Semans family

• 1887, Nov. 16: Born, Durham, N.C.
• 1907: A.B., Trinity College, Durham, N.C.
• ca. 1914: Presented at the Court of St. James, London, England
• 1915, June 16: Married Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (divorced 1931)
• 1931: Presented Duke Homestead to Duke University
• 1936: Supported expansion of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Duke University
• 1946: Supported expansion of the Duke University Library, including its Rare Book Room
• 1956: Established Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
• 1960, June 1: Died, Durham, N.C.

• 1910, May 30: Born, Uniontown, Pa.
• 1928: Graduated, Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, N.J.
• 1932: A.B., Princeton University
• 1936: M.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• 1936 - 1943 : Medical resident: Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.; St. Mary's Hospital, Pierre, S.D.; Ancker Hospital, St. Paul, Minn.
• 1944 - 1946 : U.S. Army, various stateside military base hospitals
• 1947 - 1953 : Private practice in urology, Atlanta, Ga.
• 1953, Oct. 17: Married Mary Duke Biddle Trent
• 1953 - 1980 : Duke University Medical Center, (Assoc. Professor of Urology 1953-1960, Professor 1960-1980, Emeritus 1980- )
• 1954 - 1963 : Duke University Medical Center, Rehabilitation Program
• 1964 - 1981 : North Carolina School of the Arts, Board of Trustees, Chairman (Honorary Trustee 1981- )
• 1964 - : North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation, Inc., ex-officio Chairman

Dr. Semans's extensive commitment to the areas of vocational and physical rehabilitation began while he was in the Army and developed into an interest in local, state, and national programs. He served on the boards of the United Medical Research Foundation of North Carolina (1956); the National Rehabilitation Association, N.C. Chapter (1955-1958) [Life Member of the national organization]; the National Paraplegia Foundation (1955-1972); the Board of Directors of Operation Breakthrough [a Durham vocational rehabilitation program] (1965-1967); and the Governor's Executive Committee on Employment of the Handicapped (1965-1971). He was named Mary Switzer Scholar at New York University in 1984. He lectured worldwide on the subject of urology.

The primary institutional focus of Dr. Semans's support of the arts is the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, N.C., and activities extending from that commitment, including the promotion of artists of all types. His position with the school involves him in many other arts-related activities including the North Carolina Arts Council (1982?). Dr. Semans was a trustee of Louisburg and Warren Wilson colleges and is on the Board of Trustees of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation (1960-).

Many organizations have recognized Dr. Semans's achievements with awards. These include the National Conference of Christians and Jews National Brotherhood Award (1969); the North Carolina Award for Significant Contributions to the Arts (1972); and the North Carolina Society Award (1986). Each of these awards was received jointly with Mary D.B.T. Semans.

• 1920, Feb. 21: Born, New York City, N.Y.
• 1938, June 24: Married Josiah Charles Trent (died Dec. 1948)
• 1939: A.B., Duke University (diploma received 1951)
• 1951 - 1955 : Durham City Council member
• 1953, Oct. 17: Married James H. Semans
• 1960 - : The Duke Endowment (Trustee 1960-1970, Vice-Chairman 1970-1981, Chairman 1982- )
• 1960 - : Mary Duke Biddle Foundation (Chairman 1960-1983)
• 1961 - 1981 : Duke University Board of Trustees (Emeritus 1981- )
• 1981 - 1985 (?) : North Carolina School of the Arts, Board of Trustees

Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans lived her early years in Tarrytown and New York City, N.Y. She attended the Hewitt School in New York. She moved to Durham, N.C., in 1934. After marrying physician Josiah Charles Trent, she moved between Michigan and Durham while Dr. Trent participated in several hospital residency programs. They returned to Durham around 1947 when Dr. Trent established the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Duke University Hospital.

Mary D.B.T. Semans is active in administrative development and academic and artistic programs of Duke University and is on the Board of The Duke Endowment. Since the 1950s Mrs. Semans served on boards of numerous civic, academic, and social welfare organizations in Durham and the state of North Carolina. She was Durham Mayor Pro-Tem (1953-1955) and President of Durham Homes, Inc. (1968). She served on the North Carolina Museum of Art Committee (1961-1983); the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Committee [Chairman] (1965-); and the North Carolina Symphony Board of Trustees (1972-1983).

In the area of vocational rehabilitation, Mrs. Semans served on the National Advisory Council on Vocational Rehabilitation (1961-1965); the National Citizens Advisory Commission on Vocational Rehabilitation (1966) [appointed by President Johnson]; the Governor's Study Committee on Vocational Rehabilitation [Chairman] (1967-1969); and the Special National Subcommittee on Vocational Rehabilitation (1968).

She was a trustee of several colleges and universities including Louisburg (1959-1965), Shaw (1962-1974), Converse (1964-1967), and Davidson, and a member of various boards of visitors and committees of other educational institutions, including Wake Forest University. She received honorary degrees from universities and colleges including North Carolina Central (1963), Elon (1965), Campbell (1971), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1977), Davidson (1980), Pfeiffer (1984), and North Carolina Wesleyan (1982).

Many organizations have recognized Mrs. Semans's achievements with awards. These include the National Conference of Christians and Jews National Brotherhood Award (1969); the North Carolina Award for Significant Contributions to the Arts (1972); and the North Carolina Society Award (1986). These awards were received jointly with James H. Semans. She also received the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry Citation for Distinguished Public Service (1984) and the North Carolina Distinguished Service Award for Women (1985). Duke University presented her the Distinguished Alumni Award (1986) and the University Medal for Meritorious Service (1986).

• 1887: Born, Pierpoint, N.Y.
• ca. 1912: Graduated as nurse from St. Margaret's Baby Hospital, Albany, N.Y.
• ca. 1917 - 1920 : Baby nurse for families and in a hospital [St. Christopher's?], Brooklyn, N.Y.
• 1920, Oct. 25: Employed by Biddle family as baby nurse for Mary Duke Biddle (Trent Semans), New York, N.Y.
• 1968: Died, Durham, N.C.

From the guide to the Semans Family Papers, 1878-2008 and undated, (Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library)