A History Through Presidents

Edith Lesley
Founder of Lesley College, 1909-1938

1909— September 17, 1909, Miss Edith Lesley welcomed her first class in the living-room of her home at 29 Everett Street, Cambridge. Edith opened "The Lesley Normal School" ("normal" at the time designating teacher training schools) to train young women to become kindergarten and early elementary teachers. Influenced by the philosophy of German educator Friedrich Froebel, Lesley's two-year curriculum stressed the importance of physical activity (singing, dancing and gardening) and play, particularly with blocks and similar objects. Edith Lesley also stressed the values of treating students as individuals and the importance of 'gracious living.' Tuition was a mere $100 a year and of the nine first-year students, Anna Tikkonnnen, an international student from Finland, was the first student enrolled.

1911—Eleven students graduated in the first class at the First Parish Church (Unitarian) in Harvard Square in Cambridge.

1912—Classes in household arts were added and the Art Institute of Boston (AIB) was founded by Roy Davidson as the school for Practical Art. It was one of the very first private non-affiliated studio schools in the United States and was housed in Davidson's own studio which consisted of three small rooms in Boston's Back Bay.

1913—Forty of 43 Lesley Normal School Graduates were teachers. The other three were married and were therefore not allowed to hold teaching positions.

1918—The department known first as Domestic Science (later, 1939-1940, as Home Economics) was established, offering a one- or two-year program which prepared students to work in various public institutions, including schools and hospitals. Gertrude Malloch, who served as both a teacher and an administrator, was named Principal of the Lesley Normal School.

1920—Lesley Normal School changed its name to the Lesley School.

1921—Edith Lesley Wolfard and her husband, Merl Ruskin Wolfard, converted their summer home in Bridgewater, New Hampshire into the Lesley Camp where students could study during the summers and earn certificates in various subjects from handicrafts to sports.

1922—Alumni hall was built as an assembly hall with classrooms in the basement after three adjoining properties were acquired. The tuition for the school year was $200 plus $550 a year for room and board. Practice teaching and observation were added to the curriculum of the Department of Kindergarten Training and the Department of Primary Training.

1924—The first yearbook, The Lesleyan, was printed.

1928—Enrollment at the Lesley School reached more than 300 students, both boarding and day, and 75 courses were offered for students of Kindergarten Training, Primary Training, and Domestic Science in the following year.

1930— Edith Lesley Wolfard added her family coat of arms, two griffins holding a field medal, to the furnishings from around the world she collected to make the school as "homey as possible." She then adopted for the school the coat of arms' motto, "I had perished had I not persisted." Edith's ancestry was connected to Lord Newark, David Leslie, who received his title in August 1660 for valor during a battle against the invasion of Scotland by England, led by Oliver Cromwell. The elf, another of Edith Lesley Wolfard's collection, was adopted as Lesley's mascot, and his lantern was lit for celebrations.

1932—To get admitted to the Lesley School, one had to meet the following requirements:

1. Graduation from a four-year high school or from an accredited three-year high school on the junior plan
2. Transcript of high school credits
3. Letter of recommendation from a teacher and a business reference
4. A doctor's certificate for a good bill of health
5. A "glossy" 4 X 6 head shot without a hat
6. Ability to sing and play piano (for the Kindergarten-primary training program only)

1934—With the Depression taking its toll on enrollment, the Lesley School had only 63 students taking classes with tuition at $220 per year for the Teacher Training Program and $390 per year for the Domestic Science Program. A $325 fee was charged per year for use of the dormitories.

Gertrude Malloch
Chief Administrator, 1938-1943

1938—Gertrude Malloch was appointed Chief Administrator as Edith's health began to decline.

1939—The Department of Domestic Science was renamed the Department of Home Economics and, after 30 years of private ownership, the Lesley School was incorporated as a non-profit institution.

1940—According to the Alumnae Association, Lesley School graduates totaled well over 2,000 and were scattered across the United States and around the globe.

1941—The first Board of Trustees was established to make Lesley a school of "collegiate caliber."

