Mary Godfrey

Mary Emmeline Godfrey (3 July 1913 - 30 April 2007)[1] was an artist and art educator who became the first African-American faculty member at Penn State University. She was hired in 1957 and served as an assistant professor of art education until her retirement in 1979.[2]

Mary E. Godfrey
Born(1913-07-03)July 3, 1913
Died30 April 2007
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArt educator

She gained a bachelor of fine arts from the Pratt Institute and a master's degree from Columbia University and worked as the assistant state supervisor of art education for the Virginia Department of Education. In 1957, Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld, head of the newly formed Department of Art Education, College of Education, at The Pennsylvania State University, hired Godfrey as assistant professor of art education. She was the first full-time African American faculty member hired at Penn State. She served for 22 years, teaching courses in elementary and secondary art education, supervision, the history of art education, and introduction to crafts. She researched the design of art classrooms, studying Pennsylvania art education laboratories, art rooms, and facilities for junior high schools. Her artwork was exhibited in both Pennsylvania and Virginia.[3]

Early life

Mary Godfrey was born on July 3, 1913. According to her obituary, she was born in the small southern town of Charlotte Court House, Virginia. During an interview Godrey states she was born in New York City.[4] At some point, Godfrey's family migrated from Charlotte Court House, Virginia to New York City. Godfrey was one of eight children of Henry B. Godfrey and Louise Read. Her older sister, Cleveland Community Activist and journalist, Stella Godfrey White Bigham[5] was the first African American woman to sit on the Cleveland Transit System board whose work promoted interracial understanding. Stella was born in Virginia and raised in New York City were she graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, NY. Stella attended Hampton Institute and Columbia University.

Education

Godfrey attended Pratt Institute from 1933-1937 at the age of 20 and entered the Department of Teacher Training in Art Education receiving a teaching certificate. Even though records indicate Godfrey received a BFA in art education, Pratt did not grant four-year bachelor's degree until 1938. The coursework Godfrey received during her four years was equivalent to a bachelor's degree. She was qualified to teach all phases of art in public and private school from elementary to the college level in any state.[6] Godrey continued her education and received a master's degree from Columbia University.

Career

After Godfrey graduated from Pratt Institute she became an art teacher/supervisor for Camden Public School in Camden, New Jersey from 1938-1947. In 1947, Godfrey became the first African American as the Assistant State Art Supervisor for Virginia State. Her job was to supervise the Black schools in the state and to promote art education.

References
  1. "Mary E. Godfrey, State College, Pennsylvania". Legacy.com. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  2. "Mary Godfrey". African American Chronicles: Black History at Penn State. Penn State University. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  3. Guide to the Mary E. Godfrey Papers (6447), Penn State University Archives, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
  4. Hollingsworth, Jr., C. (1988). Viktor Lowenfeld and the racial landscape of Hampton Institute during his tenure (1939-1946), (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
  5. Stella Godfrey White Bigham, The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Stella G. White Papers, Charles W. White Family Papers at Western Reserve Historical Society, Retrieved from,
  6. Roy, V. (1936). Department of Teacher Training, Pratt Institute School of Fine and Applied Arts Catalog: Day Courses, 1936–37. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Pratt Institute.

Further reading
  • Darryl B. Daisey: Penn State University African American Chronicles, 1899-2016 (2nd Revised Edition).
  • Holt, A. (2017). Mary E. Godfrey (1913-2007): Penn State’s first African American full-time faculty member. Studies in Art Education, 58(3), 234–245. doi:10.1080/00393541.2017.1331088"
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