Did Mary McLeod Bethune live in the Council House?
Yes. She lived at 1318 Vermont Avenue from 1943 until 1949 when she returned permanently to Daytona Beach, Florida. Though Mary McLeod Bethune lived in Washington, DC from 1936 to 1949, she frequently visited Florida for extended periods. While she was with the National Youth Administration, Bethune traveled across the U.S. making speeches.

Is the house in its original condition?
The Council House has been modified over the years, and was restored from damage after a fire. The floor plan is unchanged but the furnishings are incomplete. The National Park Service recreated the feel of the Council House during Mrs. Bethune's residence through historic photographs and what furniture remains.

Where is Mary McLeod Bethune buried?
Mary McLeod Bethune is buried on the campus of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida.

How old was Mary McLeod Bethune when she died?
She died in 1955 at the age of 79.

What happened to Mary McLeod Bethune's husband?
Mary McLeod married Albertus Bethune, a former school teacher, in 1898. They stayed together for 6 years but Albertus was unable to find work in Florida, so he returned to his family's home in South Carolina. He died of tuberculosis in 1919.

How many children did she have?
Mary McLeod Bethune had one son - Albert McLeod Bethune. He died in 1989 at the age of 90. He lived in Daytona Beach, Florida for most of his life.

Are there any members of her family who are still alive?
There are many descendents of Mary McLeod Bethune still alive, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Where is her college? How big is Bethune-Cookman College now?
Bethune-Cookman College is located in Daytona Beach, Florida with a current enrollment of 2300 students.

Where is the current headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)?
In October of 1995, the NCNW dedicated its new headquarters at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

Is Dorothy Height still President of the NCNW?
Dorothy Height became President of the NCNW in November of 1957. She retired from the NCNW in 1998, but remains active in the organization.