1943—The Lesley School became a four-year, not-for-profit educational institution and was authorized by the state of Massachusetts to be renamed Lesley College and given the right to award the Bachelor of Science in Education degree.

Marguerite Franklin
President 1943-1943

1943—Marguerite Franklin was hired as President to transition the Lesley School to Lesley College, the name it still holds today.

Trentwell Mason White
President 1944-1959

1944—Trentwell Mason White became president and Clara Thurber became the first Dean of Lesley College. Mason wrote the school song "Loyal Lesley Daughters" in his efforts to create a sense of tradition for Lesley's 86 students and 28 employees.

1945—The first of five bachelor's degrees was awarded in June, and the home economics Department was abolished.

1948—The Lesley College Alumnae Association created its first annual semester tuition scholarship for degree candidates who had completed their freshman year and were held in high academic standing.

1949—Three private elementary schools (Lesley-Ellis, Dearborn, and Carroll-Hall) were acquired to provide students a "Laboratory for Learning."

1950—Stebbins Hall was built, adding two floors, including a library, above Alumni Hall.

1953—Edith Lesley Wolfard died. During a tribute held in her honor on May 21, President Trentwell Mason White recalled Edith's advice to him: "The girls at Lesley will give their best when the best is expected from them. Insist on these standards. Demand the top not the second-rate."

1955—The first five students of the Graduate School received their degrees.

1958—The newly-built Trentwell Mason White Hall, a dormitory and dining room, opened.

Sam Wonders
Acting President 1959-1960

1959—President Trentwell Mason White unexpectedly died and Sam Wonders, President of the Board of Trustees, served as acting president. At this point Lesley had a total of ten buildings, 380 undergraduates, 52 graduate students, and 79 employees.

Don Orton
President 1960-1985

1960—Don Orton was appointed as the President of Lesley College. Due to a growing interest in the field of learning disabilities, graduate training for special education teachers was offered.

1962—The New England Kindergarten Conference was started by the Lesley Graduate School

1965—New buildings were constructed creating a quadrangle and housing a new library, dorm space, faculty and administrative offices and classrooms.

1967—Gertrude Malloch died, leaving her house to the College to be used "as a home for the president of Lesley College;" Mellen Street was incorporated as the street that bisected the campus; the School of Practical Art was renamed the Art Institute of Boston (AIB), establishing itself as a non-profit institution of higher education; the Graduate Center opened at 9 Mellen, the first Graduate School building on campus; the College consisted of 28 buildings, 550 undergraduates, 25 graduate students, and 225 employees.

1968—Lesley students went on strike to demand more rights. Changes were made in the curriculum, curfew, schedule, and living arrangements.

1970—AIB moved to Kenmore Square and the Independent Study Program of the Graduate School began with five students who designed their own courses of study.

1973—The renovations of the 1965 plan were completed after 8 years of planning and construction.

1974—Institute for Arts and Human Development was created by Professor Shaun McNiff with an Expressive Therapies track and an Arts Education track, the first of its kind in the United States to integrate the arts, dance, theater, psychodrama, music, poetry, and the visual arts with the practice of psychotherapy.

1975—The Counseling and Psychology Program began with 21 students, blending instruction in theory with field experience and with a self-awareness focus of the counselor-in-training.

1976—The Creative Arts and Learning Program began under the direction of Iris Fanger as the only program in the United States that had an interdisciplinary, arts-based education; Program Evaluation and Research Group (PERG) started by professors George Hein and Brenda Engel initiated an alternative to standardized assessments of students' progress using a quantitative assessment program; to extend skills beyond the Master's level, the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) was developed by Professor George Hein as an interdisciplinary program for professionals.

1978—AIB received accreditation from the National Association of Trade Schools; the Lesley Graduate School included five areas (Education, Management, Counseling Psychology, Institute for Arts and Human Development, Outreach and Alternative Education) with 18 different programs.

1979—The Technology in Education Graduate Program at Lesley was the first of its kind to be launched in the United States.

1980—Audubon Expedition Institute (AEI) was launched enabling students to earn their bachelor and master's degrees by traveling across the country on a bus and learning about the environment by living in it. At the same time, the Expressive Therapies training program was offered to professionals in Israel and at home, the Adult Baccalaureate Program began for older students trying to balance full-time jobs with earning an undergraduate degree.

