Muriel Sutherland Snowden

1916 (age 72)

Early She then worked as a volunteer for a settlement house in Newark and an investigator for the Essex County Welfare Board. The s founded, an organization that advocated for self-help and integration for African Americans in Boston"s Roxbury neighborhood, in 1949. After operating out of their home for three years, the s purchased a building that previously housed the Hebrew Teachers College on Crawford Street in Roxbury to serve as its permanent location. became a well-known and active advocacy organization in Upper Roxbury, at times even known as the "Black Pentagon" because it was the major meeting spot for Boston"s African-American activist community. Speaking of her family"s commitment to living in the Roxbury neighborhood in an era when it suffered from blight, arson, and other crime, Muriel once said "We decided long ago we weren"t going anywhere, and we were going to stay here. This is a commitment. served on the boards of many organizations, including University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Associated Harvard Alumni, the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association, Babson College, Shawmut Bank, the Board of Overseers of Harvard College, and the Racial Imbalance Committee of the Massachusetts Department of Education. died from cancer at the age of 72, on September 30, 1988. The International School, near Copley Square in Boston, credits her for their international-themed curriculum and is named after her. Her papers are held at Northeastern University as part of the Collection in its Library Archives and Special Collections Department.

Muriel Sutherland Snowden

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Background

Snowden was born Muriel Sophronia Sutherland and raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

Education

She graduated as valedictorian of her high school in 1934. She attended Radcliffe College, graduating in 1938. She also studied at the New York School of Social Work from 1943-1945 and funded her education with a fellowship from the National Urban League.

Career

Early She then worked as a volunteer for a settlement house in Newark and an investigator for the Essex County Welfare Board. The s founded, an organization that advocated for self-help and integration for African Americans in Boston"s Roxbury neighborhood, in 1949. After operating out of their home for three years, the s purchased a building that previously housed the Hebrew Teachers College on Crawford Street in Roxbury to serve as its permanent location. became a well-known and active advocacy organization in Upper Roxbury, at times even known as the "Black Pentagon" because it was the major meeting spot for Boston"s African-American activist community.

Speaking of her family"s commitment to living in the Roxbury neighborhood in an era when it suffered from blight, arson, and other crime, Muriel once said "We decided long ago we weren"t going anywhere, and we were going to stay here.

This is a commitment. served on the boards of many organizations, including University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Associated Harvard Alumni, the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association, Babson College, Shawmut Bank, the Board of Overseers of Harvard College, and the Racial Imbalance Committee of the Massachusetts Department of Education. died from cancer at the age of 72, on September 30, 1988. The International School, near Copley Square in Boston, credits her for their international-themed curriculum and is named after her.

Her papers are held at Northeastern University as part of the Collection in its Library Archives and Special Collections Department.

Achievements

MacArthur Fellowship (1987) Harvard Medal (1986) Honorary doctorate, University of Massachusetts (1968) Alumnae Achievement Award, Radcliffe College (1964).

Membership

Babson College; University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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Muriel Sutherland Snowden

Background

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Education

Awards

MacArthur Fellowship MacArthur Fellowship (1987) Harvard Medal (1986) Honorary doctorate, University of Massachusetts (1968) Alumnae Achievement Award, Radcliffe College (1964)