Ada Louise Comstock (December 11, 1876 – December 12, 1973) was an American women's education pioneer. She served as the first dean of women at the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...
and later as the first full-time president of
Radcliffe College.
Early life and education
Ada Louise Comstock was born on December 11, 1876, in
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead () is a city in and county seat of Clay County, Minnesota, United States, on the banks of the Red River of the North. Located in the Red River Valley, an extremely fertile and active agricultural region, Moorhead is also home to several ...
, to
Solomon Gilman Comstock
Solomon Gilman Comstock (May 9, 1842 – June 3, 1933) was an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Minnesota's 5th congressional district from 1889 to 1891.
Early life and ...
, an attorney, and Sarah Ball Comstock. Her father recognized her capabilities and potential and set about to cultivate them by encouraging an early and sound education for his daughter.
The oldest of three children, Comstock graduated from
Moorhead High School
Moorhead High School is a public high school in Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. Established in 1883, the school serves approximately 2,000 students in grades 912.
Extracurricular activities
Student groups and activities at Moorhead High Sc ...
at age 15.
Comstock began her undergraduate studies at the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...
in 1892, where she was a member of
Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma (), commonly known as DG, is a women's fraternity in the United States and Canada with over 250,000 initiated members. It has 150 collegiate chapters and more than 200 alumnae groups. The organization's executive office is in Columbus ...
woman's fraternity. After two years, she transferred to
Smith College, graduating in 1897.
As a Smith student, Ada often questioned the established rules and norms of college life. While a resident of Hubbard House, she was given a case of champagne which the housemother felt should be given away. Instead, in what was characteristically her spirit, she decided to store it in the water cooler to refresh her friends.
She returned to Minnesota to complete a graduate course in teaching at Moorhead Normal School (now
Minnesota State University, Moorhead), then went to
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
for graduate work in English, History, and Education, where she earned a master's degree in 1899.
Career
![Ada Louise Comstock, 1923-1943 (13083782855)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ada_Louise_Comstock%2C_1923-1943_%2813083782855%29.jpg)
Comstock began her career at the University of Minnesota as an assistant in the rhetoric department under
Maria L. Sanford. She was promoted to the position of instructor in 1900 and assistant professor in 1904. She was appointed the school's first dean of women in 1907 and a full professor in 1909. In this capacity, she was instrumental in improving the quality of life for the women of the college, arguing persistently that a college was responsible for one's physical and intellectual well-being.
In 1912, Ada came to Smith as the first ever Dean of the College and to teach English. Particularly challenging to her was the opportunity to advise and teach young women in an all-female institution. One of the most important tenets of her educational philosophy was the inculcation in young women of self-respect, one aspect of which was knowing how to employ oneself. Ada believed very strongly throughout her entire life that a college education should inspire women to take a part in the shaping of the world.
In 1917, when the Presidency of Smith College became vacant, Ada was given the responsibility of its operation for approximately 6 months, but was neither given the title of acting President nor was she considered for the position. Despite Ada's significant and numerous contributions to the College, Smith was not ready for its first woman President.
From 1921 to 1923, she served as president of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, now known as the
American Association of University Women.
She was a founding member and one of the five American voting delegates to the first conference of the
International Federation of University Women Graduate Women International (GWI), originally named the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), is an international organisation for women university graduates. IFUW was founded in 1919 following the First World War by both British and ...
in London in 1920 and at the second in Paris in 1922. One of their objects was the forwarding of higher education for women in every country in the world. She was active in other areas in public life as well. In 1929 she was the only woman named by President Herbert Hoover to an eleven-person commission to study problems of law enforcement. She was a president of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, a ...
, Vice Chairman of the American Council of Institute of Pacific Relations and served on the National Committee for Planned Parenthood.
On October 20, 1923, Comstock was inaugurated as president of
Radcliffe College. She spent 20 years leading the school, strengthening its academic programs and, in 1943, persuaded
Harvard to accept classroom coeducation. Also under President Comstock, Radcliffe was able to launch a nationwide admission program, improve student housing, construct new classroom buildings and expand the graduate program.
When Radcliffe celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1954, Comstock was called "the chief architect of the greatness of this college".
In addition to her academic career, Comstock was appointed to the National Committee on Law Observation and Enforcement, known as the
Wickersham Commission
The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (also known unofficially as the Wickersham Commission) was a committee established by the U.S. President, Herbert Hoover, on May 20, 1929. Former attorney general George W. Wickersham (185 ...
, in 1929.
After her retirement from Radcliffe, Comstock remained active in academia, serving on the Smith board of trustees, working on a graduate center for Radcliffe, and traveling extensively in support of her husband's research.
Personal life
A week after her retirement from Radcliffe in 1943, Comstock married Yale professor emeritus
Wallace Notestein.
They had met in Minnesota decades before, but Comstock had focused on her academic career, as her father wished. Neither had married in the intervening years.
Notestein died in 1969.
Death
![Ada Louise Comstock Hall - Harvard University - DSC01418](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Ada_Louise_Comstock_Hall_-_Harvard_University_-_DSC01418.jpg)
Ada Comstock Notestein died of congestive heart failure at her home in
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...
, on December 12, 1973.
Legacy
The largest collection of her papers, the Ada Louise Comstock Papers, 1897–1950, are housed at the
Smith College Archives.
Comstock's name has been honored with buildings on college and university campuses, including Comstock Hall at the University of Minnesota, Comstock Hall in the Radcliffe Quad, and Comstock House residence hall at Smith College. Her full name has also been used for the title of Smith college's program for non-traditional students, as well as for a lecture series.
Her
childhood home is maintained as a historic site by the City of Moorhead and the
Minnesota Historical Society.
Awards and honors
*1943: Fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, a ...
*1958: Jane Addams Medal, Rockford College
*1966: Founder's Award, Radcliffe College
*1967: Hollins Medal
References
External links
Ada Louise Comstock papersat the
Smith College Archives, Smith College Special Collections
Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholar Award & LectureAda Comstock Scholars ProgramRecords of the President of Radcliffe College, 1923-1943: A Finding Aid.Schlesinger Library
Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.
Papers, 1818, 1887-1982: A Finding Aid.
Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Comstock, Ada
1876 births
1973 deaths
People from Moorhead, Minnesota
American educational theorists
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Presidents of Radcliffe College
Smith College alumni
University of Minnesota alumni
Deans of women