Edith Stallings (1903-1987) held the position of Dean of Women for the University of Georgia from January 1, 1948 through August 1, 1963. Louise McBee (1924-) took over the position upon Stallings retirement and served as the Dean of Women until the office was abolished in 1969. Under Stallings and McBee's leadership the Office of the Dean of Women dealt with many social changes including the integration of the University of Georgia campus in 1961 and the beginnings of student activism. In addition both Stallings and McBee were confronted with the evolving roles of women both on campus and off. Edith Stallings graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. degree, did post-graduate work in dietetics at John Hopkins University, and received her M.A. in English from the University of Alabama. Stallings was widowed five years after her marriage to a lung and heart specialist and in 1942 joined the WAVES. While in the WAVES, she served in administrative positions through 1947 when she decided to retire in order to accept the position of Dean of Women at the University of Georgia. Stallings was a world traveler and lived in England for a while after her husband's death. She was active in the installation of four Georgia chapters of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, the only woman on the board of the Georgia Museum, and president of the Georgia Association of Women Deans and Counselors. In addition she was a supporter of Triquetra, a leadership organization for non-sorority women, at the University.
A Tennessee native, Louise McBee graduated from East Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree. She then obtained a M.A. degree through Columbia University and went on to earn her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. In addition to serving as the Dean of Women from 1963 to 1969, McBee continued to work in administrative positions such as Vice President for Academic Affairs until her retirement from the University in 1988. In 1991, she was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.
From the description of Edith L. Stallings and Louise McBee (Dean of Women 1947-1974) papers, 1947-1974. (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 689998365
