Biography
Miss Edna Marion Hill was born December 22, 1904 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England to Edward Archibald Hill, an insurance agent, and Florence Minnie (Hobbs) Hill. She graduated in 1925 from the Gypsy Hill Training College in London. She later received a B.S. degree from Columbia University in New York and taught at Ethical Culture and the Dalton School, where she was promoted to English teacher and director of the elementary department in 1931.
Miss Hill joined the Nightingale-Bamford School in 1935 as director of the Lower School. In 1937, she added the duties of director of Middle School, and became Assistant Head of School when Miss Nightingale retired in 1939. She succeeded Maya Stevens Bamford as Head of School in 1947, serving in that role until her death in 1958.
In December 1954, Miss Hill married Basil Robillard, a lawyer.
Edna Hill Robillard was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1956, and Catherine Woodbridge was appointed in March 1958 to serve as co-head of Nightingale as the disease progressed. To the shock of most of the school community, who were unaware of her diagnosis, Mrs. Robillard died on June 23, 1958 at the age of 53.
The 1945 and 1959 yearbooks were dedicated to Miss Hill/Mrs. Robillard by Nightingale senior students.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Item — Box: 01095
Identifier: 001 004 000 10 0021
Scope and Contents
From the Record Group:
In 1984, based on a determination that Nightingale's archives were inadequate in revealing the school's history, Head of School Joan McMenamin and the Alumnae Association initiated an oral history project. Alumna Marea Adams '74 conducted interviews of former faculty and staff, heads of school, trustees, parents, and alumnae (some interviewees represent more than one of these roles). This project continued through 1986. Some oral histories pre-date the project; there are also several oral...
Dates:
1987
Item — Box: 01101
Identifier: 001 004 000 19 0526
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Faculty and Staff Records consist of records mainly pertaining to Nightingale employees (excepting administration) and their roles within the school. Included are newsletters by and/or for faculty members, biographical information and news clippings about faculty/staff, photographs and video recordings featuring faculty/staff, correspondence, lists of faculty and staff members, faculty handbooks, minutes from faculty meetings and summaries or notes from such meetings, and curriculum-related...
Dates:
c. 1960 - 1980
Item — Box: 01099
Identifier: 001 004 000 19 0371
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Faculty and Staff Records consist of records mainly pertaining to Nightingale employees (excepting administration) and their roles within the school. Included are newsletters by and/or for faculty members, biographical information and news clippings about faculty/staff, photographs and video recordings featuring faculty/staff, correspondence, lists of faculty and staff members, faculty handbooks, minutes from faculty meetings and summaries or notes from such meetings, and curriculum-related...
Dates:
c. 1947 - 1958
Item — Box: 01103
Identifier: 001 004 000 23 0003
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Faculty and Staff Records consist of records mainly pertaining to Nightingale employees (excepting administration) and their roles within the school. Included are newsletters by and/or for faculty members, biographical information and news clippings about faculty/staff, photographs and video recordings featuring faculty/staff, correspondence, lists of faculty and staff members, faculty handbooks, minutes from faculty meetings and summaries or notes from such meetings, and curriculum-related...
Dates:
1942 Nov 19
Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 0004
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates:
c. 1935 - 1945
