Heloise Hersey facts for kids

Heloise Edwina Hersey (1855-1933) was an American expert in old English language and literature. She went to Vassar College. Heloise was the first woman professor to teach about old English in the United States. She started teaching at Smith College in 1878.

Heloise Hersey's Life and Work

Heloise Hersey was born in Oxford, Maine. Her father was a doctor. She earned her first degree from Vassar College in 1876.

From 1877 to 1899, Heloise ran her own school. It was called Miss Hersey's School for Girls. This school was located in Boston.

In 1878, she began working at Smith College. She taught there until 1883. Her subjects included rhetoric (the art of speaking or writing well) and Anglo-Saxon. She shared teaching duties with Laurenus Clark Seelye. He was the president of the college.

Later in her life, Heloise Hersey received special awards. These were called honorary degrees. Bowdoin College gave her one in 1921. Tufts University gave her another in 1922. An honorary degree is a special title given to someone to honor their achievements.

In 1901, Heloise Hersey published a book. It was a collection of letters called To Girls.

Today, Vassar College has a special fund named after her. It is called the Heloise E. Hersey Fund. This fund helps the college buy new books. These books are usually recent and have important literary value. Heloise's uncle first started this scholarship.