Person:Elizabeth Billings (21)

twin; resided in South Hadley, MA, Nashua, NH, & Oberlin, OH

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VII M. MEAD, Elizabeth Storrs (Billings), educator, was born in Conway, Mass., May 21, 1832; daughter of Colonel Charles Eugene and Sarah Williston (Storrs) Billings; a granddaughter of William and Jerusha (Williams) Billings, and a descendant of Roger Billings, who settled at Dorchester, Mass., previous to 1640. She was educated with her twin sister in the seminary at Ipswich, Mass., 1849-51; taught the high school at Northampton, Mass., in 1851-52, and taught in a boarding school for young ladies at Andover, Mass., under the direction of her sister, Jerusha Williams, wife of Prof. B. B. Edwards, of Andover Theological seminary, 1852-58. She was married, Aug. 5, 1858, to Prof. Hiram Mead, D.D., of Cornwall, Vt., and resided with him in South Hadley, Mass., where he was pastor, 1858-67; in Nashua, N.H., 1867-69, and Oberlin, in Ohio, 1869-81. After the death of Dr. Mead in 1881, she was a teacher at Oberlin college, 1881-83, and at Abbott academy, Andover, Mass., 1883-89. She travelled in Europe, 1889-90, became president of Mr. Holyoke seminary and college in 1890; and was president of Mr. Holyoke college, 1863-1901. She resigned in June, 1899, to take effect in June, 1900, feeling the need of relief from hard work, but by request of trustees remained until January, 1901. She visited Europe in 1901, where she prepared reports for the U.S. commissioner of education on women's education in England. She received the degree of M.A. from Oberlin college in 1870 and that of L.H.D. from Smith college in 1900.

1. ↑ The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VII.