Fanny Jackson Coppin was an American author and educator, born on October 15, 1837, and died on January 21, 1913. She is recognized for her significant contributions to the education of African Americans, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Coppin was born into a free black family in Baltimore, Maryland, and received her early education from her mother. She later attended the Baltimore Female High School and became a teacher, opening a school for African American children in Baltimore. Her most notable achievement was the founding of the Coppin Normal School for Colored Teachers in 1900, which is now Coppin State University. The school aimed to train African American teachers and enhance the educational quality for black students. Coppin's work had a profound impact on the education of African Americans, serving as a pioneer in the field and contributing to the advancement of African Americans in the 20th century.