Mary_Pein_Taylor_Park

A Liberian pioneer in women's education who founded Liberia's first girls' school in the late 19th century, advocating for female empowerment.

Mary Pein Taylor Park (1852–1923) was a Liberian educator and suffragist who pioneered women’s education in West Africa. As a descendant of freed American slaves, she witnessed the gender disparities in post-colonial Liberia. In 1884, she established the Monrovia Girls’ High School, Liberia’s first institution dedicated to girls’ education, teaching subjects like mathematics, literature, and civic duties.

Her methods emphasized practical skills such as sewing and bookkeeping, preparing girls for economic independence. Park also advocated for women’s voting rights, organizing the Liberian Women’s League in 1895 to lobby for legal reforms. She faced opposition from male-dominated political circles but gained support from the Liberian president, Arthur Barclay.

Her school’s curriculum included African history and culture, challenging Eurocentric narratives. Modern historians like Dr. Maureen Warner-Lewis highlight her role in creating a model for African-centered education. Though overshadowed by contemporaries like Mary McLeod Bethune, Park’s work remains foundational to Liberia’s educational system. Her legacy is preserved in the Mary Pein Taylor Park Memorial School in Monrovia.