McMenamin, Joan Stitt (Mrs. Edward B.)
Biography
Joan Stitt McMenamin came to Nightingale in 1959, eventually serving as the fifth headmistress from 1971 until her retirement in 1992.
Mrs. McMenamin 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. 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
The Joan Stitt McMenamin lecture was created following her death in 2004, with the first lecture given in November 2005.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Program, "In Thanksgiving for the Life of Joan Stitt McMenamin", 2004 Jun 21
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.
Program, Joan Stitt McMenamin memorial service, 2004 Oct 1
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.
Records relating to Smith College Medal and commencement ceremony. Contains letter and program, 1985
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.
S03 Academic Department-Sponsored Lectures, c. 1965 - 2024
This series includes photographs, invitations, and programs related to endowed academic lectures at Nightingale-Bamford School. See the General Note for a description of these lectures. Also see External Documents for an historical list of lecturers and subjects. Brief articles on some lectures may be found in The Spectator student newspaper and in school newsletters.
SS03 Biographical Records, 1967 - 2005
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.
Filtered By
- Subject: programs (documents) X
Additional filters:
- Subject
- biography files 3
- memorial service 3
- awards 2
- speeches (documents) 2
- Parents Association 1