In honor of Black History Month, the Queens Library is commemorating a local educator from the early 19th Century.

 

A ceremony at the Flushing branch of the Queens Library Tuesday,  marked the life and legacy of Mary Shaw.

The African-American educator was the principal of the "Colored School at Flushing."

When she died in 1905, she donated $1,000 to the Flushing Free Library.

That money was used to purchase books for a reference section at that library, one of which still exists today.

"It is a way of saying and acknowledging thanks to someone who contributed significantly to the creation of the public library," said Queens Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott.

At the celebration a painted portrait of Shaw was unveiled.

Local artist Eddie Abrams worked on the painting that will be on permanent display at the Flushing branch