She was passionate about helping other African Americans achieve personal success and was one of the first to recognize the importance of preserving historical buildings in the United States.

"[1] Brooks was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was an area of the country well known at the time for providing refuge, resources, education and employment for former slaves.

"[6] Brooks eventually designed the Colonial style permanent home for its final location at 396 Middle Street.

[7] The building itself is still standing in New Bedford and is two and half stories tall, topped with a hip roof, six dormers and a front facade with a flat-roofed portico.

[4] That same year, she married W. Sampson Brooks, who was the bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination of the Bethel Church.

Brooks felt that "monuments to 'race history' were an important part of the African American landscape and deserved to be preserved.