Anna Parker Fessenden (April 8, 1896 – May 3, 1972) was an American botanist and mathematics educator.

Early life and education

Anna Parker Fessenden was born in Thomaston, Maine, and raised in Mattapan, Massachusetts, the middle of three daughters of William S. Fessenden and Alida Mary Mehan Fessenden. Her mother was assistant principal of Sandwich High School. Fessenden graduated from

Girls' Latin School Boston Latin Academy (BLA) is a public exam school founded in 1878 in Boston, Massachusetts providing students in grades 7th through 12th a classical preparatory education. Originally named Girls' Latin School until 1977, the school was the ...

in 1914, and graduated from

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...

in 1918. As a college student, she was active in the Smith College Unitarian Club, and she edited and wrote for the ''Smith College Monthly''. She earned a master's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1920. Her master's thesis, under advisor

Josephine Tilden Josephine Elizabeth Tilden (March 24, 1869 – May 15, 1957) was an American expert on pacific algae. She was the first woman scientist employed by the University of Minnesota. Tilden established a research station in British Columbia which lasted ...

, was titled "Observations on Two Rare Australian Algae, ''Myriocladia Sciurus'', Harvey and ''Bactrophora Irregularis'', N. SP."

Career

Fessenden taught botany at Vassar College,

Wellesley College Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...

and at the University of Minnesota. She and Josephine Tilden co-authored an article on brown algae from Australia. She taught mathematics at Needham High School in Massachusetts for 36 years, and was a director of math programs for the Needham school district. She retired from teaching in 1962. Fessenden was an active member of several clubs including the Audubon Society, and a trustee of the Thomaston Historical Society.

Personal life

Fessenden died in 1972, aged 76 years, in Camden, Maine. Her grave is with her parents' graves, in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fessenden, Anna Parker 1896 births 1972 deaths People from Thomaston, Maine 20th-century American botanists 20th-century American educators Mathematics educators People from Needham, Massachusetts Smith College alumni University of Minnesota alumni