Maria Louise Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Maria Louise Baldwin was an African American
educator and civic leader born in Cambridge
, Massachusetts
.
Baldwin was born to Peter L. and Mary E. Baldwin, and received all of her education in Cambridge’s schools. In 1874, Baldwin graduated from Cambridge High School
, and a year later she graduated from the Cambridge training school for teachers.
Baldwin first taught in Chestertown, Maryland
for two years. In 1881, Baldwin was hired as primary grade teacher in [Grammar School of Cambridge. In 1889, Baldwin became principal of the school. In 1916, as a new Agassiz school was erected to include higher grades, Baldwin was made master, supervised twelve teachers and five hundred students, all whites. She was one of only two women in the Cambridge school system who held the position of master and the only African American in New England
to hold such a position.
Baldwin served as master of Agassiz school for forty years. Under her leadership, the school of Agassiz became one of the best in the city, attended by children of Harvard professors and many of the old Cambridge families. She introduced new methods of teaching mathematics and began art classes. She was the first to introduce the practice of hiring a school nurse. Her school was the only one in the city of Cambridge to establish an “open-air” classroom. One of her students, poet e.e. cummings described her thus in his book Six Nonlectures:
Baldwin was always a student. She took many classes at Harvard University
and other colleges. She also was an instructor who taught summer courses for teachers at Hampton institution in Virginia
and the Institute for colored Youth in Cheyney, Pennsylvania
.
She belonged to enormous civic and educational organizations including the Twentieth Century Club, the Cantabrigia Club, the Boston Ethical Society, and the league of women for Community Service. She lectured widely and spoke throughout the country on such luminaries as George Washington
, Abraham Lincoln
, and Thomas Jefferson
and on such themes as women’s suffrage, poverty
, and history
. While she was addressing the council of the Robert Gould Shaw house Association at the Copley Plaza Hotel
in Boston
, on January 9, 1922, Baldwin collapsed and died suddenly of heart disease
.
On February 12, 2004, Agassiz School was officially renamed the Maria L. Baldwin School.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
educator and civic leader born in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Baldwin was born to Peter L. and Mary E. Baldwin, and received all of her education in Cambridge’s schools. In 1874, Baldwin graduated from Cambridge High School
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School is a public high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.The school, serving grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Cambridge Public Schools....
, and a year later she graduated from the Cambridge training school for teachers.
Baldwin first taught in Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
for two years. In 1881, Baldwin was hired as primary grade teacher in [Grammar School of Cambridge. In 1889, Baldwin became principal of the school. In 1916, as a new Agassiz school was erected to include higher grades, Baldwin was made master, supervised twelve teachers and five hundred students, all whites. She was one of only two women in the Cambridge school system who held the position of master and the only African American in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to hold such a position.
Baldwin served as master of Agassiz school for forty years. Under her leadership, the school of Agassiz became one of the best in the city, attended by children of Harvard professors and many of the old Cambridge families. She introduced new methods of teaching mathematics and began art classes. She was the first to introduce the practice of hiring a school nurse. Her school was the only one in the city of Cambridge to establish an “open-air” classroom. One of her students, poet e.e. cummings described her thus in his book Six Nonlectures:
"Miss Baldwin, the dark lady mentioned in my first nonlecture (and a lady if ever a lady existed) was blessed with a delicious voice, charming manners, and a deep understanding of children. Never did any demidivine dictator more gracefully and easily rule a more unruly and less graceful populace. Her very presence emanated an hour and a glory: the honour of spiritual freedom—not mere freedom from—and the glory of being, not (like most extant mortals) really undead but actually alive. From her I marvellingly learned that the truest power is gentleness."
Baldwin was always a student. She took many classes at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and other colleges. She also was an instructor who taught summer courses for teachers at Hampton institution in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the Institute for colored Youth in Cheyney, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
She belonged to enormous civic and educational organizations including the Twentieth Century Club, the Cantabrigia Club, the Boston Ethical Society, and the league of women for Community Service. She lectured widely and spoke throughout the country on such luminaries as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and on such themes as women’s suffrage, poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. While she was addressing the council of the Robert Gould Shaw house Association at the Copley Plaza Hotel
Copley Plaza Hotel
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel is a Forbes three-star, AAA four-diamond hotel in downtown Boston, Massachusetts owned by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. It stands on Copley Square, by the John Hancock Tower.-Construction and opening:...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, on January 9, 1922, Baldwin collapsed and died suddenly of heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
.
On February 12, 2004, Agassiz School was officially renamed the Maria L. Baldwin School.
See also
- Maria Baldwin HouseMaria Baldwin HouseThe Maria Baldwin House is a National Historic Landmark located at 196 Prospect Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. It is a private home, and not open to the public....