Bethune-Cookman University—Daytona Beach: Five Girls, $1.50, and a Vision
On October 3, 1904, Mary McLeod Bethune opened a school for Black girls in Daytona Beach, Florida, with only $1.50 and an extraordinary commitment to education. Her first students were five girls, and her young son, Albert, joined them. That small school became the foundation of Bethune-Cookman University. cookman.edu
Bethune began when segregation severely restricted Black educational opportunities. She gathered supplies, raised funds, and enlisted community support to sustain her students. Packing crates served as furniture, and selling sweet potato pies helped support the school. Its origins reflected the resourcefulness required to build an institution on very little money. daytonabeach.gov
Her vision extended beyond the classroom. Bethune worked to prepare young people for independence, leadership, and service. She later became a nationally influential advocate, advising presidents, organizing Black women, and helping establish the United Negro College Fund. The school remained a central achievement in her life. cookman.edu
In 1923, her school merged with Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, founded in 1872, to create a coeducational school. The merger united two educational legacies and helped establish the institution’s enduring Methodist connection. cookman.edu
Its academic offerings continued to expand. In 1941, Florida approved a four-year baccalaureate program in liberal arts and teacher education. In 2007, the institution achieved university status after developing graduate programs. cookman.edu
Bethune-Cookman’s history shows how education can become a community’s lasting investment. A school created for children facing exclusion grew into a university serving generations of students.
Descendants of the Taken Ones—this legacy honors Mary McLeod Bethune’s determination and the families, students, educators, and supporters who helped her build. In 1904, five girls entered a small school. Their opportunity became the beginning of something much larger. Thank you for your time. To support the channel. Please like, share, and subscribe, and pass this along to your family and friends. Remember: information kept to yourself is lost over time, but shared information becomes enduring knowledge. People who lose control of their history can be led to believe they never contributed anything.
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