Mary Pardee Allison was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Clara (Unger) Allison and H. Willard Allison, the town's mayor during 1888 : 1890 and 1893 : 1896. She graduated from Bishopthorpe School, South Bethlehem, Pa. Allison graduated from Smith in 1902, where she had been a member of the Telescopium and the Class Supper Committee. After College, Allison did clerical work for The Allentown Rolling Mills (1903 : 1914), before returning to Smith to do secretarial work, for the Alumnae House (1915 : 1918), for the Dean of Smith College (1924 : 1925), and finally as the Publications Secretary (1925 : 1950). She also served as assistant treasurer for the Smith College Four Million Dollar Fund in 1920. Notably, she created six different endowment funds during her time as an employee in memory or in honor of Smith colleagues and classmates. In 1950, Allison retired and returned to Allentown. She died in 1978, leaving three million dollars to charities throughout the country.
From the guide to the Mary Pardee Allison Papers RG 42., 1898 - 1950, (Smith College Archives)
