The school merged with the Cookman Institute for Men in 1923, eventually becoming Bethune-Cookman University .

In 1904, with just $1.50 and five students, Bethune founded the in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) was a monumental educator, civil rights leader, and presidential advisor who dedicated her life to the advancement of Black Americans and women. Born to formerly enslaved parents, she rose from poverty to become one of the most influential political and social figures of the 20th century.

Bethune broke numerous racial and gender barriers in the federal government: Mary McLeod Bethune - National Women's History Museum

Supported by scholarships, she graduated from Scotia Seminary (1894) and attended the Moody Bible Institute (1894–1895) with the goal of becoming a missionary. Founding Bethune-Cookman University

Born on July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South Carolina, she was the 15th of 17 children.

She was the only child in her family to attend school, walking miles daily to a local mission school.