Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947

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Mary Emma Woolley, college professor and President of Mount Holyoke College from 1901-1937, was born on July 13, 1863 in South Norwalk, Connecticut to Joseph Judah Woolley, a Congregational minister, and Mary August Ferris Woolley, a schoolteacher. She attended Mrs. Fannie Augur's school in Meriden, Connecticut until her family moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1871, when she enrolled in Providence High School. In 1882 she began attending Wheaton Seminary in Norton, Massachusetts, graduating in 1884 and serving as a faculty member there from 1885-1890. She entered Brown University in the fall of 1891 as the first woman to attend the university. She received her A.B. in 1894 and her A.M. in 1895. She served as an instructor, associate professor and professor at Wellesley College from 1895-1899, teaching for and acting as chairman of the Biblical History and Literature Department. During this period, Woolley formed what would be a life-long partnership with Jeannette Augusta Marks, then a student at Wellesley. In 1900, Woolley accepted the position as President of Mount Holyoke College and took office in May of 1901. Her achievements include hiring more faculty with advanced degrees, introducing honors work into the curriculum, expanding the graduate program, successfully raising funds for the College, establishing an academic honors program, eliminating secret societies (sororities), improving the health of students by increasing the physical education requirement, ending the domestic work system, and easing Mount Holyoke's religious exclusiveness. She was an active member of many organizations, serving as the first woman senator of Phi Beta Kappa (1907), chairman of the College Entrance Examination Board (1924-1927), President of the American Association of University Women (1927-1933), and moderator of the Congregational Churches of America (1937). She served as a member of the Foreign Missions Conference of North America Educational Commission to China, which studied Christian higher edu! cation i n that country (1921) and she participated in several major conferences, including the Institute of Pacific Relations conventions (1925 and 1927). In 1932, President Herbert Hoover appointed her to serve as the only woman delegate from the United States to the Conference on Reduction and Limitation of Armaments held in Geneva, Switzerland. She retired as President of Mount Holyoke in 1937 after a divisive controversy over the selection of her successor. She lived in Jeannette Marks' home in Westport, New York and remained active, organizing the Committee on the Participation of Women in Post-War Policy during World War II, joining the National Woman's Party, and endorsing the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1944, Woolley suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that left her partially paralyzed. She died on September 5, 1947 in Westport at the age of eighty-four.

From the guide to the Mary Emma Woolley Papers MS 0842., circa 1845-1947, 1900-1947, (Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections)

