Register to the Records of Lucy Comins Tucker

Biographical Information

Lucy Comins Tucker, born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in June 22, 1876 and died in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, December 1958, worked for the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts which later became Rhode Island State College from 1896 to 1946. She was a member of the fourth graduating class of Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, as the University of Rhode Island was then called, but attended for only three terms from 1893 to 1894. Because her family did not have the money for her to finish at the College, she took a business course in Providence for six months and returned to the College to work. She was first hired to type building specifications for Lippitt Hall. At the end of that 10-day temporary position, a measles epidemic in March 1897 caused the President's secretary to become ill and Miss Tucker temporarily took her position. Soon she was hired permanently to replace that secretary.

Lucy Tucker was secretary for the first three presidents of Rhode Island State College -- John H. Washburn (1892-1902), Kenyon L. Butterfield (1903-1906), and Howard Edwards (1906-1930). As part of that job, she was responsible for preparing the registration papers for incoming students. Eventually she took over the duties of admissions officer as well. With the induction of Dr. Raymond G. Bressler as 4th president in 1930, she officially became Registrar and Admissions Officer. She was responsible for admissions until June 1942 and acted as secretary of the Faculty and Executive Committee during her entire tenure. When she retired in 1946, she had worked for the College for fifty years.

In 1945, the State College awarded her an honorary degree of Master of Science. When she retired in 1946, she had been an important part of the College during her fifty-year tenure as student, secretary, and Registrar.

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Scope and Content Note

The records of Lucy Tucker contain correspondence relating to her position as secretary and registrar of the University of Rhode Island from 1896 to 1946. Also included is a desk diary from 1899-1929, newspaper clippings, reports on scholastic averages, notes from a testimonial dinner, copies of various histories she wrote about the early days at the College, and a graphologist's analysis of her writing. Of note is a letter, May 4, 1935, about the early history of African Americans at Rhode Island State College.

The records are in fair to poor condition; many of them are stained from rusty paper clips and staples. Some are water stained. Most are in a brittle condition. Many are carbon copies on onion skin paper. A block of correspondence to recipients with the last name beginning with "B" is present but lacking is correspondence with recipients with last names beginning with other letters.

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Arrangement

This collection contains one series

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Restrictions

Open for research.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

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Index Terms

These records are indexed under the following headings in the HELIN catalog. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

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Related Material

Records of John C. Weldin, Rec.Gr. 7.1, Records of the President, Rec.Gr.1, and early records and reports of the Rhode Isalnd State College

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

The custodial history of the collection is unknown.

Preferred Citation

Records of Lucy Comins Tucker, Rec. Gr. 132, University of Rhode Island Archives

Acquisitions Information

The records were acquired by Special Collections prior to 1974.

Processing Information

The materials were processed in 2000.

Finding aid prepared by Leslie Tobias Olsen.

Finding aid encoded by Yuan Li on 2007 Nov 21

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Inventory