By Garry Blanson
Most of the time when I hear people mention Vicksburg, Mississippi, they either say something about the “Famous American Civil War Battle” or the “Casino” in Vicksburg.
However, I never ever heard anyone mention the fact that the “First African-American Woman” to receive her “Doctorate Degree in Education” was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Yes, in 1929, Jane Ellen McAllister earned her “Ph.D. in Education” from The Prestigious Columbia University! She was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on October 24, 1899. Thanks to her father being employed as a mail carrier, and her mother working as a teacher, Jane and her family were able to live better than many of the Black families of Vicksburg during that time. Also, Jane performed so well in school that she ended up graduating from high school at the age of 15! From there she attended Talladega College in Alabama.
Her parents were so proud of her when she graduated with honors in 1919 (at the age of 19) and became the youngest college graduate at Talladega! After obtaining her B.A. Degree, Jane accepted a teaching position at Emerson College in Mobile, Alabama. Jane’s hunger for knowledge led her to attend the University of Michigan (where she earned her M.A. Degree in 1921).
Jane Ellen McAllister died in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on January 10, 1996. In her memory and for the contributions she made at Jackson State University, the school decided to name a dorm in her honor, and remembers her work with lectures.
