Longfellow, Alice M. (Alice Mary), 1850-1928

Born 22 September 1850 to Henry Wadsworth and Frances Appleton Longfellow, Alice Longfellow lived a privileged life with her family in Cambridge, enjoying her studies and developing a love of travel after a visit to Maine in 1863, when she was only 12 years old. After the death of her mother in 1861, Longfellow took on something of a caretaker role to her two younger sisters, earning her the depiction of "grave Alice" in her father's famous poem, The Children's Hour. At the age of 21, Alice Longfellow came into her inheritance from her mother, a fortune worth $131,755.45, which allowed her financial independence and the freedom to make her own decisions regarding her future.

Growing up, Longfellow received a thorough education for young ladies at Miss C. S. Lyman's School, and later Professor Williston's School. In 1879, at 28 years old, she became the youngest member of a committee of women then known as The Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women, working to establish a Harvard Annex for women. The Annex held special classes for women taught by Harvard professors. Longfellow served as treasurer of the Annex from 1883–1891. Her love of education led her to offer the Craigie House library for the Society's commencements of the Society, which eventually become Radcliffe College. Her affiliation with the school continued throughout her life. She attended classes through the Society until 1890, with a year off spent at Newnham College in Cambridge, England, in 1883-1884. Alice later functioned as a Radcliffe administrator by serving on the executive committee, the Board of Trustees, and as treasurer from 1883 to 1891.

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