Alice Freeman Palmer

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Alice Freeman Palmer (February 21, 1855 – December 6, 1902) was an American educator.

She was born Alice Elvira Freeman in Colesville, New York and brought up in Windsor, New York. She was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1876, taught at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (1876-77), and at Saginaw, Mich. (1877-79).

Elected to the chair of history in Wellesley College in 1879, she became acting president the next year and president of Wellesley College in 1882. She was married to George Herbert Palmer in 1887. In 1892 she became non-resident dean of the women's department at the University of Chicago, and a spokeswoman for women's place in higher education. She died suddenly in Paris,aged 47.

Wellesley College possesses a memorial to Alice Freeman Palmer, sculptured in relief by Daniel Chester French.

Alice was born a farmer's daughter in New York State. Her father knew there was no future for him in farming, so he left the family to take care of the farm while he gained further education and became a doctor. Alice desperately wanted to also continue her education, but her family could not allow this unless she promised to assist them in supporting the family, while she was away at college. So while she attended college she took teaching jobs to help her family. After she graduated from the University of Michigan, she received a job as principal at a boarding school in Wisconsin, where her reputation soared.

The founder of Wellesley College gave Palmer three offers to come and teach at his college, and on the 3rd offer she finally accepted. She would be a professor of History. When the founder of the college died, Palmer, at 26 years old, was elected president of the college. She was the first woman to be the head of a nationally known college. She is also well known for helping the school become more well-rounded and a Liberal Arts College.

During this time she met her future husband, who taught at Harvard. She resigned from her position at Wellesley College, and began to give public speeches on women's higher public education. She is also the founder of the American Association of University Women.

Palmer summered in Boxford, MA at her husband's home. During those long summer furloughs she explpored the local area, took up photography, and sewed.

It was on one of her long sabbaticals with her husband that she went to Paris, France. Palmer had life or death surgery to fix one of her vital organs. During convelescence she died of complications of surgery. According to her wishes she was cremated and her cremains interred at Houghton Chapel at Wellesley College. Her husband's cremains were also interred there upon his passing. Palmer's life was commemorated at a service at Harvard University by college presidents she knew and other noted people.

In World War II the United States liberty ship SS Alice F. Palmer was named in her honor.