"Mrs. Walls gets PHD degree," The Pitt News, 1938

"Mrs. Walls gets PHD degree," The Pitt News, 1938

This page includes an article about Jean Hamilton Walls, the first African American woman to earn an undergraduate and doctoral degree from Pitt.

University of Pittsburgh

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Mrs. Walls Gets Ph D Degree By Anna May Durkin As usual there will be the procession of eleven hundred candidates for degrees on Wednesday, June 3. But among them will be woman whose achievements are of special significance. She is Mrs. Raymond A. Walls, first negro woman to be graduated and receive her Ph.D. degree from the University. Jean Hamilton Walls was born in Old Allegheny. She attended grammar school and high school there. Her early childhood was spent studying art and attending concerts at the North Side Carnegie Music Hall. In 1910 she received her bachelor's degree from the University. During her undergraduate days she majored in mathematics and minored in physics. “Life at the University,” said Mrs. Walls smiling, “was much different than it is today. Activities were not many nor very important. There was no dean of women and no organized activities for women as you have now,” continued Mrs. Wells. Active In Social Work After Mrs. Walls was graduated she taught in the Fort Valley junior college. She also studied sociology and received her master’s degree from Howard college. In the field of social work, Mrs. Walls has been active. Over a period of six years she was general secretary of the Center Avenue YWCA. “Hobbies,” said Mrs. Walls, “I have not had much time for them for the last three years. However I did find time to Visit the Carnegie International Art Exhibit. Mrs. Walls doesn’t like Modern Art. “It’s not soft or soothing, she explained. “But it is alive and fresh” and makes one think. “Yet it gives me a feeling of familiarity to walk into the permanent collection from the Romantic Age.” Loves Classical Music The theme of Mrs. Walls’ thesis is “A Study of 78 Negro Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh For The Decade 1926 to 1936.” From her study Mrs. Walls has found that teachers and social workers are the most numerous occupations. There are also a few physicians and housewives. Reading long sagas is one of Mrs. Walls favorite pastimes. She has read Anthony Adverse and number of Norwegian tales. Although Mrs. Walls is not as skilled in music as her husband who graduated from the Chicago Musical College, she is a lover of classical music. Listening to Chopin on rainy spring nights seems to Mrs. Walls one of the most pleasant bits of life.