SYNOPSIS

Born and raised in Washington,

D.C., Euphemia Lofton Haynes
made her name in D.C.'s
academic realm over the course
of her career. After earning
degrees in both mathematics and
education, in 1943, Haynes
became the first African-American
woman to receive a Ph.D. in
mathematics. She then took the
educational system by storm,
teaching in a wide variety of
settings and pushing continually
to change the face of education,
which, at the time, often found
black students falling into a
system of de facto segregation.
Haynes was equally passionate
about the Catholic Church, which
she served until her death in
1980.

Early Years
Euphemia Lofton Haynes was
born Martha Euphemia Lofton on
September 11, 1890, in
Washington, D.C. Her father was
a prominent black dentist known

for backing African-American

businesses in the D.C. area, and
her mother was active in the
Catholic Churcha trait that
would carry on to Euphemia.
After graduating from M St. High
School in 1907 and Miner Normal
School in 1909, Haynes went on
to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
in mathematics from Smith
College. She soon married
childhood friend Harold Appo
Haynes, who, like Haynes, would
later became an influential leader
in Washington's African-American
school system.

Historic First
In 1930, Haynes received a
master's degree in education
from the University of Chicago.
That same year, she founded the
math department at Miner
Teachers College (later renamed
the University of the District of
Columbia), which focused on

training African-American
teachers. Also becoming a

Normal School and taught math

as chair of the department at

professor at the college in 1930,

Haynes remained head of the

Dunbar High School, the premier

D.C. African-American high

school's math department for

nearly 30 years.

school. She was also a professor

of mathematics at the District of

In addition to her educational

roles during this time, Haynes
continued her studies in
mathematics, and in 1943 she

Columbia Teachers College,

where she served as chair of the
Division of Mathematics and
Business Education.

earned a Ph.D. degree in the

subjectmaking her the first

From these positions, Haynes

was vocal in her advocacy for

black woman to do sofrom

the Catholic University of

poor students and better schools,

denouncing the system's

America.

segregation-tinged policies.

A Long and Influential

Career

Later Years and Legacy

Upon receiving her doctorate

after retiring in 1959, Haynes

devoted herself to many causes

degree, Euphemia Lofton Haynes

began what would be a 47-yearlong journey through the D.C.
area's academic realm, and over
the course of her career, many
area schools would be touched

Continuing her advocacy efforts

and organizations, among them

the Archdiocesan Council of
Catholic Women, Committee of
International Social Welfare and

by her influence.

Executive Committee of the

National Social Welfare

Haynes taught mathematics at

Assembly. She also co-founded

the Catholic Interracial Council of

Armstrong High School, served

as an English teacher at Miner

the District of Columbia.

For her efforts on behalf of the

Catholic Church, Haynes was
awarded a papal medal, the Pro
Ecclesia et Pontifice, in 1959.
She joined the District of
Columbia Board of Education the
following year and became its
president in 1966, continuing to
fight racial segregation.
Haynes died on July 25, 1980, at
the age of 89, in Washington,
D.C. Upon her death, the Catholic
University of America received a
bequest of $700,000 from her
estate, with which they endowed
a chair and established a student
loan fund in their education
department.

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APA Style
Euphemia Lofton Haynes. (2015). The
Biography.com website. Retrieved 01:10, Mar
17, 2015,
from http://www.biography.com/people/euphem
ia-lofton-haynes-21465777.

Harvard Style
Euphemia Lofton Haynes. [Internet]. 2015. The
Biography.com website. Available
from:http://www.biography.com/people/euphem
ia-lofton-haynes-21465777 [Accessed 17 Mar
2015].

MLA Style
"Euphemia Lofton Haynes." Bio. A&E
Television Networks, 2015. Web. 17 Mar. 2015