Early life

Parents were...

Sam + Patsy McIntosh Mcleod,

both were former slaves.

Sibling were...

Mary was the fifteenth out of seventeen children.

As a child...

Mary accompanied her mother to delivering a "white peoples wash" which allowed Mary to go to the nursery and she was fascinated by the toys.

One day...

Mary picked up a book and a white child took it away from her saying saying she didn't know how to read.

From that moment...

Mary decided that the only difference between white and colored people was the ability to read, write and the color of your skin. She was inspired to learn.