Vision: We envision her home as the future “Dr. Jane McAllister House Museum” that will reflect her passion and commitment to excellence. That will give historical context to her extraordinary achievements, to honor her life, ethos and legacy with exhibits documenting the scope and depth of her work in education, as well as exhibits highlighting the extraordinary legacy of the larger African American community in Vicksburg…well into the first half of the 20th Century.
Mission: We envision a vibrant educational and cultural exchange…a hub for teachers, artists, scholars, students, featuring lecture series, artifacts, and contemporary exhibits
that reflect the future history and the promise of Vicksburg. A mentoring program with experienced and willing community elders, students and others sharing their knowledge
in a variety of disciplines and levels of expertise; and, a Youth Program that empowers, highlights, amplifies the voices of children (ages 8 -16) as a multigenerational effort in
which children learn to express their thoughts and feelings through art – music, spoken
word, writing, visual art, dance, etc. – but mostly to have fun while learning about
expression, creation, collaboration and mutual respect.
Pioneering Educator and Advocate
Shaping History
and Inspiring Generations
“In the introduction to his stunning book of portraits, I Dream A World, Brian Lanker wrote that the black women he photographed had ‘dreamed a world not only better for themselves but for generations to come, a world where character and ability matter, not color or gender. As they dreamed that world, they acted on those dreams and they changed America.’ Jane Ellen McAllister dreamed of a better world, too. And like the women in Lanker’s book, she was forced to live within a world defined by a white, male power structure. She continually fought this power structure with a subtle, yet persis- tent spirit, and challenged her students to overcome racial barriers that had excluded so many of their people. In her career as an educator, Jane Ellen McAllister changed America, too, but for more than ninety years she has played an unforgettable, yet inconspicuous role in the education of black teachers.” - Henry George Johnson
The First Black Woman to Receive A PhD in Education in the United States
Dr. McAllister grew up in Vicksburg and was the first Black woman to receive a PhD in Education. She received her PhD from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1929. Her Teachers College professor and advisor, Mabel Carney, noted with pride that, “the real history of the study of American Negro Education on the advanced level began with Jane McAllister’s pioneering dissertation on The Training of Negro Teachers in Louisiana.” For the next 40 years she taught at Historic Black Colleges and Universities--Fisk University, Virginia State, Morgan State, Hampton Institute, Miner Teachers Cottage, and Jackson State University--until she retired in 1970.
Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister : The First Black Woman to Receive A PhD in Education in the United States
Dr. McAllister grew up in Vicksburg and was the first Black woman to receive a PhD in Education. She received her PhD from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1929. Her Teachers College professor and advisor, Mabel Carney, noted with pride that, “the real history of the study of American Negro Education on the advanced level began with Jane McAllister’s pioneering dissertation on The Training of Negro Teachers in Louisiana.” For the next 40 years she taught at Historic Black Colleges and Universities--Fisk University, Virginia State, Morgan State, Hampton Institute, Miner Teachers Cottage, and Jackson State University--until she retired in 1970.
Celebrating Dr. McAllister's Achievements
A Columbia University Tribute
"In educating myself and later in educating others as teachers, I believe in solving hard challenging problems, but I also believe in taking something not too difficult to stretch my abilities. Something not so complex as to cause me to fail yet novel and intriguing enough to prod me to work at high pitch. Fresh from the Deep South in the days before remedial courses for disadvantaged Negro students and before careful guidance given to Negroes in high-standard Universites, I saw a course that had an intriguing title. The Theory and Philosophy of Comedy. Several men who had Rhodes Scholarships I’d never heard of Rhodes and other evidence of high intellect sat around a seminar table. I was the only woman who braved the course and the only Negro. For the first few days ... the discussions and lectures ... were so far over my head that I hardly knew the lectures were in English. They were in a foreign language to me!” - Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister
Empowering Future Generations
DONATE NOW
Our foundation plans to pre- serve Dr. McAllister’s legacy through the renovation of her home as a museum that will showcase the power of education within the Black community through exhibi- tions and public programs.
Empowering Future Generations
DONATE NOW
Our foundation plans to pre- serve Dr. McAllister’s legacy through the renovation of her home as a museum that will showcase the power of education within the Black community through exhibi- tions and public programs.
Honoring a Pioneering Legacy
Dr. McAllister Interpretive Plan
Our interpretive plan outlines the initiatives to educate and inspire future generations through Dr. McAllister's remarkable achievements.
Honoring a Pioneering Legacy
Dr. McAllister Interpretive Plan
Our interpretive plan outlines the initiatives to educate and inspire future generations through Dr. McAllister's remarkable achievements.
Contact Us
Charitable Contributions :
+ 855 933-5529
Drop a Line
Information :
info@janemcallister.org
Bill@JaneMcAllister.org