Thelma Cowey Swain (November 22, 1908 – April 19, 2008) was an American

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

. She contributed significant funds to non-profit organizations in

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

and also established scholarships at

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was the first operating college or university in Vermont. The college currently enrolls 2,858 undergraduates from all ...

Tufts University Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. ...

, and at each of the seven colleges of the

Maine Community College System The Maine Community College System (MCCS) is Maine's comprehensive two-year college system, offering nearly 300 technical, career, and transfer programs; customized training; and lifelong learning. Maine's seven community colleges are located in A ...

. In 2010 her estate bequeathed $1 million to The Foundation for Maine's Community Colleges. She was posthumously inducted into the

Maine Women's Hall of Fame The Maine Women's Hall of Fame was created in 1990 to honor the achievements of women associated with the U.S. state of Maine. The induction ceremonies are held each year during March, designated as Women's History Month. Nominees are chosen by the ...

in 2010.

Early life and marriage

She was born Thelma M. Cowey in

Chelsea, Maine Chelsea is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,778 at the 2020 census. It is home to the Togus Veterans Administration facilities. History Chelsea was incorporated as a town on March 1, 1851 separating from a ...

, the daughter of Stephen R. Cowey and Bessie Kirkwood Cowey. She was an only child. During her youth her family moved numerous times as her father worked as the head gardener on estates in Walpole and

Nashua, New Hampshire Nashua is a city in southern New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 91,322, the second-largest in northern New England after nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, Manchester. Along with Manc ...

;

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

; and

York Harbor, Maine York Harbor is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of York in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,033 at the 2010 census. York Harbor is a distinguished former Gilded Age summer colony noted for its resort architect ...

. She graduated from York High School in 1927 and earned an undergraduate degree at

in 1931. Following graduation, she worked for the

Public Service Company of New Hampshire Public Service of New Hampshire, commonly known as PSNH, was the largest public utility in the U.S. state of New Hampshire for decades. Founded in 1926, it sold natural gas and electricity, and for a time ran electric street-railway services and ...

in Nashua as an appliance service representative. In January 1938 she married Vernon T. Swain and relocated to

Waterville, Maine Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The city is home to Colby College and Thomas College. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census the populatio ...

; in 1949 they moved to Augusta. She assisted her husband in his home-based electrical engineering consulting firm, and also was a co-owner of an antique shop. Her husband died in 1993 after 55 years of marriage. They had one daughter.

Philanthropy

After her husband's death, Swain dedicated herself to philanthropy. She contributed significant funds to the

Gulf of Maine Research Institute The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) is a non-profit marine science center and research institute located in Portland, Maine. The institute promotes stewarding the ecosystem, supporting sustainable seafood, cultivating science literacy, an ...

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

Arboretum, Pine Tree State Arboretum, and the Pine Tree Society camp. She established a college scholarship for students in the Teen Parent School Program at the Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers. She also volunteered weekly at the

Maine State Museum The Maine State Museum is the official Maine government's museum and is located at 230 State Street, adjacent to the Maine State House, in Augusta. Its collections focus on the state's pre-history, history, and natural science. Permanent exhibi ...

in Augusta and supported the Norlands Living History Center in Livermore; in 2000 she donated "cotton sheets and sewing notions" to the

living history Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to ree ...

museum. Swain endowed several scholarships benefiting Maine students at

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

and

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. She also supported the seven colleges in the

, donating nearly $2 million between 1995 and 2010. She endowed the Thelma C. Swain Scholarship at each of the seven colleges, which is awarded to students in the nursing, residential construction, plumbing, or heating programs; and the Lloyd Duncan Scholarship, established in 1996 at

Northern Maine Community College Northern Maine Community College is a public community college in Presque Isle, Maine. It is part of the Maine Community College System. The campus was founded in 1961 on the grounds of the former Presque Isle Air Force Base. Academics The col ...

, benefiting seniors in electrical or electronics programs. In 2000 she was honored as Benefactor of the Year for New England by the Council for Resource Development in recognition of her support for

Central Maine Community College Central Maine Community College is a public community college in Auburn, Maine. It is part of the Maine Community College System The Maine Community College System (MCCS) is Maine's comprehensive two-year college system, offering nearly 300 tec ...

and the Maine Technical College System. The latter system appointed her an honorary trustee emerita in 2001. In 2010, her estate made a bequest of $1 million to The Foundation for Maine's Community Colleges.

Final years and legacy

In 2000 she moved to the Granite Hill Estates in

Hallowell, Maine Hallowell is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,570 at the 2020 census. Popular with tourists, Hallowell is noted for its culture and old architecture. Hallowell is included in the Augusta, Maine, micropolita ...

. She died on April 19, 2008, at the age of 99. In 2008 the Norlands Living History Center inaugurated the Thelma Swain Award for Youth Leadership in Fundraising in her honor. She was posthumously inducted into the

in 2010.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swain, Thelma C. Philanthropists from Maine American women philanthropists People from Augusta, Maine People from Hallowell, Maine Tufts University alumni 1908 births 2008 deaths People from Kennebec County, Maine 20th-century American philanthropists 20th-century women philanthropists