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Fyfe, Mary Endres, 1914-2005

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: February 16, 1914 - December 14, 2005

Biographical Information

Dr. Mary (Pollock) Endres Fyfe was an educator and superintendent in Illinois, assistant professor at Purdue University, travelled internationally to develop teacher training programs in countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria, and later served as the first vice president for academic affairs at Governors State University.

Endres Fyfe was born on February 16, 1914 in Macomb, Illinois to George and Cora (Spear) Pollock. She married twice; her second husband was William Fyfe who she married in 1984. She earned a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University (1943), and a master's in Education (1946) and doctorate in Education (1952) from the University of Chicago.

Endres Fyfe worked as a teacher (1932-1942) and superintendent (1942-1955) in Illinois before coming to Purdue University as an associate professor (1955-1972). While at Purdue, Endres Fyfe founded the Department of Elementary Education, consulted with school districts across the United States, and helped establish early childhood programs in African-American communities in Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio. She also travelled internationally to help develop teacher-training programs in Pakistan and Nigeria. In 1972, she became the first vice president for academic affairs at Governors State University in Illinois, which she held until she retired in 1981.

Mary Endres Fyfe died on December 14, 2005 in Woodstock, Illinois.

Citation

Little, Rebecca. (2005 December 25). Mary E. Fyfe. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-12-25-0512250173-story.html

Citation

Miscennaneous McHenry County, Illinois Obituaries. (n.d.). GenealogyBuff.com. http://www.genealogybuff.com/il/il-mchenry-obits3.htm

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Mary O'Hara papers on Helen Bass Williams

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 311
Overview This collection documents Dr. Mary O'Hara's research into and relationship with Helen Bass Williams and includes research notes, correspondence, oral history recordings, interview transcripts, and published materials.
Dates: 1951 - 2007; Majority of material found within 1985 - 2000

Helen Bass Williams papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 310
Overview This collection includes documents, correspondence, published materials, photographs, and audio recordings collected and created by Helen Bass Williams that document her personal life, education, and her work as a civil rights activist in the South, educator, and counselor and professor at Purdue University.
Dates: 1915 - 2004; Majority of material found within circa 1960s and 1970s