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Ninetta May Runnals

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235: 463: 283: 258:. In 1928 she returned to Colby as Dean of Women and professor of mathematics and education. In the 1930s she led efforts to raise $ 100,000 from a total of 1,200 alumni for the establishment of a Women's Union on the new Mayflower Hill campus. In 1942 she oversaw the plans for women's dormitories at the Mayflower Hill campus, consulting with staff at other colleges and "comparing measurements of everything, down to closets as needed to accommodate 'modern party dresses'". 243:
of resources. Later she campaigned for coeducational classes. Within a year of her arrival, she had revamped the health and physical education program for women, replacing the "part-time, low paid supervisor for gymnastic activities" with a full-time nurse and a fully stocked woman's infirmary. She also organized the college's Women's Health League and lobbied for
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Cognizant of "the challenges of being a woman at Colby", Runnals advocated for "equal support of the women's division" from the very beginning. She opposed the division of Colby College into men's and women's campuses, arguing that women would receive the short end of the stick in terms of allocation
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contacted Runnals to interview for the newly created position of Dean of Women, writing, "I am writing to inquire if you would be at all interested in the deanship of women here for the coming year and the rest of your life". Runnals did not accept the offer at first, choosing instead to complete her
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Runnals was interviewed for her recollections of growing up in the late 19th century, her student years at Colby College, and the types of employment available to women in the early 20th century, by the Women in Maine Project of the Maine Folklife Center on October 23, 1974; the tape and transcript
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in 1920. Afterward she told Roberts that she would accept his offer only if it included a full faculty membership and more latitude than the original job description allowed. Her demands were accepted and she became Dean of Women in 1920, as well as assistant professor of mathematics. In 1923 she
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Runnals retired on September 1, 1949. Afterward she sat on the college's board of trustees for six years. She continued to be active with campus affairs, particularly those concerning gender equality, until her death.
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for women students and faculty members. She also helped raise significant funding for a Women's Union on the Mayflower Hill campus, which was renamed Runnals Union in her honor in 1959. She was inducted into the
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In 1929 Colby College awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. In 1959 the college renamed the Women's Union building as Runnals Union in her honor. She was inducted into the
1396: 1391: 699: 1347: 1412: 1289: 1454: 186:, to William Frank Runnals and his wife, Ida Jane Bowker Runnals. Her father was a machinist in a nearby mill. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1284: 360: 1493: 1433: 1310: 692: 1513: 543: 306:. She died on June 1, 1980, following a lengthy illness, and was buried in her family's plot in the Gray Cemetery in Dover-Foxcroft. 517: 271: 1523: 1518: 685: 1508: 647: 214:, serving as Dean of Girls and mathematics instructor until 1916. She also taught at Miss Sayward's School of Girls in 153:(January 14, 1885 – June 1, 1980) was an American academic and college administrator. She served as Dean of Women at 573: 1498: 609: 547: 234: 1503: 708: 291: 171: 141: 1108: 215: 462: 853: 521: 244: 410:"A People's History of Colby College: Activism and Social Justice Since 1813 – Ninetta M. Runnals" 274:(AAUW). In 1973 the AAUW bestowed on her a citation for "developing quality education for women". 439: 207: 1029: 874: 637: 599: 1179: 848: 620: 336: 183: 44: 1488: 1483: 763: 742: 737: 551: 8: 1045: 992: 950: 890: 869: 255: 227: 88: 673:"Dedication of Runnals Union, President Bixler, left, Ninetta Runnals at podium" (photo) 1268: 1242: 1066: 677: 672: 643: 605: 365: 251: 222: 211: 158: 62: 1247: 1024: 971: 800: 768: 203: 1305: 1263: 1226: 1163: 1008: 976: 409: 303: 166: 1331: 1087: 906: 832: 816: 663: 455: 331: 1477: 1417: 1221: 1200: 1184: 1124: 1082: 911: 758: 413: 282: 250:
In 1926 Runnals became Dean of Women and associate professor of education at
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of this interview are housed at the Maine Folklife Center.
