Hatt, Mary Geraldine

Indiana University alumna.

Mary Geraldine Hatt graduated from IU in 1933 with an AB in History and went on to earn an MA in International Relations from Clark University in 1938. Hatt taught social studies in South Bend, Ind. for more than 40 years with some breaks for outside service in travel, including service during World War II and the first Fulbright Scholarship for travel to South Africa. Hatt retired from LaSalle High School in 1974.

From the description of Mary Geraldine Hatt papers, 1929-2000. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 49667556

Mary Geraldine "Gerry" Hatt graduated from South Bend Central High School at the age of 16 in 1928. Thinking her too young for college, her parents kept her home for one year before sending her to Indiana University in 1929. Miss Hatt completed her AB in History in 1933 and went on to earn an MA in International Relations from Clark University in 1938.

Miss Hatt taught social studies in South Bend, Indiana for more than 40 years (1933-74) with some breaks for outside service and travel. During World War II, for example, she served in the American Red Cross Hospital Service in Europe. Additionally, Miss Hatt has the distinction of receiving the first Fulbright Scholarship for travel to South Africa. While there, she studied and lectured at teacher training colleges. Upon returning to the United States she gave several talks about her experience in South Africa, which was struggling with apartheid laws at the time. Miss Hatt retired from LaSalle High School in 1974 and still resides in South Bend.

Miss Hatt has also deposited family papers at the Northern Indiana Center for History in South Bend, where she is a trustee. The phone number for the Center is 574-235-9664.

In 2010, genealogist Janet McDougall Buchanan donated a photograph of Miss Hatt's mother, Effie Shepley Hatt. Along with the photograph, she included this additional genealogical information on the Hatt family: Mary G. Hatt and brother James S.H. Hatt (b. around 1900/1899 - some confusion [on the date] - and died 31 Mar 1962 in San Diego, CA) were the children of: James J. Hatt and Effie M. Shepley Hatt (1874-1931). Effie was born to David (b. 1848) and Mary (b. 1850) Shepley (both born in IN). Effie was born in MI, possibly Napolean.

From the guide to the Mary Geraldine Hatt papers, 1929-2000, (Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives)