She was an American author, educator, sociologist, speaker, Black Liberation activist, and one of the most prominent African-American scholars in United States history. Born into slavery in 1858, Cooper triumphed against the odds of gender and race to receive a world-class education and claim power and prestige in academic and social circles.
| Born |
Anna Julia Haywood |
|---|---|
| Died | February 27, 1964 (age 105) Washington, D.C. |
| Education | A. B., Oberlin College, 1884 M.A., Oberlin College, 1887 PhD, University of Paris, 1924 |
| Known for | 4th black woman, and 1st woman from the District of Columbia, to receive Ph.D. |
| Spouse(s) | George A. C. Cooper M.D (1877–1879) |
| Children | Lula Love Lawson (foster daughter) |
| Parent(s) | Hannah Stanley Haywood Either George W. or Fabius Haywood |
| Relatives | Andrew J. Haywood (brother) Rufus Haywood (brother) John Haywood (grandfather) Edmund Burke Haywood (uncle) Fabius J. Haywood (father or uncle) George Washington Haywood (father or uncle) |
Anna J Cooper Upon receiving her PhD in history from the Sorbonne in 1924, Cooper became the fourth African American woman to earn a doctoral degree. She was also a prominent member of Washington, D.C.'s African-American community and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Cooper made contributions to social science fields, particularly in sociology. She is sometimes called "the mother of Black Feminism."