Epithet: President of Mount Holyoke College Massachusetts

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000543.0x00028c

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Principals and Presidents Biographical Files RG 4. 2., ca. 1875- Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf Ward, Lydia Avery Coonley, 1845-1924. Autographs collected and letters received by Lydia Avery Coonley Ward, 1705, 1785, 1848, 1861-1922 (bulk 1861-1922). University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Moulton, Anna Y. (Anna Young), 1891-1965. Moulton papers, 1908-1965 (bulk 1912-1916). Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
creatorOf Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. Letter to Cyril Clemens. [Westport-on-Lake Champlain, NY.]. 1940 June 25. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Committee of Nine Records RG 3. 3. 4., 1933-1937 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. Letter 1928, July 14, Westport, New York [to] Mr. Edwim Markham, Staten Island / Mary Emma Woolley. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. Papers, 1885-1961 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Collection, 1921-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Todd, David P. (David Peck), 1855-1939. David Peck Todd papers, 1862-1939 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Mary Emma Woolley Papers MS 0842., circa 1845-1947, 1900-1947 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf Hooker, Henrietta Edgecomb, 1851-1929. Hooker papers, 1873-1942 (bulk 1884-1927). Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Comstock, Ada Louise. Papers, 1818-1982 (inclusive), 1887-1982 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Jerome, Jennie Gilbert, 1888-1979. Papers 1907-1979 (bulk 1907-1911). Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
creatorOf Vol. CIII (ff. 263). April-Aug. 1936.includes:ff. 1, 9 Leopold Gustav Alexander von Hoesch, German diplomatist: Correspondence, partly on his behalf, with Lord Cecil: 1934-1936: Signed.f. 3 Sir Arthur Willert, KBE: Correspondence between Lord Cec... British Library
referencedIn Family papers, 1892-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. Papers. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Stimson, Henry L. (Henry Lewis), 1867-1950. Henry Lewis Stimson papers, 1846-1966. Yale University Library
referencedIn Jeannette Marks Papers MS 0567., 1901-1947. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Papers, 1938(1942-1947) 1959 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Alice Hamilton, 1909-1987 (inclusive), 1909-1965 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. Papers. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
creatorOf Lindsay, Vachel, 1879-1931. Autograph letter signed Vachel Lindsay to: "My dear Lady [Mary E. Wooley]" March 3, 1915. Wellesley College
referencedIn A. Elizabeth Adams papers, 1914-1962. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Beard, Mary Ritter, 1876-1958. Papers, 1935-1958 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Morgan, Laura Puffer, 1874-1962. Papers of Laura Puffer Morgan and Ethel Puffer Howes, 1892-1962 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Pease, Arthur Stanley, 1881-1964. Correspondence and compositions, 1870-1963 Houghton Library
referencedIn Powell, Rose Arnold, 1876-1961. Papers, 1922-1961 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Didcoct, Gertrude Lukins, 1882-1979. Gertrude L. Didcoct Papers, 1890-1979 (1901-1905). Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Dewson, Molly, 1874-1962. Papers, 1893-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Alice Hamilton, 1909-1987 (inclusive), 1909-1965 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Downer papers MS 0528., 1918-1988. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Charles Lewis Slattery papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Hannah Clothier Hull Papers Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
referencedIn Florence Polk Holding Papers MS 0790., 1896-1975 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Kirchwey, Freda. Papers, 1871-1972 (inclusive), 1937-1971 (bulk) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn David Bicknell Truman Records RG 4. 17., 1906-1978, 1969-1978 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Mabel Vernon Papers, 1933-1947 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Kirchwey, Freda, 1893-1976. Papers, 1871-1972 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. Letter to Cyril Clemens. [NY.]. 1940 May 15. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Henry Adams autograph album, 1833-1939. Houghton Library
referencedIn Holding, Florence Polk, 1880-1975. Holding papers, 1896-1975. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Merrill papers MS 0571., ca. 1913-1983. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Todd, David P. (David Peck), 1855-1939. Papers, 1862-1939 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Martha Dickinson Bianchi correspondence concerning publication of the poetry of the American poet, Emily Dickinson:, 1881-1943 (inclusive), 1925-1937 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of Grace A. Johnson in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1840-1952 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dewson, Molly, 1874-1962. Papers, 1893-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1937. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Green, Elizabeth Alden, 1908-. Mount Holyoke in the twentieth century. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Lithgow, Marion Irene, 1901-1992. Lithgow papers, 1920-1992 (bulk 1920-1922). Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Papers of Anna Howard Shaw in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1863-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1900-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Walter Hines Page letters from various correspondents, American period Houghton Library
creatorOf Carnegie Council on Ethics & International Affairs. Carnegie Council on Ethics & International Affairs records, 1914-1996. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Moulton papers MS 0799., 1908-1965, 1912-1916 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Lithgow papers MS 0683., 1920-1992, 1920-1922 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Mark Anthony De Wolfe Howe additional papers Houghton Library
