Eva Beatrice Dykes
Shacy Stallworth
Since
the early times in the United States history woman have been viewed as a
creative source of human life. Historically,
however they have been considered not only intellectually inferior to men
but also a major source of temptation and evil.' At a period of time were
a formal education for woman was secondary to men, Eva Beatrice Dykes
played a major role in the black community.
She was the first Negro woman in the United States to finish the
requirements for a Ph.D. degree. She
accomplished this extraordinary achievement in March of 1921 at Radcliffe
College, one of the most highly recognized, private institutions for woman
in the United States. Radcliffe
College is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is associated with
Harvard University. Graduates
of Radcliffe receive Harvard diplomas signed by the president of both
institutions .
Eva
Dykes Graduated and earned her doctoral degree on June 22, 1921, at
Radcliffe College's commencement exercises.
For Ms Dykes, this was a major accomplishment that was also
achieved by two other black young women in 1921 also. 3 Although Eve was
the first to complete her studies, she was the last to be awarded that
year the Ph.D. degree because her graduation exercises where held later
than the exercises for the other two black pioneer women.
The other recipients of this distinguished degree were Georgianna
Simpson from the University of Chicago and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sadie Alexander became a lawyer and a wife of a federal Judge and
Georgianna Simpson became a teacher at Howard University. 4
Dr.
Dykes was the first black woman in the U.S. to complete work on a
doctorate degree, and the first to receive the Ph.D. degree in the field
of English Philology . The following words appear on her doctoral diploma
that was translated in English for the Latin words of the degree:
"In
view of the fact that Eva Beatrice Dykes, a woman of the greatest promise
has dedicated herself to the study of English Philology with remarkable
diligence, setting an example of outstanding erudition, by mastering
within the normal period of time all subjects required by our institution
in that field, it has been thought proper that she deserves the Academic
Honors,, and with the agreement of the President as well as that of the
fellows of Radcliffe College at Harvard, we have granted her, in
accordance with our law, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and we have
conceded to her in this place all the rights and distinctions she my
expect .”
Eva Dykes was born in Washington, D.C.; she attendedthe teacher
training elementary school at Howard Universityfor her first years of
elementary education . In 1906 she finished her studies at Lucretia Mott
Elementary School in Washington, D.C. In 1910 she graduated from
"M" Street High School that shortly became know as Dumbar High
School. Eva Dykes was a
brilliant student with a specialty in Latin, German, Greek, and English in
her college studies. She
received a BA degree with honors from Howard University in 1914, Summa cum
Laude. By a unanimous vote of
the Howard University Alumni, she became the recipient of their Alumni
award for Highest-grade average attained for the duration of undergraduate
years.8
After
finishing Howard University, She taught Latin and English at Walden
University for one year. Walden
was located in Nashville, Tennessee; it does not exist today.
The Dykes family placed a very high importance upon college
education. Her father and
three Uncles had all graduated from Howard University.
Because of her mother's condition, she was not capable to complete
Howard University. Her father
became a principle of a small high school in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Florence (Her older sister) graduated from the commercial College
at Howard and taught later at Howard University.
After
Teaching one year, She was encouraged by her uncle to enroll for studies
at Radcliffe College to get another bachelor's degree.
Her Uncle, James Howard, became a physician who had earned three
degrees from Howard University with a B.A in 1870, MA from the college of
liberal Arts, and a M.D. from the school of medicine in 1883.'
While
attending Radcliffe, Eva enrolled as an unclassified student and received
her second BA degree in 1917, which was awarded with high honors, Magna
cum Laude.10 On the date of January 14, 1917, the Washington, D.C. Sunday
Star carried an article that stated the following:
'Word
has been received from Boston that two young woman have won Honor grades
at Radcliffe College. Miss
Elizabeth Brandeis, daughter of Justice of the Supreme Court, is one of
the fine juniors to rank with 'very high academic distinction,' and Miss
Eva B. Dykes is one of the seniors who has ranked with 'Marked
Excellence.'"ll
In
the year of 1918,the following year, Ms Dykes earned the MA earned degree
and began her studies for the Ph.D. degree.
