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'''Mary Williams Mims''' (August 20, 1882 &ndash; November 24, 1967) <ref>''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' lists her middle name as Williams; her gravestone says "William." It appears that the engraver made an error by omitting the "s" in Williams.</ref>was an [[United States|American]] [[educator]], pioneering community organizer, and [[rural]] [[Sociology|sociologist]].

'''Mary Williams Mims''' (August 20, 1882 &ndash; November 24, 1967) <ref>''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' lists her middle name as Williams; her gravestone says "William." It appears that the engraver made an error by omitting the "s" in Williams.</ref>was an [[United States|American]] [[educator]], pioneering community organizer, and [[rural]] [[Sociology|sociologist]].

Mims was born near [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]], the fourth of eight children of a [[Methodist]] couple, David Samuel Mims (1846-1919), a [[farmer|planter]] originally from Darlington, [[South Carolina]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122462217/david-samuel-mims|title=David Samuel Mims|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref> and the former Mary Eleanora Stewart (1849-1940), a native of [[Alabama]], who was reared in Webster Parish and was a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of the region. One of Eleanora's brothers, [[William G. Stewart]],was a farmer and president of the Webster Parish School Board, who became the namesake of the since razed William G. Stewart Elementary School in Minden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122462312/mary-eleanora-mims|title=Mary Eleanora Stewart Mims|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref>

Mims was born near [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]], the fourth of eight children of a [[Methodist]] couple, David Samuel Mims (1846-1919), a [[farmer|planter]] originally from Darlington, [[South Carolina]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122462217/david-samuel-mims|title=David Samuel Mims|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref> and the former Mary Eleanora Stewart (1849-1940), a native of [[Alabama]], who was reared in Webster Parish and was a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of the region. One of Eleanora's brothers, [[William G. Stewart]],was a farmer and president of the Webster Parish School Board, who became the namesake of the since razed William G. Stewart Elementary School in Minden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122462312/mary-eleanora-mims|title=Mary Eleanora Stewart Mims|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref>

In 1902, she received a Bachelor of Industry degree in 1902 from the Louisiana Industrial Institute, the former name of [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. She received additional education in [[New Orleans]] at the Sophie B. Wright School for Girls, now known as the Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence. She attended summer terms at George Peabody College in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], the [[University of Colorado]] at Boulder, and [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], and a number of institutes in [[Europe]]. From 1902 to 1922, she taught or served as principal in Bienville Parish at Gibsland, Ringgold, and Bienville.<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-m/|title=Mims, Mary Williams|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'': Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref> She was her state's first female principals.<ref name=extraordinary>{{cite web|url=https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/communications/publications/agmag/archive/2014/spring/the-extraordinary-mary-mims|title=The Extraordinary Mary Mims|publisher=Louisiana State Imiversity Agricultural Center|date=Spring 2014|author=Linda Benedict and Randy LaBauve|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref>  

In 1902, she received a Bachelor of Industry degree in 1902 from the Louisiana Industrial Institute, the former name of [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. She received additional education in [[New Orleans]] at the Sophie B. Wright School for Girls, now known as the Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence. She attended summer terms at George Peabody College in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], the [[University of Colorado]] at Boulder, and [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], and a number of institutes in [[Europe]]. From 1902 to 1922, she taught or served as principal in Bienville Parish at Gibsland, Ringgold, and Bienville.<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-m/|title=Mims, Mary Williams|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'': Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref> She was her state's first female principals.<ref name=extraordinary>{{cite web|url=https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/communications/publications/agmag/archive/2014/spring/the-extraordinary-mary-mims|title=The Extraordinary Mary Mims|publisher=Louisiana State Imiversity Agricultural Center|date=Spring 2014|author=Linda Benedict and Randy LaBauve|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}</ref>  

In 1922, Mims she began a new career as assistant home demonstration agent for the LSU Agricultural Extension Service. From this berth, she became the first sociologist for the extension service. In 1925, she launched a program to organize rural communities by estates and was considered one of the greatest national orators during her career. She gave a speech alongside [[U.S. President]] [[Calvin Coolidge]],<ref name=extraordinary/> and travelled to personal conferences with national leaders and the nobility in Europe and other parts of the world. She hence became one of the best known national advocates for community development. Her model included economic, health, civic, and recreational guidelines to improve rural America. By 1940, more than one thousand Louisiana communities had organized, and she was invited to speak about her program throughout the United States and in Europe. In the 1930s, Miss Mims organized nineteen folk schools to assist rural communities in the retention of their heritage. In 1941, she was named "Woman of the Year" by ''Progressive Farmer'' [[magazine]], based in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], Alabama. Centenary College in [[Shreveport]] awarded her In 1957 an honorary Doctor of Law degree. On her retirement, effective with her seventieth birthday, she became emeritus extension professor of sociology. In 1957, the Louisiana Library Association presented her with its James O. Modisette Award for Public Libraries, which is issued in even years if merited..<ref name=lahist/>

In 1922, Mims she began a new career as assistant home demonstration agent for the LSU Agricultural Extension Service. From this berth, she became the first sociologist for the extension service. In 1925, she launched a program to organize rural communities by estates and was considered one of the greatest national orators during her career. She gave a speech alongside [[U.S. President]] [[Calvin Coolidge]]<ref name=extraordinary/> and   became one of the best known national advocates for community development. Her model included economic, health, civic, and recreational guidelines to improve rural America. By 1940, she had organized more than one thousand Louisiana communities, such as Calhoun in Ouachita Parish, Hico in Lincoln Parish, and Evergreen in Avoyelles Parish, and was invited to speak about her program throughout the United States and in [[Europe]].<ref name=extraordinary/> In the 1930s, Miss Mims organized nineteen folk schools to assist rural communities in the retention of their heritage. In 1941, she was named "Woman of the Year" by ''Progressive Farmer'' [[magazine]], based in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], Alabama. Centenary College in [[Shreveport]] awarded her In 1957 an honorary Doctor of Law degree. On her retirement, effective with her seventieth birthday, she became emeritus extension professor of sociology. In 1957, the Louisiana Library Association presented her with its James O. Modisette Award for Public Libraries, which is issued in even years if merited.<ref name=lahist/>

Her book, ''The Awakening Community,'' published in 1932, launched Mims to national and international attention. The book includes practical wisdom, anecdotes, and concrete suggestions for the building of strong communities.

Her book, ''The Awakening Community,'' published in 1932, launched Mims to national and international attention. The book includes practical wisdom, anecdotes, and concrete suggestions for the building of strong communities.