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Adams, A. Elizabeth, 1892-1962. Papers, 1914-1962. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn American Association of University Women. Fargo Branch. Records, 1922-1987. North Dakota State University Library
referencedIn Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. Papers, 1876-1955 (inclusive), 1900-1955 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Jerome papers MS 0615., 1907-1979, 1907-1911 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Papers of Grace A. Johnson in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1840-1952 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Anna Howard Shaw in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1863-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Hawkins, Hugh. Frances Perkins Collection, ca. 1933- 1976- Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Papers of of Alma Lutz,1921-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Frances Perkins Collection MS 0766., ca. 1933-, 1976- Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Gertrude L. Didcoct Papers MS 0837., 1890-1979, 1901-1905 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Barrows family papers, 1861-1931. Houghton Library
referencedIn Sherwin, Belle, 1868-1955. Papers, 1880-1955 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Todd, David P. (David Peck), 1855-1939. David Peck Todd papers, 1862-1939 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Barbara J. White Papers MS 0849., 1935-1971, 1975, 2007 Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn White, Barbara J. (Barbara Jeanne), 1918-. Barbara J. White Papers, 1935-1971. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
referencedIn Papers of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1900-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1914-1968. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Marks, Jeannette Augustus, 1875-1964. Papers, 1938-1959 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Henry L. Dawes Papers, 1833-1933, bulk 1833-1903 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, A. Elizabeth, 1892-1962 person
associatedWith Adams, Henry, 1838-1918 person
associatedWith ALICE HAMILTON, 1869-1970 person
associatedWith ALMA LUTZ person
associatedWith American Association of University Women. Fargo Branch. corporateBody
associatedWith Anna Howard Shaw, 1847-1919 person
associatedWith Anthony, Lucy Elmina, 1861-1944 person
correspondedWith Barrows family. family
associatedWith BELLE SHERWIN, 1868-1955 person
correspondedWith Bianchi, Martha Dickinson, 1866-1943 person
associatedWith Brown, Charlotte Hawkins, 1883-1961. person
associatedWith Carnegie Council on Ethics & International Affairs. corporateBody
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith CHARLOTTE EUGENIA (HAWKINS) BROWN, 1883-1961 person
associatedWith Clemens, Cyril, 1902- , person
associatedWith Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, 1835-1910. person
associatedWith Comstock, Ada Louise. person
correspondedWith Dawes, Henry L. (Henry Laurens), 1816-1903 person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Dewson, Molly, 1874-1962. person
associatedWith Didcoct, Gertrude L. (Gertrude Lukins), 1882-1979 person
associatedWith Didcoct, Gertrude Lukins, 1882-1979. person
associatedWith Downer, Sara B. (Sara Boddie), 1896-1987 person
associatedWith Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. person
associatedWith FREDA KIRCHWEY, 1893-1976 person
associatedWith Garland, Hamlin, 1860-1940. person
associatedWith Grace Allen (Fitch) Johnson, 1871-1952 person
associatedWith Hamilton, Alice, 1869-1970. person
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
associatedWith Holding, Florence Polk person
associatedWith Holding, Florence Polk, 1880-1975. person
associatedWith Hooker, Henrietta Edgecomb, 1851-1929. person
correspondedWith Howe, M. A. De Wolfe (Mark Antony De Wolfe), 1864-1960 person
associatedWith Hull, Hannah Clothier, 1872-1958. person
associatedWith Institute of Pacific Relations. corporateBody
associatedWith Jeannette Augustus Marks, 1875-1964 person
associatedWith Jerome, Jennie Gilbert, 1888-1979 person
associatedWith Johnson, Grace A., 1871-1952. person
associatedWith Kirchwey, Freda. person
associatedWith Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. person
associatedWith Lindsay, Vachel, 1879-1931. person
associatedWith Lithgow, Marion Irene, 1901-1992 person
associatedWith Lutz, Alma. person
associatedWith MacCracken, H. N. (Henry Noble), b. 1880. person
associatedWith Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940. person
associatedWith Marks, Jeannette Augustus, 1875-1964 person
associatedWith MARY (MOLLY) WILLIAMS DEWSON, 1874-1962 person
associatedWith Mary (Ritter) Beard, 1876-1958 person
associatedWith Merrill, Katharine, 1895-1983 person
associatedWith MORGAN-HOWES person
associatedWith Morgan, Laura Puffer, 1874-1962. person
associatedWith Moulton, Anna Y. (Anna Young), 1891-1965 person
associatedWith Mount Holyoke College corporateBody
associatedWith Mount Holyoke College. Board of Trustees. Committee of Nine corporateBody
associatedWith Mount Holyoke College. Office of the President corporateBody
associatedWith Page, Walter Hines, 1855-1918 person
correspondedWith Pease, Arthur Stanley, 1881- person
associatedWith Perkins, Frances, 1880-1965 person
associatedWith Powell, Rose Arnold, 1876-1961. person
associatedWith Shaw, Anna Howard, 1847-1919. person
associatedWith Slattery, Charles Lewis, 1867-1930 person
associatedWith Stimson, Henry L. (Henry Lewis), 1867-1950. person
associatedWith Todd, David P. (David Peck), 1855-1939. person
associatedWith Vernon, Mabel. person
associatedWith Ward, Lydia Avery Coonley, 1845-1924. person
associatedWith White, Barbara J. (Barbara Jeanne), 1918- person
associatedWith Woolley family. family
associatedWith Woolley, Mary Emma, 1863-1947. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Honolulu (Hawaii)
China
Switzerland
Massachusetts
United States
Geneva, Switzerland
Hawaii
Subject
Arms control
College presidents
College presidents
Conference of Reduction and Limitation of Armaments (1932: Geneva, Switzerland)
Education, Higher
Foreign Missions Conference of North Americirca Educational Commission to China
International cooperation
International cooperation
International Federation of University Women
Pan
Peace
Women
Women
Women and peace
Women college presidents
Women educators
Women's colleges
Women's rights
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1863-07-13

Death 1947-09-05

Information

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Ark ID: w6891cp9

SNAC ID: 22789978