Essie Barry’s Legacy Gift to Support Future NYU Students

As thousands of students do each year, Essie Barry came to New York City in 1959 to pursue her dream of a college education.

Born on a former slave plantation in Mississippi, Essie was 46 years old and a widowed mother of three when she came to the city without friends, family, money, or a ticket home.

And she persevered. Over a period of 17 years, Essie worked during the day, first as a live-in domestic and later as a teacher. She studied at night, earning six separate degrees. She completed her last degree, an M.S. in education administration, at the Steinhardt School in 1975 at the age of 62. Essie’s daughter Carlita eventually joined her in New York, earned an undergraduate scholarship to NYU, and then attended the NYU School of Medicine.

In recognition of the opportunities that NYU gave her, Essie provided in her will for a generous legacy for student scholarships.

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