Life & Legacy of
Miriam Shivery Moore Brown

Miriam Shivery Moore Brown (1901–1993) stands as one of Mount Pleasant’s most influential educators and community leaders. Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, she grew up in a close-knit African American community shaped by the legacy of post–Civil War Freedmen’s Schools, including the historic Laing School. These schools, later chronicled by Lynnette Jackson Love in Smashing Obstacles & Building Legacies, formed the educational foundation that made Miriam’s own leadership possible in the generation that followed.

 

Early Life and Education

From a young age, Miriam was immersed in an environment that valued learning, mutual support, and community progress. The principles that defined the early Freedmen’s schools — resilience, discipline, and the belief that education could transform lives — became part of her personal and professional identity. Her academic promise and dedication led her toward a career in education at a time when opportunities for Black women in the South were extremely limited.

 

A Career Devoted to Laing School

Miriam Brown’s life’s work centered on Laing School, the institution established in 1866 to educate African American children in the Mount Pleasant area. By the early 1950s she was already a respected teacher, mentor, and figure of stability within the community. In 1953, she became Principal of Laing School — an especially critical role during an era marked by segregation, legal battles over civil rights, and the early stages of public school desegregation.

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Her leadership from 1953 to 1969 helped guide Laing through a period of immense transition. She upheld the school’s historical mission while adapting to the shifting educational landscape. Much like the perseverance described in Love’s book, Miriam embodied the enduring spirit of Laing: a belief in practical education, character-building, and elevating young people not only academically but socially and morally.

 

Service Beyond the Classroom

Miriam’s influence extended far beyond her administrative role. She was an advocate for families navigating social change, a supporter of young teachers building their careers, and a quiet but steadfast leader whose presence was felt throughout the community. Those who knew her remember her professionalism, warmth, and deep commitment to fairness — qualities that shaped generations of students and educators.

 

Family Life

In 1928, Miriam married Arthur Felder Brown. Together they raised two children while remaining deeply connected to their church, neighbors, and the traditions of their hometown. Her family life grounded her work and reflected the deep values she carried into every part of her leadership.

 

Honors, Archives, and Lasting Recognition

Miriam Brown’s legacy continues to be preserved in several meaningful ways. Her professional papers and correspondence are housed at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, ensuring that her contributions remain accessible to future researchers and community members. The Town of Mount Pleasant formally recognized her service by establishing Miriam Brown Memorial Day on October 12 — a rare civic honor that speaks to      the impact she had on the town’s cultural and educational life. The former site of Laing School now bears her name as the Miriam Brown Community Center, permanently linking her legacy to the heart of the community she served.

 

A Legacy That Endures

Miriam Shivery Moore Brown represents the bridge between the earliest era of Black education in Mount Pleasant and the modern era of public schooling. Her leadership carried forward the mission that began at Laing School in the 19th century and shaped it for a new generation.

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Her life’s work continues in every Mount Pleasant classroom that values equity, dignity, and opportunity. She remains a symbol of perseverance, service, and the powerful legacy of educators who dedicate their lives to lifting up their communities.

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Dr. Jeanne Brown Morris — Continuing Her Mother’s Educational Legacy

Jeanne Albertha Brown Morris, Miriam’s daughter, became a distinguished educator herself. She spent much of her career at Illinois State University (ISU), where she joined the faculty in 1967 in the College of Education, in the Departments of Elementary Education and Curriculum & Instruction.

• At ISU, Jeanne focused on early childhood and multicultural education, deeply influenced by her mother’s life and the history of segregated schooling in the South. 

• She retired after a 26-year career, becoming Professor Emeritus.

• Together with her husband, Charles E. Morris Jr., she made significant contributions: the Dr. Jeanne B. Morris and Dr. Charles E. Morris, Jr. Library & Reading Room in ISU’s Multicultural Center is named in their honor.

• Jeanne also documented her mother’s life in a manuscript titled In and Out of the Shadows: The Life and Contributions of Miriam Shivery Moore Brown.

 

Through Jeanne’s academic and professional work, Miriam Brown’s legacy extended far beyond Mount Pleasant — influencing future generations of educators and students in Illinois and beyond.

To learn more about Dr. Jeanne Morris visit  https://www.drsmorrisisu.com/