Spotlight Upon Unsung Heroes Dr. Mary Elizabeth Branch Educator, College President, Teacher, Humanitarian. Civic Activist By Wilbur Thirkield Titus We accept the definition of heroes as being persons who have sterling character, make outstanding achievement in some field of endeavor, and significant contributions to the global community. Many such persons who has little or notoriety come to mind. One is Dr. Mary Elizabeth Branch, (1881 - 1944). who became the first African American woman college president in Texas when she became the head of Tillotson College of Austin, Texas. During her administration she was able to reverse the direction of a troubled institution, to give hope and opportunity to especially African American youths, and to facilitate positive change in the global community. Some of the Frestone County residents whose lives were impacted directly or indirectly are Walter R. Banks, Nettie Larsenia Blakely, Juanita Bryant Manning, Catherine Titus Cox, Ora Belle Gabriel Davis, Irene Carroll Slaughter, Loreta Titus Phillips. Dorothy Earnestine Titus Jordan, Lillie Evelyn Titus Neal, Patsy Jean Greene Proctor, Edward "Chief" and Edgar Johnson, Mellonee Jefferson Hill Johnson, Mae Nella Lewis Palmore,Miss Branch was the daughter of Tazewell and Harriett Branch. She was born near Farmville, Virginia, on May 20, 1881. Education. Her education was received at home where she and her siblings were taught by their ex-slave parents, Farmville Elementary School, normal school at Virginia State College of Petersburg, Virginia, during summers she attended the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. She received a bachelor's degree in 1922, and a master's degree in English from the University of Chicago, and honorary degrees from Virginia State College and Howard University. She was working towards a doctorate degree in Education at the time of her death. Employment. Miss Branch taught English in the elementary school of Blackstone, Virginia; served on the faculty of Virginia State College for twenty years teaching English and serving as the college's housing director. Other assignments include teacher of social studies at Summer Junior College, Kansas City, Kansas, 1927 and in 1928, she became the dean of women at Vashon High School, which was then the largest school for black girls in the country. In 1930 the American Missionary Association appointed her the president of Tillotson of Austin, Texas. Miss Branch "sought to make Tillotson College a successful respected four-year college once more." Under her direction, the college's facilities were improved. The library was expanded, old buildings renovated and new buildings, including a men's dormitory and a gymnasium were constructed. The educational program was strengthened, requirement for faculty instructors was raised, the budget increased, the faculty doubled, offered scholarships to the most needy, established a work-study program, abolished mandatory chapel, permitted the organization of fraternities and sororities, and encouraged the organization of academic and athletic clubs. She worked to improve community relations by participating in civic community affairs and establishing contacts with the faculties of the University of Texas, Samuel Huston College, and the public school educators. She also worked for the merger of Tillotson and Samuel Huston Colleges. "During the Branch administration enrollment steadily grew. Moreover, in 1935, Tillotson reorganized as a coeducational , four-year institution." In 1936, Tillotson was admitted into membership of the American Association of Colleges, and in 1943 it received an "A" rating from the Southern of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Memberships and Involvements. Miss Branch was active in the civil rights movement; during the Great Depression she devoted much time to the National Youth Administration; she was President of the Austin chapter of the NAACP in 1943, a member of the State Interracial Committee of Texas; Governor Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to the NYA Advisory Board for Texas, and in 1944, Miss Branch helped to establish the Negro College Fund. She died on July 6, 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland. We certainly admire and complement Dr. Mary Elizabeth Branch because we feel that the world is a better place because of her having lived. Additional information can be found in Black Leaders: Texas and Their Times and by consulting Google on the internet.