Comstock, Ada Louise

Radcliffe College president (1923-1943), Comstock (1876-1973) was born in Moorhead, Minn., graduated from Smith College (1897), and received an A.M. from Columbia University (1899). She taught rhetoric and oratory at the University of Minnesota and became the first dean of women there in 1907. In 1912 she became the first dean of Smith College. Comstock was also the first president of the American Association of University Women and the only woman on the National Commission of Law Observance and Enforcement. She served on the National Committee for Planned Parenthood and the Institute of Pacific Relations, and opposed discrimination against women in many areas of society. After retiring as president of Radcliffe, she married Wallace Notestein, professor at Yale, in 1943, and settled in New Haven.

Smith College Class of 1897. Born Dec. 11, 1876. Columbia University, A.M., 1899. Smith College, Dean of the College, 1912-1923 ("acting" President, 1917). University of Minnesota, Professor, Rhetoric and Oratory, 1900-1912; Dean of Women, 1907-1912. Radcliffe College, President, 1923-1943. Member: Smith College Board of Trustees, American Association of University Womens, International Federation of University Women. Died Dec. 12, 1973.

Ada Louise Comstock (1876-1973) was president of Radcliffe College, 1923-1943.

Educator. A.B. Smith College 1897; A.M. Columbia 1899. Assistant, then Professor of Rhetoric and Dean of Women at University of Minnesota to 1912; Dean of Smith College 1912-1923; President of Radcliffe 1923-1943. Member of President Hoover's Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (Wickersham Commission 1929- ).

Radcliffe College president (1923-1943), Comstock graduated from Smith College (1897), and received an A.M. from Columbia University (1899). She taught rhetoric and oratory at the University of Minnesota and became the first dean of women there in 1907. In 1912 she became the first dean of Smith College. Comstock was also the first president of the American Association of University Women and the only woman on the National Commission of Law Observance and Enforcement, served on the National Committee for Planned Parenthood, the Institute of Pacific Relations, and opposed discrimination against women in many areas of society. After retiring as president of Radcliffe, she married Wallace Notestein, professor at Yale, in 1943 and settled in New Haven.

College administrator. Attended University of Minnesota for two years and graduated from Smith College in 1897. Appointed first Dean of Women at University of Minnesota; Dean and Professor of English at Smith College, 1912-1923. First full-time President of Radcliffe, 1923-1943.