Biography
Joan Stitt McMenamin came to Nightingale in 1959, eventually serving as the fifth headmistress from 1971 until her retirement in 1992.
Joan Stitt, born March 7, 1925, was raised in Scarsdale, New York. She attended the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, followed by Smith College, where she earned an economics degree, and the Katharine Gibbs School for secretarial skills (per her father's wishes, who believed it would ensure her financial independence). She worked in Paris as secretary and researcher for the Marshall Plan and Paul Hoffman of the Ford Foundation. In 1953, she married Edward B. McMenamin and they lived in Paris and Washington, D.C., where Mrs. McMenamin worked for the European Coal and Steel Community doing general administrative and public relations work. In 1958, the McMenamins moved to New York City, where Mr. McMenamin became Deputy Provost of Columbia University and then Secretary of the University.
In 1959, at the urgent request of a friend and Nightingale Trustee, Mrs. McMenamin came to Nightingale to fill in for one week as a typist for Catherine Woodbridge, who was headmistress at that time. She stayed to help with scheduling and reaccreditation matters, and her education and talents led to her role as a history teacher, where she emphasized knowledge of current events. As headmistress, she oversaw construction of the new schoolhouse in 1989-1991 before her retirement. The Middle and Upper School library space was named in her honor in the new building.
Mrs. McMenamin's activities outside of Nightingale included serving as a trustee at The Buckley School and The Town School and as an elder at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. She was very involved in matters involving the education of girls.
Mrs. McMenamin was awarded the Smith Medal by her alma mater in 1985.
The Joan Stitt McMenamin lecture was created following her death on June 12, 2004, with the first lecture given in November 2005.
Found in 45 Collections and/or Records:
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0044
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates:
1992
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0041
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates:
1983 Feb 1
File — Box: 01150
Identifier: 001 003 000 07 0035
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Commencement Records include commencement ceremony invitations, programs, scripts, and transcriptions of speeches given. Each year, a commencement guest speaker is invited to deliver words of wisdom and inspiration to the graduating senior students; correspondence with prospective guest speakers and the speaker's biographical information and or curriculum vitae may be in this record series. Also of note are sheet music and lyrics for a Nightingale commencement song. Invitations include the...
Dates:
c. 1972- 1986
Item — Box: 01150
Identifier: 001 003 000 05 0103
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Commencement Records include commencement ceremony invitations, programs, scripts, and transcriptions of speeches given. Each year, a commencement guest speaker is invited to deliver words of wisdom and inspiration to the graduating senior students; correspondence with prospective guest speakers and the speaker's biographical information and or curriculum vitae may be in this record series. Also of note are sheet music and lyrics for a Nightingale commencement song. Invitations include the...
Dates:
1992 Jun 11
Item — Box: 01150
Identifier: 001 003 000 07 0042
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Commencement Records include commencement ceremony invitations, programs, scripts, and transcriptions of speeches given. Each year, a commencement guest speaker is invited to deliver words of wisdom and inspiration to the graduating senior students; correspondence with prospective guest speakers and the speaker's biographical information and or curriculum vitae may be in this record series. Also of note are sheet music and lyrics for a Nightingale commencement song. Invitations include the...
Dates:
1992 Jun 11
File — Box: 01150
Identifier: 001 003 000 07 0048
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Commencement Records include commencement ceremony invitations, programs, scripts, and transcriptions of speeches given. Each year, a commencement guest speaker is invited to deliver words of wisdom and inspiration to the graduating senior students; correspondence with prospective guest speakers and the speaker's biographical information and or curriculum vitae may be in this record series. Also of note are sheet music and lyrics for a Nightingale commencement song. Invitations include the...
Dates:
1980 - 1981
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0062
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates:
1978
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0064
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates:
1980
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0071
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates:
1982
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0073
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Group:
Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates:
1983
