Selfie Sweet Celebration— 40 years as a National Historic Landmark!

December 2, 2014 we celebrated 40 years that the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation has been a

National Historic Landmark with selfies, hot chocolate and s'mores. Over 75 guests stopped by

for the celebration .

The Home of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune

The Legendary Retreat Newsletter

Inside this

issue:

Historical Hot Topic: Mrs. Bethune, Not ‘Mary’

1

Sweet Selfie

Celebration

1

Founders Day

2

Books and Bears

2

Greetings from the Council House

3

Bethune-Cookman History

4

Credits/Resources

4

January 2015, Volume 2, Issue 2

Mrs. Bethune, Not ‘Mary’ Gets into the Records

Birmingham, Alabama December 2, 1938

The Southern Conference of Human Welfare got its first taste of the old south on Monday morning

when Mrs. Louise O. Charlton, chairman of the meeting and herself a United States commissioner, got

in a tilt with Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, Florida educator and national director of the Negro work in

the National Youth administration.

Chairman Charlton had asked that delegates from other states be alert and not let the delegates from

Alabama and Florida do all the seconding of the motions as they were offered from the floor.

Then came a motion and Mrs. Bethune was on her feet to second it. It had been ordered that the dele-

gate would give his or her name and the state upon gaining the floor. ”I second the motion” said Mrs.

Bethune- and appended the statement. “Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune of Florida.” At the same time a

white delegate from Arkansas was trying to get the attention of the chair. Seeing him, Mrs. Charlton

turned to Mrs. Bethune and said “Mary will you yield to the delegate from Arkansas?”

Not understanding Mrs. Charlton, Mrs. Bethune had taken her seat between Mrs. John Hope, Atlanta

widow of the late president of Atlanta University; Mrs. Rachel Taylor, secretary of the Y.W.C.A, in Nash-

ville, and Mrs. Venice Spraggs, state supervisor of Negro Affairs from the Alabama division of NYA.

“Did you hear what she called you?” Mrs. Bethune’s friends asked her. Mrs. Bethune wasn’t sure and

when she was told, she jumped to her feet. “Madam chairman,” she shouted, and after the chair had

recognized her she continued her she continued, “Madam chairman, as a matter of record I want it said

that Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune of Florida gave way to the gentlemen delegate from Arkansas”

“I believe it is already in the record that the delegate from Florida gave way to the delegate from Arkan-

sas” answered the chairman as her face showed red.

Turning to face the delegates, and in a manner which is typical of her assuredness. Mrs. Bethune was

not to be outdone. “But, Madam chairman, if you please, I want it in the record that Mrs. Mary McLeod

Bethune of Florida gave way to the gentlemen delegate from Arkansas “, she de demanded.

There was a storm of applause. “The record will read that Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune of Florida gave

way to the gentlemen delegate from Arkansas” sputtered the excited chairman.

Greetings Bethunites!

Happy New Year family! 2014 ended with a bang and we hope to take that same positive energy into 2015. Since the last time that I wrote to you all we’ve been doing a lot of celebrating. In October we celebrated Founder’s Day in a major way with a special address from Mrs. Bethune as our young theater student Mikayla Miller portrayed her on the balcony of the home. Over 100 students, faculty and staff attended the celebration, which also featured the Chorale singing Mrs. Bethune’s favorite song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” In December over 75 students, faculty and staff visited the home on December 2 for the “Sweet Selfie Cele-bration” to honor the 40th anniversary of the home being a National Historic Landmark. For the next few months we look forward to Black History Month and Women’s History Month as we gear up the highlight our founder’s contributions as a civil rights activ-ist. In the mean time look out for me at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Orlando and the Southern Conference on African Ameri-can Studies, Inc. in Montgomery, Alabama presenting on the development of the home as a museum space and the connections between Mrs. Bethune and Booker T. Washington. I would like to take this space to give a special shout out to the School of Edu-cation for their continued support with the Books and Bear’s Reading Initiative since February 2014. The program is flourishing and this month it will be expanding to the John H. Dickerson Heritage Library here in the local community. We are so blessed to have folks that support the vision of the Foundation! I would also like to thank the Women’s Advisory Board for donating $1000 to assist with our community programs! You ladies truly blessed us. As we embark on a new year I’m hoping for even greater success as we work to strengthen the legacy of Mrs. Bethune! As always I ask that you all would please keep us in your prayers and send as many positive vibes as possible! Thank you.

