Mary E. Baker (1923–1995) was a notable African-American community activist and leader in

Brockton, Massachusetts Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population is 105,643 as of the 2020 United States Census. Along with Plymouth, Massachusetts, Plymouth, it is one of the two county seats of ...

History

Mary E. Baker was the first African-American to work at Brockton City Hall. She was a 1941 graduate of

Brockton High School Brockton High School, established in 1870, is a high school located in Brockton, Massachusetts. It is a part of Brockton Public Schools. As of 2016 Brockton High School, with 4,029 students, is one of the largest high schools in the United State ...

, 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. 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. 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, was the founding

Deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...

of Lincoln Congregational Church, established in 1897. Her niece was singer Jo Baker (1948-1996), who was notable for her associations with

Elvin Bishop Elvin Richard Bishop (born October 21, 1942) is an American blues and rock music singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter. An original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a membe ...

and

Stoneground Stoneground was an American rock band formed in 1970 in Concord, California. Originally a trio, Stoneground expanded to a 10-piece band by the time of their eponymous 1971 debut album. The group appeared in two films, ''Medicine Ball Caravan'' (1 ...

. Baker commenced her post-secondary education at the age of 52, entering a Bachelor's program at the

University of Massachusetts Boston The University of Massachusetts Boston (stylized as UMass Boston) is a Public university, public research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the only public research university in Boston and the third-largest campus in the five-campus Un ...

. She later obtained a master's degree in Education from

Cambridge College Cambridge College is a private college based in Boston, Massachusetts. It also operates regional centers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and Rancho Cucamonga, California. History Founding Cambrid ...

. In her later career, Baker was employed by

Massasoit Community College Massasoit Community College is a public community college in Brockton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1966 and named for Massasoit, the Great Sachem of the Wampanoag. Massasoit Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of H ...

for fourteen years where, as the college's first minority outreach coordinator, she was instrumental in the establishment and operation of outreach programs in Boston and in southeastern Massachusetts generally. An annual memorial scholarship was established in the name of Mary E. Baker at Massasoit Community College.Massasoit Student Scholarships
Mary E. Baker Memorial Scholarship
Retrieved 2017-02-17. Baker died suddenly from

liver cancer Liver cancer (also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy) is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary (starts in liver) or secondary (meaning cancer which has spread from elsewhere to th ...

in 1995, at the age of 72, during the course of planning her candidacy to enter the election for Brockton city council. 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.Uncredited
Six notable African-Americans with ties to the Brockton area
'' The Enterprise'', February 7, 2010. Retrieved 2017-01-22.Brockton's newest public school opens October 21Brockton Public Schools
2008. Retrieved 2017-02-06.Mary Papadopoulos
Brockton's Baker school dedicated in historic event
'' The Enterprise''. via wickedlocal.com, December 1, 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Mary E. 1923 births 1995 deaths African-American activists Deaths from liver cancer Deaths from cancer in Massachusetts Cambridge College alumni 20th-century African-American people