This Noble Woman

June 15, 2018
An introduction to the life of Myrtilla Miner, a white woman who made groundbreaking achievements in education for African-American girls.Born in poverty in 1815 to New York farmers, Miner was an unhealthy child who worked hard on the family farm. As she pursued schooling, she noticed stark differences in the education of girls versus that of boys. More interested in academics than homemaking, she became passionate about women's right to equal education, writing letters to the governor of New York demanding change. An abolitionist and feminist, she accepted a teaching appointment in Mississippi with the goal of learning more about slavery and possible solutions. The horrors of slavery that she witnessed there and her disgust with the moral hypocrisy of slaveholders affected her greatly and ultimately determined her life's work. Moving to Washington, D.C., she opened her School for Colored Girls in 1851, working to impart a high-quality education as well as ladylike manners. The school carried on in various forms, later becoming the Miner Teachers College, now part of Howard University. The text draws heavily on direct quotations from primary sources that bring individuals to life, and frequent one-page summaries of historical personalities, events, and movements provide further information.Miner's personality, experiences, and historical context are woven together to create a vivid picture of a remarkable and little-known woman's achievements. (resources, notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

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June 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 Myrtilla Miner grew up with a passion for gender and racial equality. Born frail and sickly, she would continually battle lifelong health issues, yet was spirited and determined about the issues she cared about. Pursuing her passion for teaching, she landed a job in the South, where she witnessed the horrors of slavery close-up. Myrtilla attempted to gain support among her white and black friends for opening a school, but found few supporters. It was a meeting with Frederick Douglass that gave her hope, even as she was faced with angry mobs and harassment. Miner did open her school, and even though her temperament caused her to lose support and teachers, she still managed to secure a place where African American girls could be taught. Greenburg does not hold back in discussing Miner's own biases in teaching, but ultimately shows how she was able to pioneer education, an effort with ramifications still being felt today. Bolstered by small black-and-white photos, this is a detailed look at a flawed but notable woman.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)