Gretchen Schuyler

Gretchen Schuyler was born June 12, 1911, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Col. Philip Lansing and Gertrude (Alger) Schuyler. She spent a large majority of her youth and young adulthood in Scituate, and later Marshfield, Massachusetts.

She graduated in 1931 from Sargent College, Boston University (B.U.), where she excelled in nine different sports; an award in her honor is given annually to the top woman student and athlete at B.U. In 1935 she became a member of the first U.S. Women's Lacrosse team. Known for her versatility, Schuyler's positions included midfield (1935-1939 teams), first home (crease attack) for the 1946 team, and goalie for the 1948 team; she was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994. She also was a reserve on the U.S. Women's Field Hockey team, and was the first woman inducted into the B.U. Athletic Hall of Fame (1978).

Schuyler worked as a teacher (and eventually became head of her department) at the Cathedral School of Saint Mary's (Garden City, NewYork), and later taught at the Chapin School (New York City), where one of her pupils was Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. She earned her Master of Arts in 1940 from Columbia University.

During World War II, Schuyler served for three years with the American Red Cross in England, Germany, France, and Belgium. As Captain of a Clubmobile Service unit with 32 women and 18 vehicles attached to the General Patton's 3rd Army (VIIIth Corps), she and her unit were trapped in Bastogne when it was under German attack. They are credited with caring for the soldiers, and evacuating five truckloads of G.I. Christmas mail that was scheduled to be incinerated when the Germans encircled the city. Schuyler received commendation letters from U.S. Army Generals Omar Bradley and Troy H. Middleton, and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery by President Harry S. Truman.

After the war, Schuyler returned to Sargent College as professor of physical education, retiring in 1973 after 25 years of teaching. She moved to Bradford, New Hampshire, in 1980. In the winter of 2002, she passed away at New London Hospital (New Hampshire).

From the guide to the Papers, 1932-2002, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)