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Runnals was a member of the United Baptist Church in
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Ninetta May Runnals was born on January 14, 1885, in
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Aerial view of Colby College campus, circa 1930–1945
481: 270:Runnals established the Waterville branch of the 1475: 202:Runnals was a math and languages instructor at 693: 574:"Collections – MF 068 Women in Maine Project" 635: 504: 206:from 1908 to 1911. In 1911 she moved to the 177: 700: 686: 221:During this time, Colby College president 26: 618: 601:Colby College, Maine: A Venture of Faith 597: 492: 475: 434: 432: 430: 404: 402: 400: 398: 396: 281: 272:American Association of University Women 233: 394: 392: 390: 388: 386: 384: 382: 380: 378: 376: 355: 353: 351: 349: 347: 1476: 1373: 1145: 932: 719: 681: 427: 373: 344: 277: 636:Shettleworth, Earle A. Jr. (2013). 536: 265: 13: 518:"A Brief History of Colby College" 14: 1535: 1514:People from Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 1494:American women's rights activists 657: 461: 297: 566: 361:"Aroostook Deaths and Funerals" 165:, for 27 years, advocating for 548:University of Maine at Augusta 510: 324: 1: 1524:American women mathematicians 1519:People from Waterville, Maine 598:Fotiades, Anestes G. (1994). 340:. 21 August 1949. p. 46. 313: 231:gained a full professorship. 151:Ninetta May "Nettie" Runnals 7: 446:. 19 April 1949. p. 12 10: 1540: 1509:Columbia University alumni 1397:Betty-Jane Stanhope Meader 1109:Florence Brooks Whitehouse 709:Maine Women's Hall of Fame 621:"Discovering Miss Runnals" 591: 369:. 2 June 1980. p. 24. 292:Maine Women's Hall of Fame 216:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 172:Maine Women's Hall of Fame 142:Maine Women's Hall of Fame 1447: 1426: 1405: 1384: 1380: 1374: 1369: 1340: 1319: 1298: 1277: 1256: 1235: 1214: 1193: 1172: 1156: 1152: 1146: 1141: 1117: 1096: 1075: 1059: 1038: 1017: 1001: 985: 964: 943: 939: 933: 928: 899: 883: 862: 841: 825: 809: 793: 777: 751: 730: 726: 720: 715: 197: 137: 127: 119: 111: 103: 95: 77: 69: 51: 37: 25: 18: 854:Marti Stevens (educator) 619:McCarthy, Jacob (2013). 522:Maine Historical Society 318: 178:Early life and education 576:. Maine Folklife Center 208:Maine Central Institute 133:Ida Jane Bowker Runnals 1332:Cornelia Thurza Crosby 1030:Judith Magyar Isaacson 875:Mildred Brown Schrumpf 642:. Arcadia Publishing. 604:. Arcadia Publishing. 550:. 2016. Archived from 287: 247:at the faculty level. 239: 1499:Colby College faculty 1180:Katherine O. Musgrave 849:Elizabeth W. Crandall 444:Portland Press Herald 337:Portland Press Herald 332:"New Dean is Honored" 285: 237: 184:Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 131:William Frank Runnals 45:Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 1504:Colby College alumni 1348:Darylen McQuirk Cote 764:Elizabeth S. Russell 743:Mabel Sine Wadsworth 738:Margaret Chase Smith 107:1920–1926; 1928–1949 1413:Joyce Taylor Gibson 1290:Elizabeth Ward Saxl 1046:Patricia M. Collins 993:Theodora J. Kalikow 951:Caroline D. Gentile 891:Lois Galgay Reckitt 870:Ethel Wilson Gammon 785:Ninetta May Runnals 664:Ninetta May Runnals 256:Hillsdale, Michigan 228:Columbia University 89:Columbia University 20:Ninetta May Runnals 1392:Joanne D’Arcangelo 1269:Barbara W. Woodlee 1243:Laurie G. Lachance 1067:Chilton R. Knudsen 288: 240: 81:B.S. mathematics, 1471: 1470: 1467: 1466: 1463: 1462: 1365: 1364: 1361: 1360: 1137: 1136: 1133: 1132: 924: 923: 920: 919: 505:Shettleworth 