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 23 Collections and/or Records:
Item — Box: 06017
Identifier: 006 005 000 26 0002
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:
1988
Item — Box: 06017
Identifier: 006 005 000 25 0001
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
Biographical Records include records related to the life of Joan Stitt McMenamin, including resumes, biographical compilations, articles and speeches about Joan McMenamin, records of gifts she made to the school, legal records related to her death in 2004, reminiscences, and speeches, programs, a video recording, and visitor books from a service in memory of Joan McMenamin held at Nightingale on October 1, 2004.
Dates:
1967 - 1983
Item — Box: 04133
Identifier: 004 006 000 04 0020
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
The Parents Association hosts and supports several events each year. Records, ephemera, and photographs from these events are included in this series. Over the years, events have included the school Fair (as late as the 1960s, the Fair was organized by the student Social Service Committee, but Fair planning transferred to the Parents Association sometime after), Fathers Who Cook fundraiser, author nights and book fairs (early book fairs were hosted by the Alumnae Association), theater...
Dates:
1988
Item — Box: 06016
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0096
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:
1989
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0084
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:
1985
Item — Box: 06016
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0109
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:
1994
Item — Box: 06016
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0106
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: 06016
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0107
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:
1993
Item — Box: 06016
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0108
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:
1993
Item — Box: 06016
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0090
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:
1988
