Alice Mary Dowd

{{Infobox writer

| name = Alice Mary Dowd

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| image = MARY ALICE DOWD.jpg

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| caption = "A Woman of the Century"

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| pseudonym = Alice M. Dowd

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| birth_date = December 16, 1855

| birth_place = Frankford, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{dda|1943|7|2|1855|12|16}}

| death_place = Hudson, New York, U.S.

| resting_place = Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, Massachusetts, U.S.

| occupation = educator, author

| language = English

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| alma_mater = Westfield High School, Westfield State University

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| genre = poetry, textbook

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| notableworks = Vacation Verses

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| relatives = Luella Dowd Smith (sister)

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Alice Mary Dowd (pen name, Alice M. Dowd; December 16, 1855 – July 2, 1943) was an American educator and author. She was born in Virginia in 1855 and began teaching at the age of seventeen. Dowd taught for more than three decades before retiring in 1926, having had experience in almost all phases of the work, including district school substitute, evening school, private school, high school, college, and Sunday school. Besides numerous uncollected poems, she published a volume entitled Vacation Verses in 1890.{{sfn|Alderman|Harris|Kent|1910|p=125}} In 1906, she published Our Common Wild Flowers. With her sister, Luella Dowd Smith, she co-authored another book of poetry, Along the Way, in 1938. Dowd was an occasional contributor to papers, and at one time, a regular contributor to the magazine edition of Pasadena News. Dowd died in 1943.

Early years and education

Alice Mary (sometimes, Mary Alice) Dowd was born in Frankford, Virginia, on December 16, 1855{{sfn|Herringshaw|1904|p=312}}{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}} to Emily (née Curtiss) and Almeron (sometimes spelled Almeson) Dowd.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}}{{sfn|The Columbia Republican|1898|p=3}}{{sfn|Massachusetts State Census|1865}} Her parents were school-teachers of Puritan descent, their ancestors having landed in New England about the year 1630. In both families were found officers and privates of the Revolutionary army. On her father's side, she was related to the family of Field and the old English family of Dudley. She was the youngest of four children, though only she and her sister Luella survived childhood.{{sfn|The Columbia Republican|1898|p=3}} Her other siblings were Curtis Field and Emily Virginia. Dowd's early home was among the Berkshires, whence her parents removed to Westfield, Massachusetts, a town noted for its schools. Dowd was a delicate child, and her parents hoped she would reach adulthood. Shy and reserved, at a young age, she showed a great love of nature and a deep appreciation of all natural beauty.{{sfn|Willard|1888|p=258}}

Dowd was educated at home and in the public schools of Westfield. She was graduated first rank from the English and classical departments of the high school, taking the two courses simultaneously.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}} In the State Normal School (now Westfield State University, she studied optionals with the prescribed branches, composed a class hymn sung at her graduation,{{sfn|Willard|1888|p=258}} and was the class poet. She took several courses in the Sauveur Summer School of Languages, which included foreign study and travel, and especially fitted herself to give instruction in German.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}}

Career

After graduation, she was constantly employed as a teacher. For more than a decade she held the position of first assistant in the high school of Stamford, Connecticut.{{sfn|Herringshaw|1904|p=312}} Of scholarly attainments, she helped many young men to prepare for college. She published a volume of verse, Vacation Verses (Buffalo, New York, 1891).{{sfn|Herringshaw|1904|p=312}}{{sfn|Willard|1888|p=258}} In 1904, she left Stamford to take a post as a German teacher at Pomona College{{sfn|Pomona College|1905|p=21}} in Los Angeles County.{{sfn|The Los Angeles Times|1904|p=19}} Two years later, she published a text book, Our Common Wild Flowers, which received mixed reviews from critics.{{sfn|The Hartford Courant|1906|p=16}}{{sfn|The Fort Plain Standard|1922|p=1}}

