McMenamin, Joan Stitt (Mrs. Edward B.), 1925-2004
Person
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 37 Collections and/or Records:
Board of Trustees Annual Meeting minutes (draft), 1991 May 14
Item — Carton: 10042
Identifier: B10042_F12
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
The Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes series includes meeting notices and minutes of regular, annual, and special meetings of the Nightingale-Bamford School Board of Trustees and Miss Nightingale's School, its predecessor. Meeting minutes through 1977 are compiled into seven bound volumes chronologically, although some may also be available loosely. These compilations may additionally contain records related to Board meetings and school governance, such as agreements, charters, and bylaws....
Dates:
1991 May 14
Circular letter : [to] Class VII and VIII Parents / Patsy G. Wainwright, relating to drug and alcohol policies of McMenamin, 1981 Mar 10
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0039
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:
1981 Mar 10
Circular letter : [to] Members of The Nightingale-Bamford School family / Mrs. Mark C. Feer, Mrs. Edward B. McMenamin, relating to plans for schoolhouse building addition, 1986 Mar 5
Item — Box: 06003
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0007
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:
1986 Mar 5
Circular letter : [to] Parents, alumnae and friends of the Nightingale-Bamford School / Mrs. Edward B. McMenamin, relating to schoolhouse addition variance, 1989 Feb 8
Item — Box: 06003
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0013
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 Feb 8
Circular letter : [to] Parents, fellow hostages to the process / Mrs. Edward B. McMenamin, relating to postponement of Board of Standards and Appeals hearing for schoolhouse addition, 1988 Jan 26
Item — Box: 06003
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0009
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 Jan 26
Circular letter : [to] Parents / Joan S. McMenamin, relating to start of school year, 1983 Aug 15
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0042
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 Aug 15
Circular letter : [to] Parents / Joan S. McMenamin, relating to variance for schoolhouse addition, 1986 May 9
Item — Box: 06003
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0008
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:
1986 May 9
Circular letter : [to] Parents / Mrs. Edward B. [Joan] McMenamin, relating to alcohol use, 1981 Feb 24
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0040
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:
1981 Feb 24
Circular letter : [to Parents] / Mrs. Edward B. [Joan] McMenamin, relating to commencement ceremony, 1992
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
Circular letter : [to] Parents / Mrs. Edward B. [Joan] McMenamin, relating to start of school year, 1984 Aug 15
Item — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 005 000 03 0043
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:
1984 Aug 15
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