Mary Emmeline Godfrey was an artist and art educator who became the first full-time African-American faculty member at Penn State University.
14 Facts About Mary Godfrey
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Mary Godfrey was hired in 1957 and served as an assistant professor of art education until her retirement in 1979.
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Mary Godfrey held this post for 22 years, teaching courses in elementary and secondary art education, supervision, the history of art education, and introduction to crafts.
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Mary Godfrey researched the design of art classrooms, studying Pennsylvania art education laboratories, art rooms, and facilities for junior high schools.
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Mary Godfrey's artwork was exhibited in both Pennsylvania and Virginia.
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Mary Godfrey was born on July 3,1913, in the small southern town of Charlotte Court House, Virginia, and was one of eight children of Henry B Godfrey and Louise Godfrey.
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One of her sisters, Ruth Mary Godfrey Gibson, was a skilled quilter and needleworker.
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Mary Godfrey's family had a farm in Charlotte Court House and a house in New York City, where her father had a business.
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Mary Godfrey entered the Pratt Institute Department of Teacher Training in Art Education in 1933, at the age of 20, and received a teaching certificate in 1937.
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The coursework Mary Godfrey received during her four years was equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
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Mary Godfrey was qualified to teach all phases of art in public and private school from elementary to the college level in any state.
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Mary Godfrey continued her education and received a master's degree in Art Education from Columbia University Teachers College in 1947.
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Mary Godfrey's job was to supervise the Black schools in the state and to promote art education.
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Mary Godfrey retired in 1979 after 22 years of service to The Pennsylvania State University.