During the month of December we continued our

monthly Books and Bears event for kids ages 4 –11

years old. What a wonderful turn out of 22 kids on a

Saturday morning to read, do crafts and have lots of

fun.

Legend Keeper: A Word From The Curator

Books and Bears Gingerbread

Christmas— December 2014

Founder’s Day Celebration—October

2014

October 3, 2014 was a day to remember as we celebrated 110 years of Bethune-

Cookman University and a wonderful rendition of our Founder Dr. Mary McLeod

Bethune’s Last Will and Testament. The speech was delivered by Bethune-Cookman

University student Michaela Miller. Following the well attended event we served Dr.

Mary McLeod Bethune’s ‘sweet potato pie’ recipe to all attendees which included

many of the students/faculty and staff of the university.

Page 2

The Legendary Retreat Newsletter

Greetings from the Council House

Page 3 Volume 2, Issue 2

Happy New Year! The holiday season has come and gone here at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, the first

headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) and the last Washington residence of our beloved Mrs. Mary McLeod

Bethune. In addition to still continuing to service the general public, we have been hard at work planning and implementing programs for

2015. Beginning Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we will offer a fun family story time and crafts program once a week. Our “Reading Ranger”

program will be geared toward children ages 0 to 5, and their caregivers. For our first session, Park Rangers will read the story, Elmer, about

a brightly colored elephant who is different from all the rest. Like Elmer, Mrs. Bethune was viewed as different from some people—but she

did not let people’s perceptions stop her from reaching the stars! The story will be followed by a craft where participants will create their

very own egg carton elephants, celebrating individuality, diversity, and laughter. We are still in the midst of our Ticket to Ride grant pro-

gram, exposing middle and high school students to the legacy and work of Mrs. Bethune and the NCNW. For Black History Month in Febru-

ary, we plan to host a film series, and in March for Women’s History Month, we plan to bring history to life—so stay tuned!

On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service turns 100! Even though it is more than a year away, we have already started working on our

contributions for the Centennial. The Centennial will kick off a second century of stewardship of America’s national parks and engaging com-

munities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs, and will celebrate achievements of the past 100 years.

Please join us at the Bethune Council House and embrace the opportunities to explore, learn, discover, be inspired, or simply have fun in over

400 national parks. Be sure to keep up with us and our programming via our website or on our social media outlets. We appreciate every-

one’s continued support. Here’s to a wonderful year!

If you are ever in the nation’s capital, feel free to come and visit us:

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site

1318 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005

Open seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (202) 673-2402

Website: www.nps.gov/mamc Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NPS.MAMC

Follow us on Twitter: @BethuneNHS Follow us on Instagram: @bethunenhs

Mr. John T. Fowler , II, MA is a Park Guide and Volunteer

at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House-National Historic Site

Greetings : Mr. John T. Fowler II, M.A., Park Guide and Volunteer Coordinator at

The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, National Historic Site.

Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation Newsletter

Dr. Ashley Robertson/Curator/Director/Newsletter Editor

Mrs. Sandra Zow-Johnson, Assistant to the Curator/Editor

640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.

Daytona Beach, Florida 32114

mmbfoundation@cookman.edu

386-481-2121/2122

Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation—National

Historic Landmark

mmbfoundation@cookman.edu

Www.cookman.edu/foundation

Facebook.com/mmbretreat

The Chicago Defender (National edition) (1921-1967); Dec. 3, 1938;

ProQuest Historical Newspapers; Chicago Defender (1910 – 1975)

Bethune-Cookman University is an institution filled with rich

history and beloved traditions. From it’s beginning as a

school for young African American girls to its university sta-

tus, B-CU prides itself with the commitment to academic

excellence and community service. Founded by Dr. Mary

McLeod Bethune in 1904, Bethune-Cookman University is a

historically Black United Methodist church related university

offering Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees. The mission is

to serve in the Christian tradition, the diverse educational,

social and cultural needs of the student, and to develop in

them the desire and capacity for continuous intellectual and

professional growth, leadership and service to others. The

university has deep roots in the history of America, and con-

tinues to provide services to the broader community through

a focus on service learning and civic engagement.

Thank you to the following contributing writers

for their submissions in our newsletter

**Stop by for a visit! We’re open Monday-Friday from 10:00 am-3:00 pm and Saturday’s by appointment! **