Principals and Presidents Biographical Files, ca. 1875-
General International Standard for Archival Description
Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections South Hadley, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Julie A. Singley. 2007-08-16
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Principals and Presidents Biographical Files
Mount Holyoke College
Biographical History for: Principals and Presidents Biographical Files
Historical Note Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, was Principal of the school from 1837 until her death in 1849. Her successors as Principal were Mary C. Whitman (1849-1850), Mary W. Chapin (1850-1865), Sophia D. Stoddard (Acting Principal, 1865-1867), and Helen M. French (1867-1872). In 1888, Elizabeth Blanchard, who had served as Principal since 1883, was named Acting President when Mount Holyoke's charter was changed to allow the school to grant degrees. Mary A. Brigham was elected President in 1889, but died in a railway accident on the way to assume her duties. Louise F. Cowles was Acting President until Elizabeth Storrs Mead became the first non-alumna President of the College in 1890. Her successor, Mary Emma Woolley, was elected President in 1900, took office in 1901, and served until 1937. In a controversial appointment, Roswell Gray Ham then became Mount Holyoke's first male President. His successor, Richard Glenn Gettell, was President until his resignation in 1968. Academic Dean and history professor Meribeth E. Cameron, who had served as Acting President when Presidents Ham and Gettell were on leave in 1954 and 1966, filled that office once again until David B. Truman became President in 1978. His successors as President have been Elizabeth T. Kennan (1978-1995) and Joanne V. Creighton (1996-present). History professor Joseph J. Ellis was Acting President for the spring semester in 1984 when President Kennan was on sabbatical, English professor Peter Berek served as Interim President from June-December 1995, and psychology and education professor Beverly D. Tatum was Acting President for the spring semester in 2002 when President Creighton was on sabbatical. Lynn Pasquerella, a 1980 graduate of Mount Holyoke, became President of the College on July 1, 2010.
Scope and Contents of the Collection Biographical files concerning the Principals and Presidents of Mount Holyoke College date from circa 1875 to the present and contain primary and secondary sources relating to these individuals. Materials concern those who have served as principals or presidents of Mount Holyoke as well as those who have been acting or interim principals and presidents. These materials consist of correspondence and writings by them, curriculum vitae and resumes, books, biographical sketches, press releases, genealogical information, obituaries, tributes, notes, audiocassettes, compact discs, and photographs. The files for Mary Emma Woolley include recollections about her by alumnae in the Classes of 1905-1938. Files for Elizabeth T. Kennan and Lynn Pasquerella contain Mount Holyoke College records from their years as students at Mount Holyoke. Materials relating to Joseph J. Ellis (Acting President, January-June 1984) contain six audiocassettes of an interview of him on C-SPAN's Booknotes program in 1997, seven compact discs containing fourteen lectures by him concerning the Brotherhood of the Revolution: how America's founders forged a new nation, recorded for the Modern Scholar program in 2004, and eight compact discs containing his lectures about Patriots: Brotherhood of the American Revolution, recorded for the Barnes and Noble Portable Professor Series, 2004. Materials for Joanne Creighton include a video recording of her introduction to the Mount Holyoke community as President-Elect in 1995. The files also include memorabilia that belonged to some of these individuals and information about their families.
Lyon, Mary, 1797-1849.
lcnaf
Eddy, Mary C. Whitman, 1809-1875.
Pease, Mary W. Chapin (Mary Williams Chapin), 1820-1899.
Stoddard, Sophia D. Hazen, d. 1897.
Gulliver, Helen M. French, 1832-1909.
Blanchard, Elizabeth, 1834-1891.
Brigham, Mary A. (Mary Ann), 1829-1889.
Cowles, Louise F. (Louise Frances), 1842-1924.
Mead, Elizabeth Storrs, 1831-1917.
Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947.
Ham, Roswell Gray, 1891-1983.
Gettell, Richard Glenn, 1912-1988.
Gettell, Landonia.
Cameron, Meribeth E. (Meribeth Elliott), 1905-
Truman, David Bicknell, 1913-
Truman, Elinor Griffenhagen, 1915-2005.
Kennan, Elizabeth T.
Creighton, Joanne V., 1942-
Ellis, Joseph J.
Berek, Peter.
Tatum, Beverly Daniel.
Pasquerella, Lynn.
Eddy, Morton.
Ham family.
Mount Holyoke College--Presidents.
lcsh
Mount Holyoke College--Recollections.
aat
Articles and notes about Mount Holyoke principals and presidents 1937, 1987, n.d.
Whitman, Mary C.: three letters from Morton Eddy (her widower) responding to invitations to visit Mount Holyoke and biographical note 1875, 1887, n.d.
Chapin, Mary W.: essays, notes, and correspondence relating to Chapin 1909, 1923, 1977, 1986, n.d.
Stoddard, Sophia D.: notes n.d.
French, Helen M.: genealogical information, notes 1922, n.d.
Ward, Julia E.: Alumnae Association biographical forms and correspondence, tribute, notes 1915, 1919, 1921, 1945, n.d.
Blanchard, Elizabeth: notes n.d.
