Person:Mary Parker (129)

Mary (Parker) Woodworth Dec 13, 2008 | New Hampshire Women | 0 comments

This is a transcription of the Mary (Parker) Woodworth biography from New Hampshire Women: A Collection of Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Daughters and Residents of the Granite State, Who are Worthy Representatives of their Sex in the Various Walks and Conditions of Life, The New Hampshire Publishing Co., Concord, NH, 1895, page 175.

WHEN a full collegiate training for women was an unproved experiment, and Vassar college had just opened its doors for their benefit, the first New Hampshire girl availing herself of its advantages was Mary Parker, daughter of Charles and Amelia (Bennett) Parker, of Lisbon, born at Sugar Hill, May 3, 1849. With a strong ambition for intellectual attainment, she made early advance in study, and was greatly encouraged in her purpose to secure the best obtainable education by that great New Hampshire educator, the late Prof. James W. Patterson. She fitted for college at St. Johnsbury (Vt.) academy, the only girl in a class of nine, six of whose members entered Dartmouth, and became a member of the Sophomore class at Vassar in 1867, graduating in 1870 with the first class honor. After graduation, she taught in St. Johnsbury academy and at St. Agnes Hall, Bellows Falls, Vt. September 30, 1873, she married Albert B. Woodworth, a prosperous young merchant, then just established in business at Concord as head of the since successful firm of Woodworth & Co. where she has since resided. Neglecting in no degree the duties of domestic and social life, Mrs. Woodworth has done much literary work, has been an ardent patroness of art and music, was actively instrumental in the organization of the Concord Choral union of which she is vice-president, is a member of the Vassar and Collegiate Alumnae associations, has been twice president of the Boston Branch of Vassar Alumnae, and is an active member of the Concord Woman’s club. She is chiefly distinguished, however, as the first and only woman member of the Concord school board, to which she was elected for three years in 1890, and re-elected in 1893, and in which position she has demonstrated the peculiar fitness of woman for participation in educational affairs. She is a devoted member of St. Paul’s Episcopal church, and the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter, the eldest, Edward K., being a member of Dartmouth college, class of ’97.