Education in 1939. In 1962 a new elementary school at 82nd and Brookline in Cleveland was named in her honor.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Mary Brown Martin
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Alexander Martin, Sr.

Scope and Content

The Mary B. Martin Scrapbook, 1905-1906, 1933-1940, 1962, consists of newspaper clippings, cards, programs, campaign materials, telegrams, announcements, and correspondence dealing primarily with her election to the Cleveland Board of Education and her death in 1939.

This collection contains information regarding the life of Mary Brown Martin, primarily her election as the first African American to the Cleveland Board of Education and her death. Correspondents include members of the Ohio Supreme Court and General Assembly, George Bellamy, and Cuyahoga County Coroner Sam Gerber.

Statement of Arrangement

The scrapbook is arranged chronologically and is stored in three folders.

Restrictions on Access

While there are no restrictions on this collection, researchers will be asked to use the microfilm of this collection.

Related Material: Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 5210 Alexander Martin Family Papers; and PG 483 Alexander Martin Family Photographs.


Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

African American teachers -- Ohio -- Cleveland
African American women teachers -- Ohio -- Cleveland
Cleveland Public Schools Board of Education
Martin, Mary Brown, 1877-1939
School board members -- Ohio -- Cleveland
Women in education -- Ohio -- Cleveland

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4047 Mary B. Martin Scrapbook, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Alexander Martin, Jr., in 1972.

Processing Information

Processed by Leslie Solotko in 1987