Marcellus Neal and Frances Marshall, the first male and female African American graduates of Indiana University, had their minds set on one goal—obtaining an education.

At the time that they were students at IU, African Americans were not yet allowed to live on campus. It was rare for a black man to go to college, let alone a woman. Nevertheless, they were determined to not let these formidable obstacles prohibit them from getting an education.

As Frances Marshall told the Indiana Daily Student in 1982, education was her main concern, allowing her to look beyond the unfavorable conditions: “I never worried about being a woman going to school,” she said. “I never worried about being black going to school. I just went on with what I had to do.” Marshall graduated in 1919 with an A.B. in English. Neal graduated in 1895 with an A.B. in Mathematics.

After completing their IU educations, both served in respected careers as teachers and school administrators. Neal was head of the science department at Washington High School in Dallas, Texas, for 25 years before his career was cut short by his tragic death at the hands of a hit-and-run driver. Marshall enjoyed a long career as a teacher and university administrator at Edward Waters College in Florida, North Carolina Central University (she served as registrar from 1928 to 1964), Florida Memorial College, and Spelman College in Georgia.

We recall their perseverance and achievements in honoring them with the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.