Eliza Kellas
Encyclopedia
Eliza Kellas was an American educator most known as former principal of Emma Willard School
and co-founder of Russell Sage College
.
, New York
. She attended school in Mooers and Malone
and began teaching at Malone in 1880 at the age of 16.
In 1887 Kellas began studies at Potsdam Normal School (now known as State University of New York at Potsdam
) in Potsdam, New York
. She graduated two years later and joined the faculty to teach in the Preparatory Department. Kellas left Potsdam in 1891 to accept a position as Principal of the School of Practice at Plattsburgh Normal School (now known as State University of New York at Plattsburgh
) in Plattsburgh, New York. In 1895 she was named Preceptress (equivalent to Dean of Students). In the late 1890s Kellas studied briefly at University of Michigan
and Sorbonne
in Paris
.
Kellas resigned from Plattsburgh after 10 years to become a governess
to fellow a fellow pioneer in women's education in America, Mary Lyon
. Kellas and Lyon traveled widely together between 1901 to 1905, when she entered Radcliffe College
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. She graduated from Ratcliffe in 1910.
in Troy, NY, at the recommendation of Agnes Irwin
, the recently retired Dean of Radcliffe College. Emma Willard had just moved to a new campus, the gift of Margaret Olivia Sage. The school's standards and reputation had veered from its founder’s original vision and Kellas was charged with restoring those high standards of scholarship and deportment. Kellas worked tirelessly toward these goals, stressing science education for women. She also raised enough alumnae funds to construct several new buildings on campus. Within a few years she helped make the Emma Willard one of the leading institutions of its kind in the country.
Under the leadership of Eliza Kellas, Emma Willard School expanded by reactivating the old campus in September 1916. The expansion was named Russell Sage College
of Practical Arts, and was devoted to vocational training for young women. While remaining Principal at Emma Willard, Kellas became the first Dean
of Russel Sage, as well as serving as the first President of the college. The year following Russel Sage's founding, Kellas secured a separate charter for the school from the New York State Board of Regents
and they granted their first degrees in 1920. Through Kellas' efforts, Russel Sage became an independently chartered educational institution in 1927.
Kellas retired as Dean and President of Russel Sage College in 1928 and devoted her services entirely to Emma Willard School. She retired from Emma Willard School in 1942.
Eliza Kellas died in 1943 in Troy and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Emma Willard School
The Emma Willard School, originally called Troy Female Seminary and often referred to simply as "Emma," is an independent university-preparatory day and boarding school for young women, located in Troy, New York on Mount Ida, offering grades 9-12 and postgraduate coursework...
and co-founder of Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College is a women's college located in Troy, New York, approximately north of New York City in the Capital District. It is one of the three colleges that make up The Sage Colleges...
.
Early years
Eliza Kellas was born on October 4, 1864 near Moores Forks in Franklin CountyFranklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She attended school in Mooers and Malone
Malone (village), New York
-Notable natives:Notable natives include:*William Almon Wheeler served as Vice President of the United States under Rutherford Hayes. Is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone....
and began teaching at Malone in 1880 at the age of 16.
In 1887 Kellas began studies at Potsdam Normal School (now known as State University of New York at Potsdam
State University of New York at Potsdam
The State University of New York at Potsdam, also known as SUNY Potsdam, or, colloquially, Potsdam, is a public university located in the Village of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York. Founded in 1816, it is among the 50 oldest colleges in the United States...
) in Potsdam, New York
Potsdam (village), New York
Potsdam is a village located in the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 9,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Potsdam is in the eastern part of the town and is northeast of Canton, the county seat....
. She graduated two years later and joined the faculty to teach in the Preparatory Department. Kellas left Potsdam in 1891 to accept a position as Principal of the School of Practice at Plattsburgh Normal School (now known as State University of New York at Plattsburgh
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
The State University of New York at Plattsburgh is a four-year, public liberal arts college in Plattsburgh, New York. The college was founded in 1889 and opened in 1890. The college is currently part of the State University of New York system and is accredited by the Middle States Association of...
) in Plattsburgh, New York. In 1895 she was named Preceptress (equivalent to Dean of Students). In the late 1890s Kellas studied briefly at University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Kellas resigned from Plattsburgh after 10 years to become a governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
to fellow a fellow pioneer in women's education in America, Mary Lyon
Mary Lyon
Mary Mason Lyon , surname pronounced , was a pioneer in women's education. She established the Wheaton Female Seminary in Norton, Massachusetts, . Within two years, she raised $15,000 to build the Mount Holyoke School...
. Kellas and Lyon traveled widely together between 1901 to 1905, when she entered Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. She graduated from Ratcliffe in 1910.
Years in Troy
In February 1911 Eliza Kellas took the position of Headmistress (Principal) at Emma Willard SchoolEmma Willard School
The Emma Willard School, originally called Troy Female Seminary and often referred to simply as "Emma," is an independent university-preparatory day and boarding school for young women, located in Troy, New York on Mount Ida, offering grades 9-12 and postgraduate coursework...
in Troy, NY, at the recommendation of Agnes Irwin
Agnes Irwin
Agnes Irwin was an American educator, best known as the first dean of Radcliffe College from 1894–1909 and as the principal of the West Penn Square Seminary for Young Ladies in Philadelphia, later re-named, in her honor, The Agnes Irwin School, from 1869-1894...
, the recently retired Dean of Radcliffe College. Emma Willard had just moved to a new campus, the gift of Margaret Olivia Sage. The school's standards and reputation had veered from its founder’s original vision and Kellas was charged with restoring those high standards of scholarship and deportment. Kellas worked tirelessly toward these goals, stressing science education for women. She also raised enough alumnae funds to construct several new buildings on campus. Within a few years she helped make the Emma Willard one of the leading institutions of its kind in the country.
Under the leadership of Eliza Kellas, Emma Willard School expanded by reactivating the old campus in September 1916. The expansion was named Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College is a women's college located in Troy, New York, approximately north of New York City in the Capital District. It is one of the three colleges that make up The Sage Colleges...
of Practical Arts, and was devoted to vocational training for young women. While remaining Principal at Emma Willard, Kellas became the first Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Russel Sage, as well as serving as the first President of the college. The year following Russel Sage's founding, Kellas secured a separate charter for the school from the New York State Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
and they granted their first degrees in 1920. Through Kellas' efforts, Russel Sage became an independently chartered educational institution in 1927.
Kellas retired as Dean and President of Russel Sage College in 1928 and devoted her services entirely to Emma Willard School. She retired from Emma Willard School in 1942.
Eliza Kellas died in 1943 in Troy and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Honors
- Kellas Hall on the campus of Emma Willard School http://www.emmawillard.org/campus/architecture/index.php was named in honor of Eliza Kellas. Completed in 1927, it was the second student residence on campus.
- Kellas Hall on the campus of SUNY Potsdam http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/kellas.htmhttp://wikimapia.org/4219132/Kellas-Hall was named in honor of Eliza Kellas. It is home to the school's physics department, since Kellas stressed science in women's education.
- Kellas Hall on the campus of Russell Sage College was named in honor of Eliza Kellas. It is a dorm that is home to freshman women that attend Russell Sage College.