During the time she was working on her doctoral degree, she started
teaching at Dumber High School in Washington, D.C. in the year 1920 She
received five scholarships while she was doing graduated work at Radcliffe.
She completed her Dissertation in 1920.
Her wide ranged research covered a monumental 655 typewritten pages
and entitled Alexander Pope's Influence in American from1810 to 1850.12
For the first eight years of her teaching career, she taught at
Dunber High School. In 1929
Dr. Mordecai Johnson (president of Howard University) asked Eva Dykes to
join the teaching facility at Howard University.
She took the position as associate professor of English at Howard
for fifteen Years. Dr.
Johnson indicated in a public address which he gave at the Seventh-Day
Adventist Theological Seminary at Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., That Dr.
Eva Dykes was one of the best teachers he had ever had in the system. 13
In
1921 Dr. Dykes joined the Seventh Day Advantest Church in Washington,
D.C., and she played a major role in the church leadership.
She held active roles as a dedicated Sabbath school superintendent,
home missionary leader, young people's leader, church treasurer, choir
directress, and a member of a church school board.
During the time she received her Doctor's degree from Radcliffe she
was invited to become a teacher at Howard University.
Before she accepted the job offer, according to Dr. Johnson, she
wrote a letter to the dean which said, 'Before you conclude this contract
there is one thing you should know about me... I am a member of the
Seventh Day Adventist Church, and beginning at six o'clock on Friday-
until Saturday evening I will be able to do no work for the University,
for that period "my church is the first and foremost important aspect
of my life.
'
Dr. Johnson indicated "Dean of Howard brought the letter to hire and
said, " Mr. President, this is a very sad letter.
I suppose this finishes it. We
cannot employ this young lady. What
a tragedy! But Dr. Johnson
said to the dean, this settles it. This
makes it certain we are going to employ this young woman.
The dean realize that the university would not want to hire a
person who had what he felt was a reservation about service. 15 However,
Dr. Johnson said, 'this is not a reservation but an affirmation.
And I would further suggest the any person who has Jesus as the
center of their life has no choice but to be dedicated to their work.
She will be a major role in the further success of the university
the other six days as she is to the church on the Sabbath. , 16
While
serving Howard University as a teacher, Dr. Dykes worked with several
colleagues who became famous, such as Todd Duncan, Baritone Singer; Alain
Leroy Locke, the first Negro to become a Rhodes Scholar; Charles Wesley,
historian and former president of Central State College; Ralph Bunche,
diplomat and United Nation's mediator; Ernest Just, biologist of unusual
fame; Louia Vaughn Jones, famous concert pianist. 17
She
in addition was a very active octogenarian.
She was given over fifty years of dedication to the teaching
profession. During that time,
she has touched the lives of many students were Charles Drew, pioneer in
blood plasma research and former Chief Surgeon an chief of staff at
Freedman Hospital in Washington, D.C.; William Hastie who was appointed
Governor of the Virgin Islands in 1944 and before that was Dean of the Law
School at Howard University; Cortez Peters, typing champion; and Joseph
Jenkins who taught at Tuskegee Institute, in Tuskegee Alabama.18
While
teaching at Howard, Dr. Dykes was selected by unanimous vote to be the
best all around teacher. After
all her noble service, Ms. Dykes resigned her position at Howard
University. In 1944 she
united the facility at Oakwood College, a small Seventh-day Adventist
school located in Huntsville, Alabama.
On charter Day, March 2, 1945, she was the recipient of the Howard
University Annual Alumni Award conferred by the board and trustees of
Howard for distinguished postgraduate achievement in education. 1920 Dr.
Dykes gave over twenty-five years of unselfish teaching service at Oakwood
College. Over the years, she
taught courses in Freshman English; World; Journalism; Renaissance,
American History, Medieval, Victorian, Modern Literature; Remedial
English, College Grammar, and Methods in Teaching Secondary English at
Oakwood. In her basic English
Classes, this Dynamic Instructor stressed the importance of having an
understanding of the 'minimum essentials" and "Audibility."
