Our Black Hoosier Educators series will feature notable Black educators with ties to Indiana.

Mary Ellen (Montgomery) Cable was born on September 19, 1861 in Leavenworth, Kansas. She served as an elementary teacher in Fort Scott, Kansas and Topeka, Kansas. She met George Cable, a fellow teacher, in Topeka. They married and had one son, Theodore Cable. The family relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana. Cable continued serving as a teacher and was employed by Indianapolis Public Schools. As a teacher, she also managed the elementary’s school food garden. The school’s garden led to residents growing food in their own yards. During her 45 year tenure in IPS, she not only served as a teacher, but also as an administrator. She was principal of school 19, 23, 40, 24, and 4. Cable also served as director of teaching. Five Black teachers under her leadership became principals. She retired in 1933. Additionally, Cable organized the first NAACP branch in Indiana and served as the founding president. She was a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Browning Literary Society, and Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. Cable died on September 18, 1944, one day shy of her 83rd birthday. In 1953, nine years after her death, School 4, where she once served as principal, was rebuilt and named after her. Her son, Dr. Theodore Cable, who became a dentist after graduating from Harvard University attended the building dedication ceremony. IPS closed the school in 1980, and IUPUI purchased the property and renamed it the Mary Cable Building. The university demolished the building in 2006 due to asbestos. 

Quote: “It will take a torrent that will almost sweep us from our feet before we will band as one power, forgetful of everything other than that we are part of this government, and must be dealt with as men receiving all the rights and privileges of citizenship.”

Sources: Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, Madam Walker Legacy Center, NUVO, Indiana Historical Society – Black News & Notes August 1994 , The Indianapolis News (September 19, 1944), Indianapolis Recorder (July 29, 1978)

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