Nannie Helen Burroughs was born in 1879 in Orange, Virginia, to formerly enslaved parents. Her father died when she was young, and she and her mother moved to Washington, D.C., where she graduated with honours from the M Street High School (later Dunbar High School). Despite her academic excellence, she was denied a teaching position in the D.C. public school system — reportedly because the district preferred lighter-complexioned Black teachers.
That rejection redirected Burroughs toward founding her own institution. In 1900, her speech 'How the Sisters Are Hindered from Helping,' delivered at the National Baptist Convention, won her national recognition and helped catalyse the Woman's Convention, an auxiliary that became the largest Black women's organisation in the United States, which she led as president for roughly 13 years.
In 1909, after raising funds specifically from small donations by ordinary Black women and children rather than relying on wealthy white donors, Burroughs opened the National Training School for Women and Girls in Washington, D.C., providing practical vocational and professional training alongside academic education. She ran the school until her death in 1961; it was renamed the Nannie Helen Burroughs School in her honour in 1964, and its Trades Hall carries National Historic Landmark designation today.
We specialize in the wholly impossible.
Nannie Helen Burroughs built an entire educational institution funded deliberately by small donations from Black women rather than white philanthropy, and her Woman's Convention became the largest Black women's organisation in American history — a lasting demonstration that rejection could be answered by building rather than waiting for acceptance.
- 1879Born in Orange, Virginia, to formerly enslaved parents.
- 1896Graduates with honours from M Street High School; denied a D.C. teaching position.
- 1900Delivers 'How the Sisters Are Hindered from Helping' at the National Baptist Convention.
- 1909Opens the National Training School for Women and Girls in Washington, D.C.
- 1913Becomes one of the first four Honorary Members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
- 1928Appointed by President Hoover to head a national fact-finding commission on housing.
- 1961Dies in Washington, D.C., having led the school for over 50 years.
- 1964The school is renamed the Nannie Helen Burroughs School in her honour.
- ★ Founded the National Training School for Women and Girls (1909)
- ★ Built the Woman's Convention into the largest Black women's organisation in the United States
- ★ Funded her school through grassroots donations from Black women rather than white philanthropy
- ★ Appointed by President Hoover to a national housing commission