Collection of Esther Wood/Wood Family Materials

Collection

Identifier: CAMS WOOD-1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection, dated 1845-2002, contains materials from Esther Wood and her parents, John Friend Wood and Lizzie Maddocks Wood. Included are:

Diaries containing daily entries, lists, cash accounts Letters between John and Lizzie Wood, family and general correspondences Scrapbooks with clippings of Esther Wood articles, cards, letters, photographs Esther’s personal mail, newspaper clippings, Alumni relations materials, death notices

Dates

1845-2002 and undated

Biographical / Historical

Esther Wood was born 2 September 1905 in Blue Hill, Maine. She graduated from Colby College in 1926 with a B.A. degree (Latin) and began teaching history immediately after graduation. She went on to receive her master’s degree from Radcliffe College in 1929. In 1930, she became a professor of history at what is now called the University of Southern Maine. In addition her teaching career, for twenty-four years she wrote a weekly column for the Ellsworth (Maine) American, entitled “The Native.” She also wrote a monthly column for The Christian Science Monitor and contributed articles to various periodicals including Down East Magazine, Maine Life, and Woman’s Day. She authored four books: Country Fare, Hannah, Saltwater Seasons, and Deep Roots. An active community member, she belonged to the State Old Cemetery Association, Blue Hill Garden Club, Blue Hill Historical Society, and Blue Hill Baptist church. In 1972, Esther retired from the University of Southern Maine, which named a new dormitory in her honor and made her an associate professor of social science emerita. Colby recognized her with an honorary doctorate in humane letters in 1971 as well. Esther passed away at her home at Friends Corner, East Blue Hill on 1 December 2002.