Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown (1883-1961) was the founder and leader of the Palmer Memorial Institute (PMI), a trailblazing prep school for African-American girls.

Brown was born on June 11, 1883, in North Carolina. When Brown was 18 she decided to open a school specifically for African-American girls in order to give them greater opportunities through education. She began raising money, purchased a 200-acre piece of land and began construction. In 1902 she opened her doors and named the school after Alice Freeman Palmer, a woman who dedicated her life to women’s education.

Through dedication and determination, Charlotte Hawkins Brown helped elevate over 1000 women through education during her 50 years as president.