She also had the privilege to teach one of Oakwood past presidents, Calvin
Rock, and the former president, Frank Hale, as well as a former Dean of
Academic Affairs, Emerson Cooper. Dr.
Dykes served under six past president that this institution.
Dr.
Dykes was a chairman of the accreditation committee that worked for the
first full accreditation, which Oakwood College received in 1958.
When she started teaching at Oakwood College, her salary was $41.00
a week. She was most dynamic
at a period of time where women were considered naturally weaker than men,
squeamish, and unable to perform work requiring muscular or intellectual,
2 1 she became head of the Social Activities Committee for the college.
Under the leadership of her committee, she sponsored various alumna
classes. She started a
cultural organization for Junior and Senior female students called Gamma
Sigma Kappa (GSK) to promote a finer womanhood for the Oakwood woman.
She also was an accomplished pianist and organist.
She was one of the black Adventists that started a movement that
led to the formation of Regional Conferences.
During
her life, she had the privilege to write many books.
She has written books Entitled, The Negro In English Romantic
Thought. She co-authored,
A Manual of English and co-edited a book called, Readings for
Negro Schools and Colleges.
She contributed to the compilation of a book about Linguistics
prepared by a professor at Indiana University.
She has written Periodical articles for the Negro History
Bulletin, Journal of Negro History, the Youth's Instructor and The
Message Magazine. For the
Message Magazine, She wrote articles Regularly for the devotional
departments know over the years as "Counsel Corner," Morning
Mediation," This Morning With God," and 'Your Bible
Speaks." 22
During
some of the busy years when she taught full time at Oakwood College, She
also taught part time at A & M University.
She also held a position as a professor emeritus of English at
Oakwood. She retired in 1968
and went to live briefly in Gordonsville, Virginia.
She was asked to return in 1970 to assist in the English department
and taught full time for two years. During
the past three years, She has served as a part- time teacher up to 1975.
Martha
Ann Howard and James Stanley Dykes were the proud parents of Eva B. Dykes.
She had two sisters, Florence older than she and Anita, younger.
Florence's life was cut short after a brief illness in 1917.
Her sister Anita became Mrs. Simms and lives in New Rochelle, New
York.
Many
honors and awards have been received by this Noble, gracious, Amazing and
Humble woman who dedicated her life to the betterment of young people of
her ethnic background. During
the general conference session of 1973
she
received a certificate of merit from department of education.
At that time also the new library building was named in her honor.
In 1975 she was the recipient of a citation of excellence in
recognition of outstanding contribution to the world program of the
Christian education in Vienna, Austria.
At that time she was attending the world conference of Seventh-day
Adventists as a special, invited delegate.
Dr.
Dykes was described by
Louis B. Reynolds in he book as a demanding teacher and a devout and
uncompromising Christian who set a worthy example to students.
In the book," Black Woman in America", she was
described as a paragon of academic excellence because she served the Black
community throughout her life by
using her knowledge to educate thousands of young people, leaving them
an enduring legacy of excellence and service.
She died on October 29, 1986 at the age of 93.
Sources
1.
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, Computer software. Microsoft.
1995-1996 edition.
2
. Lewis, Jacob.
"Eva Beatrice Dykes." The Message Magazine, Feb- March 1986:
3.
Oakwood College Archives
4.
Ibid
5.
Lewis, Jacob. P. 12
6.
Oakwood College Archives
7.
Lewis, Jacob
8.
Ibid
9.
Oakwood College Archives
10.
Ibid
11.
Lewis, Jacob
12.
Oakwood College Archives
13.
Ibid
14.
Ibid
15.
Oakwood College
Archives
16.
Lewis, Jacob
17.
Ibid.
18.
Lewis, Jacob
19.
Oakwood College
ArchiveS
20.
Encarta.
Computer software. Microsoft,
1998. PC, Windows 98 Plus
21.
Lewis, Jacob
22.
Oakwood College Achieves
23.
Achieves