Joan Imogen Howard

[8] She graduated from the Wells Grammar School, Blossom Street, Boston, as one of ten honor pupils who received silver medals.

Her parents encouraged her to pursue a higher course of instruction, and consequently, after a successful entrance examination, she became a student of the Girls' High and Normal School, as it was then called.

She was the first African American women to enter, and after a three years' course, to graduate from this, which was, at that time, the highest institution of learning in Boston.

Later, she took a course in “Methods of Instruction” at the Saturday sessions of the Normal College of New York City, receiving a Master of Arts diploma from this institution (1877).

She held a special position on the Board of Women Managers of the State of New York for the Columbian Exposition, one of five of the Committee on Education.