Dowd returned east and between 1912 and 1914 taught at Philmont High School in Philmont, New York.{{sfn|The Hudson Evening Register|1915|p=6}} She joined the Women's Political Union of New York writing articles in support of women's suffrage.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}}{{sfn|The Columbia Republican|1914|p=7}} In 1915, she was hired as the assistant principal of Madalin High School in Madalin.{{sfn|The Hudson Evening Register|1915|p=6}} She taught German at the high school in Trumansburg from 1918{{sfn|The Ithaca Journal|1918|p=7}} through 1921, when she went to teach mathematics and history at the high school in Fort Plain.{{sfn|The Columbia Republican|1921|p=10}} Dowd was hired in 1923 to teach history and mathematics at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, where she remained until her retirement in June 1926.{{sfn|The Saratogian|1923|p=10}}{{sfn|The Schenectady Gazette|1926|p=15}} For many years, she also taught in Sunday schools.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}}

Dowd and her sister Luella, at that time known as Mrs. James W. Smith, left their homes in Hudson, New York upon her retirement and made a tour of western states with plans to permanently settle in California;{{sfn|The Schenectady Gazette|1926|p=15}} however, they returned to Hudson and for several years lived there and wintered in Fort Myers, Florida.{{sfn|The News-Press|1929|p=3}}{{sfn|The News-Press|1932|p=5}} The sisters co-authored a book of verses, Along the Way in 1938.{{sfn|The Oakland Tribune|1938|p=14}}

Personal life

Dowd was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and an associate member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She enjoyed bicycle riding and photography.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}}

In religion, Dowd was a Universalist.{{sfn|Leonard|1914|p=256}} She survived her sister, Luella, who died July 7, 1941.{{cite web |title=Mrs. Luella D. Smith |url=http://nyscu.org/Archives/Universalist%20Memory%20Garden/Universalist%20Memory%20Garden%20SM-SZ/Smith,%20Luella%20(Dowd)%201941.pdf |work=Empire State Universalist |access-date=5 October 2018 |location=Cortland NY |date=September 1941}} In early 1943, while living in Hudson, New York, she received a gift of Florida oranges from her friends, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rivenburg.{{cite news |title=Personals |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper4/Hudson%20NY%20Evening%20Register/Hudson%20NY%20Evening%20Register%201943%20Grayscale/Hudson%20NY%20Evening%20Register%201943%20Grayscale%20-%202335.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=The Hudson, N. Y. Evening Register |date=1 March 1943 |pages=8}} Dowd died at her home in Hudson, on July 2, 1943, at the age of eighty-seven,{{sfn|Universalist Publishing House|1943|p=575}} and is buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, in Westfield.

Selected works

Vacation Verses, 1890
Our Common Wild Flowers, 1906
Along the Way, 1938

References

=Attribution=

{{Source-attribution| {{cite book|last1=Alderman|first1=Edwin Anderson|last2=Harris|first2=Joel Chandler|last3=Kent|first3=Charles William|title=Library of Southern Literature: Biographical dictionary of authors|url=https://archive.org/details/librarysouthern04metcgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/librarysouthern04metcgoog/page/n302 125]|edition=Public domain|year=1910|publisher=Martin & Hoyt Company}} }}
{{Source-attribution| {{cite book|last=Herringshaw|first=Thomas William|title=Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century: Accurate and Succinct Biographies of Famous Men and Women in All Walks of Life who are Or Have Been the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States Since Its Formation ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xxg7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA312|edition=Public domain|year=1904|publisher=American Publishers' Association}} }}
{{Source-attribution| {{cite book|last=Leonard|first=John William|title=Woman's Who's who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MQnhIJhYbbMC&pg=PA256|edition=Public domain|year=1914|publisher=American Commonwealth Company}} }}
{{Source-attribution| {{cite book|author=Pomona College|title=The Pomona College Catalogue ... College Year: Register ... Announcements ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GThJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA21|edition=Public domain|year=1905|publisher=Pomona College|location=Claremont, California}} }}
{{Source-attribution| {{cite book|last=Willard|first=Frances Elizabeth|title=Woman and Temperance: Or, The Work and Workers of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IxegAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA258|edition=Public domain|year=1888|publisher=Park Publishing Company}} }}