Brigham, Mary A.: newspaper articles, obituaries, tributes, correspondence, and notes 1889, 1890, 1899, 1962, n.d.
Brigham, Mary A.: memorial service booklet for Brigham November 6, 1889
Brigham, Mary A.: portraits of Brigham and photograph of her with relatives and friends n.d.
Cowles, Louise F.: Alumnae Association biographical forms, notes 1910, 1914, 1919, 1921, 1924, n.d.
Mead, Elizabeth Storrs: Notable American Women biographical sketch, articles, correspondence, programs for funeral service, genealogical information, and notes 1901-1983, n.d.
Woolley, Mary Emma: articles, notes, press releases 1881, 1906, 1917-1943
Woolley, Mary Emma: articles, notes, press releases 1944-1966
Woolley, Mary Emma: articles, notes, press releases 1967-
Woolley, Mary Emma: notes about her life and events during her tenure as President of Mount Holyoke College 1899-1938
Woolley, Mary Emma: lists of her affiliations and memberships 1975-
Woolley, Mary Emma: memorabilia 1921, 1951
Woolley, Mary Emma: retirement materials 1936-1937
Woolley, Mary Emma: bibliography of writings about her and notes n.d.
Woolley, Mary Emma: article and announcements about the Mary Woolley Fellowship and Mary E. Woolley Chair 1965, 1984
Woolley, Mary Emma: recollections, correspondence and audio cassette tape of Mount Holyoke alumnae and faculty recollections about Woolley 1957-
Woolley, Mary Emma: recollections about Woolley by alumnae in the classes of 1905-1923 1972-1974
Woolley, Mary Emma: recollections about Woolley by alumnae in the classes of 1924-1939 1972
Woolley, Mary Emma: recollections about Woolley by alumnae in the classes of 1911-1934 1974-1975
Woolley, Mary Emma: recollections about Woolley by alumnae in the classes of 1915, 1917, 1923, 1939 1981
Woolley, Mary Emma: Life and Letters of Mary Emma Woolley, by Jeannette Marks 1955
Woolley, Mary Emma: announcements, reviews and notes concerning Life and Letters of Mary Emma Woolley, by Jeannette Marks 1955
Woolley, Mary Emma: Miss Marks and Miss Woolley, by Anna Mary Wells 1978
Woolley, Mary Emma: A Practical Visionary: Mary Emma Woolley and the Education of Women, by Ann Karus Meeropol 1992
Ham, Roswell Gray: materials relating to Salute to the Arts, a program in honor of Ham February 1957
Ham, Roswell Gray: retirement materials spring 1957
Ham, Roswell Gray: clippings, press releases, obituaries, tributes, and notes 1957-1983
Ham, Roswell Gray: clippings and notes concerning Ham's wife and children 1936-1976
Gettell, Richard Glenn: resumes, correspondence, press releases, articles, obituaries, tributes, and notes 1957-1994
Gettell, Richard Glenn: correspondence, articles, writings, and notes by or about Gettell's wife, Landonia Gettell 1957-
Gettell, Richard Glenn: book by Landonia Gettell (in Japanese) 1983
Cameron, Meribeth Elliott: biographical forms, articles, press releases, and notes 1948-1981
Cameron, Meribeth Elliott: writings by her 1948-1962
Truman, David Bicknell: articles, biographical sketches, correspondence, obituaries, tributes, and notes 1967-
Truman, David Bicknell: materials relating to Truman's wife, Elinor Griffenhagen Truman 1969-2005
Kennan, Elizabeth T.: biographical forms and sketches, articles, press releases, correspondence, and notes 1959-1979
Kennan, Elizabeth T.: biographical forms and sketches, articles, press releases, correspondence, and notes 1980-
Kennan, Elizabeth T.: Mount Holyoke College records for Kennan (CONFIDENTIAL) 1956-1968
Ellis, Joseph J.: biographical forms and sketches, correspondence, articles, announcements, invitations and notes 1977-
Ellis, Joseph J.: material concerning his claim of serving in the Vietnam War 2001-
Ellis, Joseph J.: correspondence 1980-
Ellis, Joseph J.: writings 1984-
Ellis, Joseph J.: photographs circa 1972-
Ellis, Joseph J.: Booknotes: Storytellers interview (6 audiocassettes) 1997
Ellis, Joseph J.: Modern Scholar program, Brotherhood of the Revolution: how America's founders forged a new nation (14 lectures on 7 sound discs) 2004
Ellis, Joseph J.: Barnes and Noble Portable Professor Series, Patriots: brotherhood of the American Revolution (8 sound discs) 2004
Berek, Peter: biographical information, curriculum vitae, articles, correspondence, announcements, invitations, notes, and photographs 1980-
Berek, Peter: writings 1978-
Creighton, Joanne V.: articles 1996-
Creighton, Joanne V.: video recording of introduction as President-Elect, with DVD copy 1995
Tatum, Beverly Daniel: articles, invitation, notes, photograph 1997
Pasquerella, Lynn: biographical form, press release1978-
Pasquerella, Lynn: Mount Holyoke College records (CONFIDENTIAL)1978-1980