The Georgia Board of Regents on Wednesday approved a request from the University of Georgia to name its College of Education after Mary Frances Early, its first African American graduate.

Early arrived at UGA in the summer of 1961, a few months after Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes became the first African American students to enroll there. She became the first African American to earn a degree from the University of Georgia when she graduated on Aug. 16, 1962, with a master's degree in music education. She returned in 1964 to continue her education, earning a Specialist in Education degree in 1967.

Copy of an article about Mary Frances Early graduating from UGA. Though she rarely is mentioned in the history books, Early is actually the first black graduate of the University of Georgia, before Charlayne Hunter Gault and Hamilton Holmes. Now UGA is giving her an honorary degree to acknowledge this fact.

Credit: Phil Skinner

icon to expand image

Credit: Phil Skinner

Early became a music teacher in the Atlanta Public Schools system and eventually promoted to music director of the entire school system. She retired in 1994 after working for 37 years in public schools. She later taught at Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University as head of the music department.

“This is a fabulous day for the University of Georgia,” College of Education Dean Denise Spangler said in an interview after Wednesday’s vote.

Mary Frances Early, who was the first African-American to graduate from the University of Georgia, plays piano at her mother's Atlanta home before reporting to the University of Georgia in the summer of 1961.

Credit: HANDOUT

icon to expand image

Credit: HANDOUT

UGA will officially unveil the college’s new name in Feburary 2020 to coincide with Black History Month, Spangler said.

About the Author

Keep Reading

HBCUs nationally will get $438 million, according to the UNCF, previously known as the United Negro College Fund. Georgia has 10 historically Black colleges and universities. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Featured

Corbin Spencer, right, field director of New Georgia Project and volunteer Rodney King, left, help Rueke Uyunwa register to vote. The influential group is shutting down after more than a decade. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2017)

Credit: Hyosub Shin