In the early 20th century, few women worked outside the home, and even fewer had a college education. Unlike Blackburn, who returned to teaching after getting married and starting a family, most women left the workforce after getting married.
Women Promoting Education in Southeast Ohio
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn (1895-1992)
About Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn
First Black woman to graduate: In 1916, Martha Jane Hunley became the first Black woman to graduate from Ohio University. She majored in English and minored in Home Economics, graduating summa cum laude.
Preparing women for careers: Hunley accepted a position as head of the Home Economics Department at Wilberforce University near Dayton, turning down two other universities that also vied to hire her. She taught there for three years, marrying Charles Blackburn, the son of Ohio University’s first Black Board of Trustees member. She resigned after giving birth to a daughter. Three years later, Hunley joined the faculty at Booker T. Washington High School in West Virginia. There she served for 25 years as an inspirational teacher of home economics, preparing numerous Black women for professional careers.
Preparing women for life: As one student later wrote, “I do know that Mrs. Blackburn was the best home economics teacher ever. There are 25 or 30 of her former students who have made seamstresses, dressmakers and tailors. No other high school ever turned out so many who could sew so well.” She later added, “She taught more than sewing. She taught morality; she taught everything.”
Her legacy: After retiring from this illustrious career, Blackburn moved to Arizona. In 1979, she returned to campus to receive the Ohio University Medal of Merit. She died in 1992.
Her Legacy at OHIO
In 1986, Ohio University honored her legacy, along with that of John Newton Templeton, the first Black graduate from Ohio University, by rechristening the university’s 2,500-seat auditorium the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
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Take the Women's History TourTake this tour on foot or on the web and learn more about OHIO's distinguished women alumni visitors and residents.
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Take the Black History of Athens TourTake this tour on foot or on the web and visit landmarks in Athens that document some of its African American history.