1981—The accelerated program for working adults, Programs in Management for Business and Industry (PMBI), was established at the same time the Lesley College Graduate School of Education became the Lesley Graduate School.

1982—The Threshold Program began under the auspices of Professor Arlyn Roffman who created the non-degree, campus-based program for young adults with diverse learning disabilities and other special needs. A this same time, the Art Institute of Boston (AIB) received the National Association of Schools of Art and Design accreditation.

1984—Lesley's National Outreach Program in Denver, Colorado, was launched with a Counseling Psychology Certificate which initiated the first off-campus program to be delivered outside New England. Lesley also celebrated its 75th anniversary with 475 undergraduates, 1,259 graduate students on campus, 1675 graduate students off campus, 40 buildings, and 476 employees.

Margaret A. McKenna
President 1985-2007

1985—Margaret A. McKenna was inaugurated as Lesley College's President.

1986-The Intercultural Relations Program, the fist of its kind, was established, focusing its curriculum on the interpersonal aspects of communication and understanding across cultures.

1987—The Ph.D program was approved by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology in Education was established. An affirmative action policy was approved by the Board of Trustees; Lesley College held off-campus programs in Colorado, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Wyoming as well as international sites in Brazil, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland, and West Germany.

1988—The Art Institute of Boston awarded its first class of BFA degrees.

1990—Lesley College celebrated its 80th anniversary and admitted its first Ph.D. students in education.

1991—The Reading Recovery Center—the New England regional site for teacher training—opened at Lesley College. "Say Yes to Education," a Lesley College-administered free college education program, began.

1992—The library was renovated and dedicated as the Eleanor DeWolfe Ludcke Library. Lesley College awarded its first Ph.D. in Education.

1993—Reggio Emilia Inspired Institute was founded. Lesley also hosted its first "Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Youth" conference.

1994—Porter Exchange, the former Sears building, was purchased by Lesley College. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences was created.

1995—Lesley College became a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division III.

1996—The Lesley faculty juried an online journal, The Journal of Pedagogy, which debuted this same year. Online courses were offered for the first time.

1997—The Center for Special Education was created and the first online degree program, the 11-course Technology in Education master's, began.

1998—AIB became Lesley's sixth school.

1999—The Institute for Mind, Body, and Spirituality was established to promote inquiry, train professionals, conduct research, develop new programs, and provide leadership in the area of mind-body health, and education. Lesley received an award from the Victorian Society of America for preserving the Victorian character in Cambridge.

2000—Lesley College became Lesley University and the Women's College was renamed Lesley College. A Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies was introduced.

2001—U.S. News and World Report ranked Lesley University as one of the "best regional Universities." Oregon became the 17th state to join Lesley University's national program.

2002—The Radcliffe Seminars in Creative Arts were taken over by Lesley University. The MFA in Creative Writing Program began.

2003—Programs in Management for Business and Industry (PMBI) closed. Princeton Review selected Lesley University as among "The Best Northeastern Colleges."

2004—Lesley College became co-ed, admitting men in the undergraduate school for the first time in its history. Lesley University launched its comprehensive brand marketing campaign, "Let's Wake up the World." The Art Institute of Boston established a BFA in Animation.

2005—Lesley University launched its third Ph.D. Program in Education Leadership. Male undergraduate students began classes.

2006—The Ph.D in Expressive Therapies program graduated its first students.

2007—The School of Education moved to its new location in University Hall (the former Porter Exchange Building).

Joseph B. Moore
President 2007-Present

2007-Joseph B. Moore was selected as Lesley University's President after Margaret McKenna stepped down following twenty-two years of service.

2008-Lesley University received a $136 million gift from former trustee Frank C. Doble.  The largest gift in the University's history tripled the endowment and fueled growth, scholarships, and new facilities. The University and the Episcopal Divinity School entered a new partnership with a shared vision for future facilities and partnerships.

2009-Lesley University began a year-long Centennial Celebration.