Dean of Women

The Office of the Dean of Women was created at the University of Minnesota in 1906. Ada Comstock was appointed as the first dean, serving from 1907-1912. Subsequent deans and their terms of service were were Margaret Sweeny (1912-1916), Jessie S. Ladd, acting dean (1916-1917), Gertrude S. Beggs (1917-1919), Jessie Ladd, acting dean (1919-1920), Jessie S. Ladd, dean (1920-1923) and Anne Dudley Blitz (1923-1949).

Upon the retirement of Dean Blitz, the functions of the Office of the Dean of Women were transferred to the Office of the Dean of Students.

Anna (later Anne) Dudley Blitz was born on January 27, 1881 in Minneapolis. She attended Minneapolis Central High School and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in 1904. She received an M.A. in 1914 from Columbia University.

She was appointed dean at William Smith College in Geneva, New York from 1915-1919 and served as dean of women at the University of Kansas from 1921-1923. From 1919-1921 she was a lecturer at Columbia University. She came to the University of Minnesota in 1923, succeeding Jessie Ladd as dean of women.. Anne D. Blitz retired from the University of Minnesota in 1949 and died on February 18, 1951 at the age of 70.

From the guide to the Office of the Dean of Women records, 1905, 1919-1949 (bulk dates 1930-1945), (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])