Elmira College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Elmira College, a private institution in Elmira, New York, boasts a rich history and a distinguished list of alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Founded in 1855 as a college for women, it holds the distinction of being the oldest existing college granting degrees to women equivalent to those awarded to men. In 1969, Elmira College embraced coeducation, opening its doors to all students. This article delves into the lives and achievements of some of Elmira College's most notable alumni, highlighting their impact on society.

Academics and Leadership at Elmira College

Before exploring the achievements of its alumni, it's important to acknowledge the leadership and academic environment that has shaped Elmira College. Dr. Charles W. Lindsay, who has served as the College's President since 2017, has overseen notable achievements such as the reduction of institutional debt, growth in enrollment, the addition of a new turf field, and expansion in both academics and extracurricular activities. Dr. Lindsay will be retiring as Elmira College’s President at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, beginning on June 30, 2026.

Recognizing Alumni Contributions

Elmira College recently held a memorial service to honor the memory of an alumna who graduated nearly 80 years ago. Evelyn Laura Sweet Allen was born in 1917 and graduated from Elmira College in 1939. She passed away in January, 20 days after celebrating her 100th birthday. Allen's life was notable for more than its length. She taught business for a while after graduating from EC, before she married Whitney R. Allen in 1941. Whitney Allen, who died in 2005, was a popular restaurateur in the Elmira area for many years, and Evelyn worked alongside her husband in the restaurant business. Evelyn Allen was also very active in the community, according to her obituary, and was a board member of the Elmira College Alumni. She was also known for her welcoming attitude, and often hosted social gatherings for people of all ages in her home. Allen's father, W. Glenn Sweet, served as mayor of Elmira in the 1930s, and her son, Jonathan Allen, opened a boutique in Elmira in 1969 while still in high school, along with future fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger.

Notable Alumni

EduRank ranks Elmira College 3757th in the world, 1274th in North America, and 1213th in the United States based on aggregated alumni prominence. The following is a list of notable alumni who have made significant contributions to their respective fields:

Olivia Langdon Clemens

Olivia Langdon Clemens was the wife of the renowned American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, famously known as Mark Twain. Her connection to Elmira College is significant, as she played a vital role in Twain's life and work.

Read also: Discover Elmira College

Fay Kanin

Fay Kanin was a multifaceted American talent, excelling as a screenwriter, playwright, and producer. Her contributions to the film and television industry are noteworthy, and she served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1979 to 1983, a testament to her influence and leadership in the field.

Alice Mary Robertson

Alice Mary Robertson was an American educator, social worker, Native Americans' rights activist, government official, and politician who became the second woman to serve in the United States Congress, and the first from the state of Oklahoma. Robertson was the first woman to defeat an incumbent congressman. She was known for her strong personality, commitment to Native American issues, and anti-feminist stance.

Sheila Williams

Sheila Williams is an American science fiction editor who is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine.

Kevin B. Winebold

Kevin B. Winebold is a New York music director and actor.

Charlotte Blake Brown

Charlotte Blake Brown was an American physician. She was one of the first female doctors to practice on the West Coast of the United States and was a co-founder of the Pacific Dispensary for Women and Children, and San Francisco Hospital for Children and Training School for Nurses.

Read also: Academic Excellence at Elmira

Diane Lockward

Diane Lockward is an American poet. The author of four full-length books of poetry, Lockward serves as the Poet Laureate of West Caldwell, New Jersey.

Mary Gray Peck

Mary Gray Peck was an American journalist, educator, suffragist, and clubwoman. She was interested in economic and industrial problems of women, and investigated labor conditions in Europe and the United States. Born in New York, she studied at Elmira College, University of Minnesota, and University of Cambridge before becoming an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Minnesota. Later, she became associated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs, College Equal Suffrage League, National American Woman Suffrage Association, Women's Trade Union League, Woman Suffrage Party, and the Modern Language Association. Peck was a delegate at the Sixth Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Stockholm, 1911.

John M. Carmody

John Michael Carmody was an American administrator, noted as editor of Factory and Industrial Management, and as administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration and the Federal Works Agency in the 1930s.

Mary West Niles

Mary West Niles was an American physician and missionary. Niles was the first woman missionary physician at the Canton Hospital and opened a school for the blind in China. Niles learned the Cantonese language so she could translate the English Braille system into Cantonese.

Anne Kendrick Benedict

Anne Elizabeth Kendrick Benedict was an American author of children's literature focusing on scientific topics, such as physiology, and an author of religious periodicals.

Frances Linfield

Frances Ross Linfield was an American educator, social activist and philanthropist. In 1922, she made a gift to McMinnville College worth $250,000, prompting the school to change its name to Linfield College, in honor of her late husband, the Rev. George Fisher Linfield. In 2020, the school became Linfield University.

Frances Boardman Squire Potter

Frances Boardman Squire Potter was an American academic and activist.

A Look at Elmira College's Campus

Elmira College's campus reflects its long history and commitment to education. Several buildings stand out:

Cowles Hall: The original building, constructed in 1855, featuring an octagonal center and Greek cross-shaped arms.
Gillett Memorial Hall: Built in 1892, originally served as the college's music building.
Hamilton Hall: Once the college's library, now admired for its English Collegiate Gothic architecture.
Murray Athletic Center: Completed in 1973, located off-campus on 235 acres.
Tompkins Hall: A dormitory built in 1928.
Alumni Hall: A freshman dormitory built in 1959.
Anderson Hall: A co-ed freshman dormitory completed in 1960.
Columbia Hall: A freshman dorm located near the library.
Twin Towers: Residence halls constructed in 1967 and 1968.
Meier Hall: Completed in 2010, named for the twelfth President of Elmira College.
Harris Hall: Constructed in 1950 as an academic building.
Kolker Hall: Built in 1962 as the science hall.
Watson Fine Arts: Finished in 1958, used by the music and math departments.
Gannett-Tripp Library: The college library built in 1969, housing over 300,000 books.
Carnegie Hall: Constructed in 1911 with funds partially given by Andrew Carnegie, housing science and nursing programs.
Fassett Commons: Became the main dining hall in 1917.
Speidel Gymnasium/Emerson Hall: Site of the gymnasium, athletic offices, and fitness center.
McGraw Hall: The main administration building, built in 1961.
Curtis McGraw Bookstore: Opened in 1961.
Campus Center: Opened in 1965, containing the dining hall, bowling alley, classrooms, and Student Affairs offices.
Mark Twain's Study: Originally located at Quarry Farm, donated to the college in 1952.

Athletics at Elmira College

Elmira College is a member of the NCAA, New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA), ECAC, NEHC, and Empire 8. Their mascot is the Soaring Eagle. Elmira College holds several NCAA Division III National Championships in Women's Ice Hockey as well as in NCA Competitive Cheerleading.

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