Bertha Boykin Todd Papers

Bertha Boykin Todd was born in Sampson County, North Carolina on March 30, 1929. Bertha attended North Carolina Central University, majoring in biology, and later obtained her master's in library science, as well as a master's in education administraton from East Carolina University. Following in the footsteps of her educator parents--her father was a principal and her mother taught third grade--she became librarian of Williston High School in Wilmington in 1952, where she worked for 15 years until the school was closed in 1967 due to integration.

From there, she transferred to Hoggard High School, and a year later became the administrative assistant for human relations, helping to facilitate improved student success and learning during desegregation. In 1970, Todd became Assistant Principal of Hoggard High School, a position she held until 1985. She held several other positions throughout her four decade career with the New Hanover County school system, including Director of Staff Development, until she retired in 1992.

Todd served the community in several capacities. Most notably, she co-chaired the 1898 Centennial Foundation for the 100th anniversary of the Wilmington Coup of 1898 in 1998, whose goal was to reexamine and memoralize the events of the 1898 coup, resulting in the creation of 1898 Memorial Park. The committee worked to hold events, panels, and reconcilliation discussions around the events of 1898 and the current state of racial affairs in present day Wilmington. The efforts of the foundation continued in the years after 1998, which led to the creation of the 1898 Foundation and the Partners for Economic Inclusion, who carry on their work.

She helped integrate the local YWCA as part of its planning committee, as well as served on the New Hanover County Human Relations Commission, the N.C. Human Relations Council, and the boards of the Cape Fear Area Red Cross, the New Hanover Department of Social Services, the Cape Fear Museum, and the Cape Fear Community Foundation. Bertha is also a long-time member of Chesnut Street Presbyterian Church and the NAACP.

Bertha was married to Edward "Mack" Todd until his death. They had two children together, Rita and Brian. In 2010, Bertha published her memoirs, My Restless Journey. She continues to make appearances and speaking engagements around the county, in local news, and on national programs, where she shares her experiences and advice.