Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894-1996

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Pluma Batten, educator, was born in Salem, New Jersey, on November 26, 1894, the daughter of Elsie Maud (Burlew) and Charlton Harris Penton. During high school she organized the first student council and international relations club at her school and was graduated as valedictorian of her class. On March 8, 1914 she married Albert B. Batten. Graduated with honors and a B.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1929, she continued with postgraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania (1929-1930), Rutgers University (1930-1931), and New York University (1932-1933) before beginning her teaching career.

As rural supervisor for the New Jersey Helping Teachers (1930-1943), Batten taught every grade for at least one year; wrote "A Story of Salem County as told by Children in the Elementary Schools"; and edited a manual on teaching arithmetic. Her accomplishments during her tenure as a member of the Pilesgrove (New Jersey) Board of Education, and as supervising principal and superintendent of schools for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove District (all 1943-1956), included tripling the school budget, inaugurating a full-time guidance program, replacing report cards with teacher-parent conferences, and integrating a racially segregated school system. In addition, she was an active member of the legislative committee of the New Jersey Education Association and the education committee of the American Association of University Women.

In 1937 she joined the American Federation of Soroptimist Clubs, a professional women's organization devoted to the political and economic advancement of women. She served as president of the Salem (New Jersey) club, as director of the North Atlantic region, and on the regional board; she was then elected to the National Board and served as treasurer, second vice-president, first vice-president, and president (1954-1956). While she was chair of the Extension Committee (1952-1954), seventy-three clubs were added to the organization.

Batten retired from public education in 1957 but continued to be interested in education and the advancement of women. She remained active in various organizations, including the American Association of University Women.

From the guide to the Papers, 1948 (1950-1956) 1964, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Papers, 1948 (1950-1956) 1964 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894-. Papers, 1948-1964 (inclusive), 1950-1956 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894-. Papers, 1931-1956. New Jersey Historical Society Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adkins, Bertha Sheppard, 1906-1970? person
associatedWith Adkins, Bertha Sheppard, 1906-1983. person
associatedWith Allen, Florence Ellinwood, 1884-1966 person
associatedWith American Association of University Women corporateBody
associatedWith American Federation of Soroptimist Clubs corporateBody
associatedWith Blitch, Iris (Faircloth), 1912- person
associatedWith Blitch, Iris Faircloth, 1912- person
associatedWith Church, Marguerite (Stitt), 1892- person
associatedWith Church, Marguerite Stitt, 1892-1990. person
associatedWith Counseling Service of Northern Virginia corporateBody
associatedWith Eichelberger, Clark Mell, 1898- person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Farrington, Elizabeth (Pruett), 1898- person
associatedWith Fay, Marion Spencer person
associatedWith Fuller, Jean (Wood), 1912- person
associatedWith Griffiths, Martha (Wright), 1912- person
associatedWith Griffiths, Martha Wright, 1912- person
associatedWith Harden, Cecil Murrary, 1894- person
associatedWith Harden, Cecil Murray, 1894- person
associatedWith Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964 person
associatedWith Howorth, Lucy Somerville, 1895-1997 person
associatedWith Kee, Elizabeth person
associatedWith Kee, Elizabeth. person
associatedWith Keller, Helen Adams, 1880-1968 person
associatedWith Kelly, Edna Flannery, 1906- person
associatedWith Knutson, Coya Gjesdal, 1912- person
associatedWith Leopold, Alice Koller, 1909- person
associatedWith Paul, Alice, 1885-1977 person
associatedWith Pfost, Gracie Bowers, 1906-1965 person
associatedWith Rawalt, Marguerite, 1895- person
associatedWith Rawalt, Marguerite, 191? - person
associatedWith Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960 person
associatedWith Schlesinger, Arthur Meier, 1888-1965 person
associatedWith Servis, Martha R. person
associatedWith Servis, Martha R. person
associatedWith Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897-1995. person
associatedWith Soroptimist International Association corporateBody
associatedWith Thompson, Ruth, 1887- person
associatedWith Werner, Ella Christine, 1899- person
associatedWith Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania corporateBody
associatedWith Wright, Elizabeth S. person
associatedWith Wright, Elizabeth S. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New Jersey--Woodstown
New Jersey--Pilesgrove
Salem NJ US
Subject
Education
Age and employment
Age and employment
Businesswomen
Cooking
Equal rights amendments
School management and organization
Women
Occupation
Women educators
Women educators
Women school administrators
Women school administrators
Women teachers
Women teachers
Activity

Person

Birth 1894-11-26

Death 1996

Female

Americans

English

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