Mary Henrietta Graham (1857 or 1858 – January 2, 1890)[1] was the first African-American woman to be admitted to the University of Michigan, as well as the first biracial person to graduate from it.

[2] Graham was born in Windsor, Ontario,[3] to a white Englishwoman mother (Sarah) and black father (Levi) from Illinois.

[4][2][5] While in Ann Arbor, she lived at 10 Maynard Street[6] and, later, 4 N. State St.[7] After graduating, she gained a post as a teacher at Lincoln University in Jefferson, Missouri.

[8] In 1882, she married the journalist, lawyer, and civil rights activist Ferdinand Lee Barnett.

[11] An obituary in the files of the Bentley Historical Library reads:At the time of her death, she was in the prime of useful vigorous life, the blow coming without a moment’s warning … During her short career of usefulness, she had come to be regarded not only as a woman of highest moral integrity, but of splendid ability and brilliant promise.