2013 366:Bangor Daily News 278:Awards and honors 252:Hillsdale College 223:Arthur J. Roberts 159:Waterville, Maine 148: 147: 104:Years active 63:Waterville, Maine 1531: 1382: 1381: 1371: 1370: 1248:Patricia E. Ryan 1154: 1153: 1143: 1142: 1025:Sharon H. Abrams 972:Linda Smith Dyer 941: 940: 930: 929: 801:Dorothy M. Healy 769:Gilda E. Nardone 728: 727: 717: 716: 702: 695: 688: 679: 678: 653: 632: 615: 586: 585: 583: 581: 570: 564: 563: 561: 559: 540: 534: 533: 531: 529: 514: 508: 502: 496: 490: 479: 473: 467: 466: 465: 459: 453: 451: 436: 425: 424: 422: 420: 406: 371: 370: 357: 342: 341: 328: 266:Other activities 204:Foxcroft Academy 58: 41:January 14, 1885 30: 16: 15: 1539: 1538: 1534: 1533: 1532: 1530: 1529: 1528: 1474: 1473: 1472: 1459: 1455:Sandra L. Caron 1443: 1422: 1401: 1376: 1357: 1336: 1315: 1306:Ann Schonberger 1294: 1273: 1264:Ellen F. Golden 1252: 1231: 1227:Lyn Mikel Brown 1210: 1189: 1168: 1164:Thelma C. Swain 1148: 1129: 1113: 1092: 1071: 1055: 1034: 1013: 1009:Nancy H. Hensel 997: 981: 977:Chellie Pingree 960: 935: 916: 895: 879: 858: 837: 821: 805: 789: 773: 747: 722: 711: 706: 660: 650: 612: 594: 589: 579: 577: 572: 571: 567: 557: 555: 554:on 6 March 2016 542: 541: 537: 527: 525: 516: 515: 511: 503: 499: 491: 482: 474: 470: 460: 449: 447: 438: 437: 428: 418: 416: 408: 407: 374: 359: 358: 345: 330: 329: 325: 321: 316: 304:Old Town, Maine 300: 280: 268: 226:M.A. degree at 200: 180: 167:gender equality 132: 123:Barbara Sherman 86: 65: 60: 56: 47: 42: 33: 32:Runnals in 1960 21: 12: 11: 5: 1537: 1527: 1526: 1521: 1516: 1511: 1506: 1501: 1496: 1491: 1486: 1469: 1468: 1465: 1464: 1461: 1460: 1458: 1457: 1451: 1449: 1445: 1444: 1442: 1441: 1436: 1430: 1428: 1424: 1423: 1421: 1420: 1415: 1409: 1407: 1403: 1402: 1400: 1399: 1394: 1388: 1386: 1378: 1377: 1367: 1366: 1363: 1362: 1359: 1358: 1356: 1355: 1350: 1344: 1342: 1338: 1337: 1335: 1334: 1329: 1323: 1321: 1317: 1316: 1314: 1313: 1308: 1302: 1300: 1296: 1295: 1293: 1292: 1287: 1281: 1279: 1275: 1274: 1272: 1271: 1266: 1260: 1258: 1254: 1253: 1251: 1250: 1245: 1239: 1237: 1233: 1232: 1230: 1229: 1224: 1218: 1216: 1212: 1211: 1209: 1208: 1203: 1197: 1195: 1191: 1190: 1188: 1187: 1182: 1176: 1174: 1170: 1169: 1167: 1166: 1160: 1158: 1150: 1149: 1139: 1138: 1135: 1134: 1131: 1130: 1128: 1127: 1121: 1119: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1111: 1106: 1100: 1098: 1094: 1093: 1091: 1090: 1088:Dale McCormick 1085: 1079: 1077: 1073: 1072: 1070: 1069: 1063: 1061: 1057: 1056: 1054: 1053: 1048: 1042: 1040: 1036: 1035: 1033: 1032: 1027: 1021: 1019: 1015: 1014: 1012: 1011: 1005: 1003: 999: 998: 996: 995: 989: 987: 983: 982: 980: 979: 974: 968: 966: 962: 961: 959: 958: 953: 947: 945: 937: 936: 926: 925: 922: 921: 918: 917: 915: 914: 909: 907:Libby Mitchell 903: 901: 897: 896: 894: 893: 887: 885: 881: 880: 878: 877: 872: 866: 864: 860: 859: 857: 856: 851: 845: 843: 839: 838: 836: 835: 833:Eloise Vitelli 829: 827: 823: 822: 820: 819: 817:Esther E. Wood 813: 811: 807: 806: 804: 803: 797: 795: 791: 790: 788: 787: 781: 779: 775: 774: 772: 771: 766: 761: 755: 753: 749: 748: 746: 745: 740: 734: 732: 724: 723: 713: 712: 705: 704: 697: 690: 682: 676: 675: 670: 659: 658:External links 656: 655: 654: 649:978-0738598482 648: 633: 625:Colby Magazine 616: 610: 593: 590: 588: 587: 565: 535: 509: 507:, p. 111. 497: 480: 478:, p. 117. 