Marie Greenwood
At 101 years old, Marie Greenwood says she’s “slowing down some,” but you wouldn’t know it based on her continued accomplishments.
Among them, the UNC graduate wrote her autobiography by hand last year. By the Grace of God is now her second published book.
In 1935, Greenwood graduated from what was then Colorado State College of Education and became the first African-American woman to receive a contract to teach in Denver Public Schools. She later authored Every Child Can Learn about teaching children during a career spanning three decades.
Greenwood, who lives independently in a Denver apartment and gets herself around on a driver’s license she renewed this year, spoke in February during a Black History Month celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. The Black American West Museum and Heritage Center recognized her during a gala to celebrate her 100th birthday.
By the Grace of God includes these accounts of her college experience:
- She went to college with a scholarship of $15 per month, but it was in the midst of the Great Depression, so that was enough to live on. She remembers the huge dust storms that would blow across the plains and into Greeley, making it difficult to walk to classes.
- The college was segregated at the time, Marie explains in her book. “It was pretty much like everywhere else. We couldn’t live on campus. We girls had a house of our own in the 600 block of 13th Street near the railroad tracks. We walked to school, and it was a long, cold walk.”
- Marie found her favorite place on campus was Gunter Hall, because it was the Physical Education building, and P.E. was her minor. “I got in the Physical Education Department and that’s one place, if you are good, nobody cares what color you are.”
- She was an excellent swimmer and tried to join the swim team, but the coach wouldn’t let her in the pool. She participated on several other teams and eventually became vice-president of the Women’s Athletic Association.
- One of her favorite memories was as a member of the Interpretive Dance Club, and performing one of the starring roles her senior year.
- She graduated from CSC in 1935 with honors. “I was so proud to receive my diploma that I wanted to cry – Bachelor of Arts in Kindergarten Primary Education!!!”
After leaving the college, she got her first job at Whittier Elementary School in Denver.
And the rest, as they say, is history. NV
