Mamie (Phipps) Clark (1917 - 1983)

Born 18 Apr 1917 in Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Died 11 Aug 1983 at age 66 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Mamie (Phipps) Clark is Notable.

Mamie Phipps Clark is a truly notable figure who left an indelible mark on the fields of psychology, civil rights, and education. As the first African-American woman to earn a psychology doctorate from Columbia University, she shattered barriers and blazed a trail for future generations of women of color in academia. Her groundbreaking research alongside her husband, Kenneth Clark, on the harmful effects of segregation and racial identity in children was pivotal in the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, leading to the end of racially segregated schools in the United States. Beyond her academic achievements, Mamie's dedication to the welfare of children led her to establish the Northside Child Development Center in Harlem, providing a safe and nurturing environment for underprivileged youth. Her tireless advocacy for civil rights, her pioneering research, and her commitment to nurturing the minds of young learners make her an inspiring and influential figure in history.^[1]

Mamie Phipps, was born on October 18, 1917, in the vibrant city of Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas. Her parents, Harold Hilton Phipps and Katie Florence (Smith) Phipps, nurtured her with love and instilled in her a sense of determination.^[2][3]

Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Mamie experienced the harsh realities of racism and witnessed the violence it perpetuated. Despite the challenges she faced, she thrived academically and graduated high school in 1934 with multiple scholarship offers from historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).^[4][5][1]

On April 14, 1938, Mamie married Kenneth Clark, a pivotal moment that shaped her life's trajectory.^[6] She pursued her studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C., intending to become a teacher in math and physics. However, fate intervened when she met Kenneth, a psychology student, who encouraged her to explore psychology instead.^[2][1]

Undeterred by the limited opportunities for African American women in the field, Mamie chose to study psychology, graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology in 1938. This marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership with Kenneth, both personally and professionally.^[2][1][7][8]

During her graduate studies at Howard, Mamie worked as a secretary for Charles Hamilton Houston, an NAACP lawyer who fought to challenge racial segregation across the country. This exposure profoundly influenced her, leading her to conduct her Master's Thesis, "The Development of Consciousness in Negro Pre-School Children," which explored race and child development among African American children.^[2][1][8]

Her passion for understanding the impact of segregation on children's racial identity continued as she pursued a Ph.D. in Psychology at Columbia University alongside her husband. The couple received Julius Rosenwald Fellowships to study racial identity in children, conducting groundbreaking research on the detrimental effects of segregation.^[2][1]

In 1943, Mamie achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-American to earn a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University. Her research, along with Kenneth's, was instrumental in the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, which ended racially segregated schools.^[2][1][8]

After conducting psychological tests for an agency helping homeless African-American girls, Mamie founded the Northside Child Development Center in Harlem in 1946, demonstrating her dedication to helping children and advancing their well-being.^[2][1][8]

Her influence and expertise extended beyond her academic pursuits, and Mamie's impact reached far and wide. She lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York, before her passing on August 11, 1983, from lung cancer.^[9] She found her final resting place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings on Hudson, Westchester County, New York, leaving behind a legacy of courage, scholarship, and advocacy that continues to inspire and uplift generations to come.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} National Women's History Museum, (n.d.). "Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark (1917-1983)." Accesssed 3 Aug 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 30 Jun 2023. "Mamie Phipps Clark." Accessed 3 Aug 2023.
3. ↑ Cherry, Kendra, Verywell Mind, Student Resoruces, History and Biographies, 22 Apr 2020. "Psychologist Mamie Phipps Clark Profile." Accessed 3 Aug 2023.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDNG-FXM : accessed 4 February 2019), Mammie Phipps in household of Dr. H H Phipps, Hot Springs Ward 2, Garland, Arkansas, United States; citing ED 77, sheet 9A, line 34, family 229, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 63; FHL microfilm 1,820,063.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XML3-4VX : accessed 4 February 2019), Mamie Phipps in household of Harold H Phipps, Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 14, sheet 4B, line 59, family 102, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 75; FHL microfilm 2,339,810.
6. ↑ Marriage: "Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014" Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014; Roll: 101168499 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9279 #27902417 Mamie K Phipps (21) marriage to Kenneth Clark on 14 Apr 1938 in Stafford, Virginia, USA.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQGF-MYY : 14 March 2018), Mamie Clark in household of Kenneth Clark, Assembly District 21, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-1804, sheet 61A, line 27, family 279, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2667.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Newspaper Clipping, The Daily Times, Mamaroneck, New York, 13 Aug 1983, Sat. - Page 4. "Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark, 65, psychologist." Accessed 3 Aug 2023.
9. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #11021952
10. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image) Find A Grave: Memorial #198701093 Memorial page for Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark (18 Apr 1917-11 Aug 1983), citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York, USA; Maintained by Zoë The Exasperated Historian (contributor 49436064).

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q14900709