McMenamin, Joan Stitt (Mrs. Edward B.), 1925-2004
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 560 Collections and/or Records:
Photograph of Mrs. [Rachlis] seated in chair, Miss [Cundy], Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Norris seated on couch and Mrs. McMenamin seated in chair, 1965
Photograph of Patsy Howard, Liz Spear '91, and Joan Stitt McMenamin at honors assembly, 1989
This series consists mainly of lists of honors and award recipients, honors and award ceremony programs, and photographs from such ceremonies.
Photograph of student Teressa Tunney and Joan McMenamin, 1989
Photograph of student Wendy Long '93, Mrs. Gordan, and Joan Stitt McMenamin at honors assembly, 1989
This series consists mainly of lists of honors and award recipients, honors and award ceremony programs, and photographs from such ceremonies.
Photograph of Sue Hecht Tofel '48, Christine Jones, Joan McMenamin, and husband at farewell party for McMenamin, 1992
Photograph of Susan Feer '48, Audrey Goode '39, Mrs. Gordan, Sarah Hamilton, and Joan McMenamin laughing, 1986 - 1987
Photograph of Susan Hoffman '82 receiving diploma from Joan McMenamin, 1982
Photograph of Upper School faculty Mrs. Ford and Joan Stitt McMenamin, 1969
Photographs of 2003 reunion. Names on versos of some, 2003 May 16
Photographs of a class reunion. Some photos have names on versos, 1986
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 559
- Collection 1
- Subject
- black-and-white photographs 206
- correspondence 172
- faculty (educators) and staff 83
- The Nightingale-Bamford School--Alumnae 57
- commencements 45
- special events 44
- memoranda 37
- school buildings 37
- fund raising 35
- speeches (documents) 35
- color photographs 31
- parents 30
- biography files 29
- board of trustees 29
- awards 28
- assemblies 25
- lecturers 24
- reports 24
- gifts 23
- Funds and scholarships 21
- school reunions 21
- clippings (information artifacts) 20
- negatives (photographs) 19
- invitations 17
- alumnae events 14
- school history 13
- music 12
- memorial service 10
- Parents Association 8
- curricula 8
- financial records 8
- notes (documents) 8
- Nightingale-Bamford School Alumnae Association 7
- institutional advancement 7
- libraries 7
- realia 7
- travel 7
- Education--Aims and objectives 6
- NYSAIS 6
- arts (broad discipline) 6
- contact sheets 6
- books 5
- programs (documents) 5
- serials (publications) 5
- Alumnae Board 4
- Class of 1989 4
- certificates 4
- newsletters 4
- oral histories (literary works) 4
- student exchange programs 4
- student projects 4
- Christmas 3
- Class of 1948 3
- Class of 1980 3
- Class of 1981 3
- Class of 1990 3
- Class of 1992 3
- Class of 2000 3
- Fair 3
- Single-sex classes (Education) 3
- anniversaries 3
- athletics 3
- greeting cards 3
- gymnasiums 3
- mathematics 3
- performing arts (discipline) 3
- playgrounds 3
- tuition 3
- video recordings 3
- Class of 1931 2
- Class of 1962 2
- Class of 1975 2
- Class of 1976 2
- Class of 1985 2
- Class of 1986 2
- Glee clubs / Chorale 2
- Kindergarten 2
- Morning Meeting (formerly Prayers) 2
- admissions 2
- banners 2
- calendars 2
- class photographs 2
- classrooms 2
- community engagement 2
- forms (documents) 2
- health 2
- minutes (administrative records) 2
- poetry 2
- schedules (time plans) 2
- technology 2
- theater arts 2
- visitors' books 2
- Academic Affairs Committee 1
- Class of 1925 1
- Class of 1939 1
- Class of 1947 1
- Class of 1949 1
- Class of 1950 1
- Class of 1951 1
- Class of 1956 1 ∧ less