468: 456:Newspapers.com 426: 372: 343: 322: 320: 317: 315: 312: 299: 296: 279: 276: 267: 264: 199: 196: 179: 176: 146: 145: 139: 135: 134: 129: 125: 124: 121: 117: 116: 113: 109: 108: 105: 101: 100: 97: 93: 92: 79: 75: 74: 71: 67: 66: 61: 59:(aged 95) 53: 49: 48: 43: 39: 35: 34: 31: 23: 22: 19: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1536: 1525: 1522: 1520: 1517: 1515: 1512: 1510: 1507: 1505: 1502: 1500: 1497: 1495: 1492: 1490: 1487: 1485: 1482: 1481: 1479: 1456: 1453: 1452: 1450: 1446: 1440: 1437: 1435: 1432: 1431: 1429: 1425: 1419: 1418:Leigh Saufley 1416: 1414: 1411: 1410: 1408: 1404: 1398: 1395: 1393: 1390: 1389: 1387: 1383: 1379: 1372: 1368: 1354: 1351: 1349: 1346: 1345: 1343: 1339: 1333: 1330: 1328: 1325: 1324: 1322: 1318: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1303: 1301: 1297: 1291: 1288: 1286: 1283: 1282: 1280: 1276: 1270: 1267: 1265: 1262: 1261: 1259: 1255: 1249: 1246: 1244: 1241: 1240: 1238: 1234: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1222:Mary Cathcart 1220: 1219: 1217: 1213: 1207: 1204: 1202: 1201:Ruth Lockhart 1199: 1198: 1196: 1192: 1186: 1185:Susan Collins 1183: 1181: 1178: 1177: 1175: 1171: 1165: 1162: 1161: 1159: 1155: 1151: 1144: 1140: 1126: 1125:Sharon Barker 1123: 1122: 1120: 1116: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1101: 1099: 1095: 1089: 1086: 1084: 1083:Laura Fortman 1081: 1080: 1078: 1074: 1068: 1065: 1064: 1062: 1058: 1052: 1049: 1047: 1044: 1043: 1041: 1037: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1022: 1020: 1016: 1010: 1007: 1006: 1004: 1000: 994: 991: 990: 988: 984: 978: 975: 973: 970: 969: 967: 963: 957: 954: 952: 949: 948: 946: 942: 938: 931: 927: 913: 912:Olympia Snowe 910: 908: 905: 904: 902: 898: 892: 889: 888: 886: 882: 876: 873: 871: 868: 867: 865: 861: 855: 852: 850: 847: 846: 844: 840: 834: 831: 830: 828: 824: 818: 815: 814: 812: 808: 802: 799: 798: 796: 792: 786: 783: 782: 780: 776: 770: 767: 765: 762: 760: 759:Gail Laughlin 757: 756: 754: 750: 744: 741: 739: 736: 735: 733: 729: 725: 718: 714: 710: 703: 698: 696: 691: 689: 684: 683: 680: 674: 671: 669: 665: 662: 661: 651: 645: 641: 640: 634: 630: 626: 622: 617: 613: 607: 603: 602: 596: 595: 575: 569: 553: 549: 545: 539: 523: 519: 513: 506: 501: 494: 493:McCarthy 2013 489: 487: 485: 477: 476:Fotiades 1994 472: 464: 457: 445: 441: 435: 433: 431: 415: 414:Colby College 411: 405: 403: 401: 399: 397: 395: 393: 391: 389: 387: 385: 383: 381: 379: 377: 368: 367: 362: 356: 354: 352: 350: 348: 339: 338: 333: 327: 323: 311: 307: 305: 298:Personal life 295: 293: 286:Runnals Union 284: 275: 273: 263: 259: 257: 253: 248: 246: 236: 232: 229: 224: 219: 217: 213: 209: 205: 195: 193: 192:Colby College 189: 185: 175: 173: 168: 164: 160: 156: 155:Colby College 152: 143: 140: 136: 130: 126: 122: 118: 115:Colby College 114: 110: 106: 102: 99:Dean of Women 98: 94: 90: 84: 83:Colby College 80: 76: 72: 68: 64: 54: 50: 46: 40: 36: 29: 24: 17: 1439:Jessica Meir 1327:Julia Clukey 1285:Connie Adler 1051:Judy Paradis 784: 668:Find a Grave 638: 628: 624: 600: 578:. 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Index


Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Waterville, Maine
Colby College
Columbia University
Maine Women's Hall of Fame
Colby College
Waterville, Maine
alma mater
gender equality
Maine Women's Hall of Fame
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
mathematics
Colby College
Foxcroft Academy
Maine Central Institute
Pittsfield
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arthur J. Roberts
Columbia University

equal pay
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan
American Association of University Women

Maine Women's Hall of Fame
Old Town, Maine
"New Dean is Honored"
Portland Press Herald

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