=Bibliography=

{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Massachusetts State Census|1865}} |author= |title=1865 Massachusetts State Census: Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DYMQ-5Y3?i=76&cc=1410399 |website=FamilySearch |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Archives |access-date=5 October 2018 |location=Boston, Massachusetts |page=77 |date=16 August 1865 |id=GS microfilm number 0954565, image 77, lines 19-22}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Saratogian|1923}} |author= |title=Burnt Hills and Ballston Lake School Opening |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2021/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian%201923/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian%201923%20-%202176.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Saratogian |date=August 30, 1923 |location=Saratoga Springs, New York |page=10}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Los Angeles Times|1904}} |author= |title=Claremont |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24276056/claremont_the_los_angeles_times_los/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 12, 1904 |location=Los Angeles, California |page=19|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Columbia Republican|1914}} |author= |title=Communications |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican%201913-1914/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican%201913-1914%20-%200225.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Columbia Republican |date=January 30, 1914 |location=Hudson, New York |page=7}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Columbia Republican|1898}} |author= |title=Death of Mrs. L. D. Smith's Father |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican%201898-1900/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican%201898-1900%20-%200257.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |volume=80 |issue=3 |newspaper=The Columbia Republican |date=January 20, 1898 |location=Hudson, New York |page=3}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Schenectady Gazette|1926}} |author= |title=Former Ballston Lake Teacher is Planning a Trip |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%208/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette%201926%20Grayscale/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette%201926%20Grayscale%20-%204705.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Schenectady Gazette |date=August 17, 1926 |location=Schenectady, New York |page=15}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Fort Plain Standard|1922}} |author= |title=High School |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2024/Fortplain%20NY%20Stardard/Fortplain%20NY%20Stardard%201921-1922/Fortplain%20NY%20Stardard%201921-1922%2000263_2.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Fort Plain Standard |date=February 2, 1922 |location=Fort Plain, New York |page=1}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The News-Press|1932}} |author= |title=Miss Dowd Winner of Ragsdale Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24290982/miss_dowd_winner_of_ragsdale_award_the/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The News-Press |date=February 16, 1932 |location=Fort Myers, Florida |page=5|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Hartford Courant|1906}} |author= |title=Our Common Wild Flowers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24275811/our_common_wild_flowers_hartford/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Hartford Courant |date=August 21, 1906 |location=Hartford, Connecticut |page=16|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Oakland Tribune|1938}} |author= |title=Poetry at New Heights |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24276383/poetry_at_new_heights_the_oakland/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Oakland Tribune |date=August 14, 1938 |location=Oakland, California |page=14|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Hudson Evening Register|1915}} |author= |title=To Teach at Madalin |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper4/Hudson%20NY%20Evening%20Register%2FHudson%20NY%20Evening%20Register%201915%20Grayscale%2FHudson%20NY%20Evening%20Register%201915%20Grayscale%20-%200657.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Hudson Evening Register |date=July 3, 1915 |location=Hudson, New York |page=6}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Ithaca Journal|1918}} |author= |title=Trumansburg |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24289818/trumansburg_the_ithaca_journal/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Ithaca Journal |date=July 3, 1918 |location=Ithaca, New York |page=7|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Columbia Republican|1921}} |author= |title=(untitled) |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican%201921-1922/Hudson%20NY%20Columbia%20Republican%201921-1922%20-%200210.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The Columbia Republican |date=September 6, 1921 |location=Hudson, New York |page=10}}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The News-Press|1929}} |author= |title=Visitors Delighted with Fort Myers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24291012/visitors_delighted_with_fort_myers_the/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |newspaper=The News-Press |date=March 7, 1929 |location=Fort Myers, Florida |page=3|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
{{cite journal|author=Universalist Publishing House|title=The Universalist Leader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o83mAAAAMAAJ|volume=125|issue=18|year=1943|publisher=Universalist Publishing House}}

External links

{{wikisource-inline|Woman of the Century/Mary Alice Dowd}}
{{Internet Archive author |sname=Alice Mary Dowd}}

Category:1855 births

Category:1943 deaths

Category:19th-century American poets

Category:19th-century American women writers

Category:Educators from West Virginia

Category:Poets from West Virginia

Category:American women poets

Category:People from Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Category:American textbook writers

Category:American women textbook writers

Category:People from Hudson, New York

Category:Educators from New York (state)

Category:Pomona College faculty

Category:Stamford High School (Stamford, Connecticut) alumni

Category:American women academics

Category:Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century