Gladding, Anna Spicer, 1906-1992

Anna Spicer Gladding was born in Providence, R.I., in 1906 or 1907, the daughter of Royal and Anna (Spicer) Gladding. She was a graduate of Vassar College and studied early childhood education at the Merrill School in Detroit. She applied her education first as a teacher in the Smith College Nursery School, and then in the nursery at the Reformatory for Women in Framingham, Mass., where she was hired the same year (1932) that Miriam Van Waters became superintendent. In 1957 she became the reformatory's librarian. She was also director of the Friendly Visitors' program, organist and choir director, and leader of the literary discussion and nature study groups. She retired in 1984, and died in Ashland, Mass., on May 29, 1992.