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 21 Collections and/or Records:
Item — Box: 04076
Identifier: 004 001 000 21 0078
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
This subseries includes records relating to the annual reunion for alumnae held at Nightingale. Records include invitations to the annual reunion and related events, correspondence, reunion guest books and scrapbooks, reunion event schedules and programs, and alumnae awards presented at reunion. Photographs from reunion activities can be found in RG03_SG001_S03.
Dates:
1981 May
Item — Box: 04076
Identifier: 004 001 000 21 0083
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
This subseries includes records relating to the annual reunion for alumnae held at Nightingale. Records include invitations to the annual reunion and related events, correspondence, reunion guest books and scrapbooks, reunion event schedules and programs, and alumnae awards presented at reunion. Photographs from reunion activities can be found in RG03_SG001_S03.
Dates:
1982 May
Item — Box: 06025
Identifier: 006 005 000 14 0164
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
Item — Box: 06004
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0034
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:
1996 Mar 6
Item — Box: 06003
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0030
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 Apr 24
Item — Box: 06003
Identifier: 006 005 000 05 0006
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:
1975 Jan 30
File — Box: 04010
Identifier: 004 001 000 30 0095
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
This sub-group includes photographs of alumnae taken at events organized by the Institutional Advancement department and/or the Alumnae Association. Events represented include alumnae reunions and receptions in New York and elsewhere, informal reunions organized by alumnae, and educational lectures for alumnae. Nightingale faculty and staff, particularly Institutional Advancement department staff members, Heads of School, and Trustees may be included in photographs. Alumnae may also be...
Dates:
1990
Item — Box: 04010
Identifier: 004 001 000 30 0074
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
This sub-group includes photographs of alumnae taken at events organized by the Institutional Advancement department and/or the Alumnae Association. Events represented include alumnae reunions and receptions in New York and elsewhere, informal reunions organized by alumnae, and educational lectures for alumnae. Nightingale faculty and staff, particularly Institutional Advancement department staff members, Heads of School, and Trustees may be included in photographs. Alumnae may also be...
Dates:
1981
Item — Box: 06013
Identifier: 006 005 000 14 0129
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:
2002
Item — Box: 04081
Identifier: 004 001 000 30 0287
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
This sub-group includes photographs of alumnae taken at events organized by the Institutional Advancement department and/or the Alumnae Association. Events represented include alumnae reunions and receptions in New York and elsewhere, informal reunions organized by alumnae, and educational lectures for alumnae. Nightingale faculty and staff, particularly Institutional Advancement department staff members, Heads of School, and Trustees may be included in photographs. Alumnae may also be...
Dates:
c. 1990 - 1999
