Changes

==Career==

==Career==

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, founded by Sophie Bell Wright (1866-1912) and 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  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/>

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/>