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Bamford, Maya Stevens, c. 1886-1978

 Person

Biography

Maya Stevens Bamford is a co-founder of the Nightingale-Bamford School, joining Frances Nightingale at Miss Nightingale's Classes in September 1919 as Junior Headmistress to share the responsibilities and take charge of the older girls and college preparatory group. Miss Bamford became Headmistress of the Nightingale-Bamford School in 1939 upon the retirement of Miss Nightingale. She served in that capacity until 1947.

Born in Belfast, Ireland, Miss Bamford graduated from Queens University in her native city, received a Diploma in Theory and Practice of Education from Cambridge University, and did further graduate work at Oxford and the Sorbonne. Before coming to Miss Nightingale's Classes, Miss Bamford taught in a number of girls' schools in England and in the United States, to which she emigrated in 1915, including the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore. A teacher of mathematics, Miss Bamford believed in giving young women a strong background in the sciences and mathematics. It was during Miss Bamford's tenure as Headmistress that a new school building on 92nd Street was completed to replace the townhouses the school originally occupied.

Miss Bamford died in Rockport, Maine on January 17th, 1978.

Resources:

The Nightingale-Bamford School Archives, Maya Bamford biography file, including announcement for memorial service, obituary, and letters, 1978

The Nightingale-Bamford School Archives, Nightingale-Bamford School Yearbook, 1947

Found in 80 Collections and/or Records:

RG04 Oral History Record Group

 Record Group
Identifier: RG04
Scope and Contents In 1984, based on a determination that Nightingale's archives were inadequate in revealing the school's history, Head of School Joan McMenamin and the Alumnae Association initiated an oral history project. Alumna Marea Adams '74 conducted interviews of former faculty and staff, heads of school, trustees, parents, and alumnae (some interviewees represent more than one of these roles). This project continued through 1986. Some oral histories pre-date the project; there are also several oral...
Dates: c. 1965 - 2001

S02 Maya Stevens Bamford (1939 - 1947), 1915 - 1993

 Series
Identifier: RG02_SG001_S02
Scope and Contents This series includes correspondence, photographs, a commencement speech, and biographical records of Maya Stevens Bamford. A majority of the correspondence relates to commencement speakers. The earliest photograph is from 1939 and the latest from 1970, when Miss Bamford attended the school's fiftieth anniversary luncheon. Biographical information includes family history, an announcement of Miss Bamford's retirement from the school, and a program and sound recording from a memorial service...
Dates: 1915 - 1993

SG001 Heads of School Records, 1915 - 2018

 Sub-Group
Identifier: RG02_SG001
Scope and Contents 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: 1915 - 2018

SG001 Oral History Recordings, Transcripts, and Notes, c. 1965 - 2001

 Sub-Group
Identifier: RG04_SG001
Scope and Contents From the Record Group: In 1984, based on a determination that Nightingale's archives were inadequate in revealing the school's history, Head of School Joan McMenamin and the Alumnae Association initiated an oral history project. Alumna Marea Adams '74 conducted interviews of former faculty and staff, heads of school, trustees, parents, and alumnae (some interviewees represent more than one of these roles). This project continued through 1986. Some oral histories pre-date the project; there are also several oral...
Dates: c. 1965 - 2001

Social Register Observer article on female educators, 2002 Winter

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 04 0003
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 2002 Winter

Sound recording of Maya Stevens Bamford memorial service, 1978 Mar 15

 Item — Box: 06007
Identifier: 006 002 000 02 0001
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series includes correspondence, photographs, a commencement speech, and biographical records of Maya Stevens Bamford. A majority of the correspondence relates to commencement speakers. The earliest photograph is from 1939 and the latest from 1970, when Miss Bamford attended the school's fiftieth anniversary luncheon. Biographical information includes family history, an announcement of Miss Bamford's retirement from the school, and a program and sound recording from a memorial service...
Dates: 1978 Mar 15

Sound recording of oral history of Miss Maya Stevens Bamford, 1970 May 12

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 006 002 000 02 0003
Scope and Contents From the Record Group: In 1984, based on a determination that Nightingale's archives were inadequate in revealing the school's history, Head of School Joan McMenamin and the Alumnae Association initiated an oral history project. Alumna Marea Adams '74 conducted interviews of former faculty and staff, heads of school, trustees, parents, and alumnae (some interviewees represent more than one of these roles). This project continued through 1986. Some oral histories pre-date the project; there are also several oral...
Dates: 1970 May 12

SS16 Maya Stevens Bamford Memorial Fund, 1978 - 1979

 Sub-Series
Identifier: RG03_SG001_S02_SS16
Scope and Contents From the Record Group: The External Relations Record Group is comprised of records related to the Nightingale-Bamford School's communications and relations with outside groups, such as students' parents, alumnae, media and the general public. These include records from the Institutional Advancement office related to the Alumnae Association and fundraising, Parents Association records, and Communications office records including those relevant to the school's branding and image, such as school news publications,...
Dates: 1978 - 1979

The Year Book of Miss Nightingale's School, vol. 2, 1926

 Item — Box: 07024
Identifier: 007 006 000 17 0002
Scope and Contents From the Series: Nightingale-Bamford School students publish a yearbook annually each spring, under the supervision of an advisor, which serves as a memento of the school year. Yearbooks typically include group photographs of students in each class year, sometimes with identifying names of each student pictured. Class XII students are honored with individual photographs. Earlier yearbooks included senior students' school activities, while later yearbooks allow seniors to design their own page. Yearbooks may...
Dates: 1926

Trustees' announcement of Miss Maya Stevens Bamford's retirement and appointment of Miss Edna Marion Hill as Headmistress on July 1, 1947, 1947

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 002 000 01 0001
Scope and Contents From the Series: This series includes correspondence, photographs, a commencement speech, and biographical records of Maya Stevens Bamford. A majority of the correspondence relates to commencement speakers. The earliest photograph is from 1939 and the latest from 1970, when Miss Bamford attended the school's fiftieth anniversary luncheon. Biographical information includes family history, an announcement of Miss Bamford's retirement from the school, and a program and sound recording from a memorial service...
Dates: 1947

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 78
Collection 2
 
Subject
correspondence 34
faculty (educators) and staff 18
commencements 14
black-and-white photographs 13
financial records 12