“P” is for Paul, Marian Baxter (1897-1980)

“P” is for Paul, Marian Baxter (1897-1980). Public health official. A native of Georgetown County, Paul graduated from Pennsylvania State College. Returning home, she taught in Georgetown County and Columbia. In 1931 she was named the supervisor of Negro Home Demonstration Work, which provided instruction to thousands of rural black households in food preparation, hygiene, and sanitation. During her twenty-eight years the staff of employed agents grew from eight to thirty-five Negro Home Demonstration agents and six assistant agents. Paul taught her agents to carry out demonstration programs effectively. She encouraged her agents to respond to local needs and to encourage community involvement in the planning of their programs. During the New Deal era, Marian Baxter Paul worked with federal agencies to help rural Blacks gain access to a variety of relief and recovery services.