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Jennings, Eulora M.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: b. circa November 1859 - November 1939

Biographical Information

Eulora Miller Jennings (d. 1939) holds the distinguished place amongst Purdue alumnae as the first woman to graduate from the University in 1878, after three years of study. As an undergraduate, she also served as the first president of the Philalethean Society, an organization "effected for the literary needs of the young ladies at Purdue." Upon earning a Bachelor's of Science degree, Eulora Miller became Purdue's first professional librarian, and continued her career in librarianship at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She went on to study under Melvil Dewey in his first librarianship training course at Columbia University in New York. Jennings gained notoriety as a dramatist, having published four plays, including Mrs. Oakley's Telephone, Tom's Fiancee, Dinner at the Club, and Die Prinzessin Barnof.

Eulora Miller married Rufus Jennings in 1890, and they moved to Berkeley, California. After moving to California, Eulora embarked on a new career teaching metalworking at the California College of Arts and Crafts. She was also involved in the design of the First Church of Christ in Berkeley, which is today listed as a National Historic Landmark. Jennings fabricated the large reflector lamps that hang over the center aisle. Eulora Jennings died in 1939.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Eulora Miller papers

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 49, Placement: 14
Identifier: MSA 280
Scope and Contents The papers include Eulora Miller's diploma from Purdue and a play she wrote.
Dates: 1880 - 1905