Dr. Eva B. Dykes Collection

Being the first African American female to complete her requirements for the PhD degree, Eva Dykes received the terminal award at Radcliffe College in 1921 specializing in English, German, and Greek. Leading up to this historic accomplishment, she had acquired the BA degree at both Howard University and then another BA degree and her first MA degree at Radcliffe College. Among her early accomplishments included membership in Phi Beta Kappa; authoring the book: The Negro in English Romantic Thought or Sympathy for the Oppressed; columnist for Message Magazine; contributor and co-editor of other publications; a choral directress; and a very accomplished pianist.

She dedicated her life to serve humanity by blazing a trail in the arena of education and taught at Walden University (Nashville, Tennessee); Dunbar High School (Washington, DC); Howard University (DC); and Oakwood College (Huntsville, Alabama). After resigning her teaching position at Howard University in 1944, she chaired the English Department at Oakwood College for twenty-four years until retirement in 1968. Nevertheless, Oakwood University called her out of retirement for full-time service from 1970 to 1973. Dr. Eva B. Dykes was born in Washington, DC, August 13, 1893, and passed away on October 29, 1986 at the age of ninety-three while living in the community of Oakwood University.


Such an uncommon, self-less, successful, and extraordinary contribution to life, learning, and labor should be made available to scholars and all persons who appreciate and desire to emulate excellence, inspiration, and the will to serve and uplift humanity. Having spent most of her professional years at Oakwood University, a Christian school of higher learning, renders it quite appropriate and probably providential that an EVA BEATRICE DYKES COLLECTION be established. Therefore, both the Schlesinger Library at Harvard Radcliffe Institute and Oakwood University are collaborating in this endeavor.

The documents are housed in the archives of Eva B. Dykes Library on the campus of Oakwood University and includes materials mostly from her personal library and possessions. The majority of these documents were bequeathed to her student reader, Mervyn A. Warren, who served with tri-executors of her will including Anita Monte’ (niece) and Inez Booth (Chairperson of Music at Oakwood University).

What will you find and have access in the Dykes Collection? Categories of materials will tour you through motivating and soul touching experiences which are historical, biographical, educational, inspirational, and informational. Be prepared to have an extraordinary personal experience whether you are researching or just browsing through educational and professional records, writings by Eva Dykes, writings about Eva Dykes, photographs, award plaques, teaching materials, records (roll books), oral materials, musical materials, her personal library, and even her undated doctoral gown and cap which she wore during appropriate occasions while teaching at Oakwood University. Welcome!

-Mervyn A. Warren, PhD, D. Min

(Retired) Dean of Religion; VP Academic