Catherine Louise Allen was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1909. She began her career as an educator in Georgia schools in 1936. After receiving a master's degree from Columbia University, she was appointed professor of physical education and recreation at the University of Tennessee in 1941. During World War II, Allen served as director of special activities in the Pacific region for the Red Cross from 1944 to 1946. After the war, she returned to Tennessee to teach until 1955, when she moved to New York University to chair the women's physical education department. In 1957, she became the director of special activities at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1960, she moved to the Bouve-Boston School at Tufts University in the same position. After the Bouve-Boston School became part of Northeastern University in 1964, Allen served as chair of the recreation education department until 1967, when she assumed the deanship of Boston-Bouve College. Allen resigned as dean in 1977 to become a special assistant to President Kenneth Ryder of Northeastern University, a post she held from 1977 to 1981. Catherine Allen died in 2000.
From the description of Catherine L. Allen papers, 1928-2002. (Northeastern University). WorldCat record id: 754961473
