Barbara T. Bowman
(1928 – 2024)
Barbara T. Bowman, a tireless advocate for children and co-founder of the Erikson Institute, passed away on November 4, 2024. We are devastated by the loss of this incredible woman whose contributions to the field of early childhood are many and whose spirit inspired generations of leaders. She left an indelible legacy as a pioneer in early childhood education, and as a dedicated advocate for educational equity for all children, especially children of color and children with limited access to resources.
Read the Press Release from Erikson Institute
Read Barbara T. Bowman’s Final Message to the Erikson Community
Born on the South Side of Chicago at a time when segregation confined the Black community to one small area, Barbara’s family taught her the value of community service at a young age. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 1950, she became a preschool teacher, and Barbara’s passion for early childhood development began.
In 1966, Barbara co-founded the Erikson Institute with child psychologist Maria Piers, social worker Lorraine Wallach, and businessman Irving Harris. Their action was spurred by the birth of Head Start the year before. Barbara and her colleagues realized that most preschool teachers didn’t have experience teaching children from resource-deprived communities. They established the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study to ensure teachers had the tools to provide all children with the education they needed thrive.
In the years that followed, Barbara became an internationally renowned expert in early childhood development and its integration in policy and practice. She remained embedded at Erikson and served as president from 1994-2001. In addition to her leadership at Erikson, Barbara also served as chief officer for early childhood education at Chicago Public Schools and as a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama. She continued to teach graduate courses and serve on numerous committees and boards until her death.
We are grateful to Barbara for her commitment to children, equality and justice has transformed the early childhood development field and the lives of countless children. She truly made the world a better place.
Memorial Events
We will announce memorial events once details are confirmed.
Featured Articles
We will add articles and other media stories as they become available.
Future Education Magazine
Remembering Barbara Taylor Bowman: A Trailblazer in Early Childhood Education
Share Your Condolences
If you would like to share your memories or condolences with Barbara’s family, you can send them to us and we will pass them on.
Read Barbara’s Final Message to the Erikson Community
We hope her words bring you comfort and remind you of the incredible impact she had on all of us. Read the message here