This Saturday, and on every April 11 in the future, the Poughkeepsie City School District will celebrate Jane Bolin Day.
The Board of Education approved a resolution Wednesday declaring the district will celebrate April 11 as Jane Bolin Day annually, in recognition of the Poughkeepsie High School graduate’s achievements as a jurist, civil rights leader and native of the city.
Bolin was born April 11, 1908. After graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1924 and Wellesley College – as one of only two Black students in her class – in 1928, she became the first Black woman in history to earn a law degree from Yale Law School in 1931. She went on to become the first Black woman judge in U.S. history in 1939. Later, she became President of the Dutchess County Bar Association and weas a member of the New York Board of Regents.
During her distinguished judicial career spanning four decades, Bolin worked tirelessly to advance fairness within the family and juvenile court system, advocating for nondiscriminatory policies in probation services and child welfare agencies and ensuring that publicly funded institutions served children and families equally regardless of race; and demonstrated extraordinary civic leadership through her involvement with organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Urban League, the City-Wide Citizens’ Committee on Harlem, and the Child Welfare League.
Bolin died at the age of 98 on Jan. 8, 2007. Her legacy can be found throughout the city and our school district, and she serves as the namesake for our administrative headquarters.
The district each year will encourage its schools to collaborate with civic organizations and other institutions throughout the community to observe Jane Bolin Day through educational programs, commemorations and public activities celebrating her life and legacy.
Board of Education member and City Chamberlain Jamar Cummings proudly endorsed the resolution at the meeting Wednesday, noting he grew up not far from where Bolin grew up.
“It just warms my soul to know that these type of people come from Poughkeepsie, are bred here at Poughkeepsie High School,” Cummings said. “I think every student should know that people like Jane Bolin exist right now, here, in the district.”