Mary E. Baker (1923–1995)[1] was a notable African-American community activist and leader in Brockton, Massachusetts.

History

Mary E. Baker was the first African-American to work at Brockton City Hall.[2] She was a 1941 graduate of Brockton High School,[3] and commenced her working career as a legal secretary, prior to obtaining employment with the city. Her community involvement and leadership were in the areas of affordable housing and racial integration in education.[3] Baker was instrumental in the establishment of two affordable housing complexes in Brockton, as well as being associated with the implementation of integration plans for Brockton public schools.[1]

Baker was a member of one of the founding families of the African-American community of Brockton. Her father, General Baker, a descendant of slaves,[2] was the founding Deacon of Lincoln Congregational Church, established in 1897.[4] Her niece was singer Jo Baker (1948-1996), who was notable for her associations with Elvin Bishop and Stoneground.[5]

Baker commenced her post-secondary education at the age of 52, entering a Bachelor's program at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She later obtained a master's degree in education from Cambridge College.[3] In her later career, Baker was employed by Massasoit Community College for fourteen years where, as the college's first minority outreach coordinator,[6] she was instrumental in the establishment and operation of outreach programs in Boston and in southeastern Massachusetts generally.[1] An annual memorial scholarship was established in the name of Mary E. Baker at Massasoit Community College.[7]

Baker died suddenly from liver cancer in 1995, at the age of 72, during the course of planning her candidacy to enter the election for Brockton city council.[1]

In December 2008, a new Brockton school was named after her in 2008, and she was the first woman and the first African-American to receive this honor from the city.[2][3][6][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mary Papadopoulos, Brockton's Baker school dedicated in historic event. The Enterprise. via wickedlocal.com, December 1, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 Uncredited, Six notable African-Americans with ties to the Brockton area. The Enterprise, February 7, 2010. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Saint-Ciel, Alisha (February 18, 2021). "5 influential African Americans with ties to Brockton area". The Enterprise. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  4. ↑ History of Lincoln Congregational Church Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  5. ↑ Obituary of Harrison Baker (1921-2016), brother of Mary E. Baker; Legacy.com. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  6. 1 2 Brockton's newest public school opens October 21, Brockton Public Schools, 2008. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  7. ↑ Massasoit Student Scholarships, Mary E. Baker Memorial Scholarship. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
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