Mary Smith Peake (1823 - February 22, 1862) was an African-American teacher who taught the children of former slaves under a large oak tree that later became known as the Emancipation Oak. The American Missionary Association paid her salary as its first black teacher. Soon the AMA provided Peake with Brown Cottage, considered the first facility of Hampton Institute (Hampton University). Engraving by Frederick W. Halpin, 1863.

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Keywords: 1863, 19th, african-american, america, american, black, bw, century, civil, educator, famous, hampton, history, humanitarian, illustration, kelsey, mary, peake, personality, smith, teacher, university, usa, war