Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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Miss Ella Claire Weimar Miss Ella Claire Weimar was burn ill Fauquier County, Virginia. At an early age she lost her parents and she and her sister were carefullx reared i)v their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey Padgett, at their home, (ireen View, in I ' auquier Cmmly, N ' irginia. Thus her early lite was spent in the countrw and she ever re- tained her love for nature ;uid all (jI its beauties. Miss Weimar ' s hrst school clays w ere spent in a private school in War- renton, Virginia. This school was taught by a lady from Connecticut who was evidently a very unusual woman and one who offered advan- tages of scholarship and culture to the oung girls of that community not usually available in our .Southern towns at that date. Later Miss Weimar studied at Mt. Washington, a school near I ' .altimore, Mar laiid. Her early teaching was in Winchester, Virginia, and there the three (irah.-mi brothers, who became distinguished Presbyterian ministers, v ere among iier students. Miss Weimar permitted no opportunity- for the acquisition of knowl- edge to pass her by, and while teaching in Winchester, she studied Latin, Greek, and Mathematics under Dr. Nelson, who later became Professor of Mathematics at the I ' niversitv of irginia. From Winchester she came to Augusta Female Seminarv, now Mary Daldwin College, and here she taught History and English and at the same time pursued some courses of study. From 1883 to 1888 we find Miss Weimar in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, teaching History and assisting in executive work. From Tuscaloosa she was called to the University of Arkansas, and from there in 1889 she was invited back to Augusta Female Seminary to assist Miss Mary Julia P.aldwin, the Princi])al, whose health was not good at that time. Mr. Waddell, in the History of Mary Baldn nn Seminary, says: In 1889 Miss P ald- win, finding the need of an Assistant Principal, obtained the services of Miss Ella C. Weimar, who continued to perform the duties of the office most efficiently dur- ing Miss Baldwin ' s life. These were trying years for the school, m Miss Weimar was always energetic and fearless in the discharge of her luty. After Miss Baldwin ' s death. Miss Weimar was elected Principal fro Icm. At a meeting (jf the Board of Trustees held January 25, 1898, the Chairman spoke in terms of high praise nt the administration of Miss Weimar and Mr. King. At a meeting of the Board July 1. 1X98, Miss Weimar was nominated for the office of |)rincip;d :nid the r ill being called ;is un;niiniously elected to select teachers ;nid Page Twenty-four

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Mauian.na I ' akkamoki; Hu.i.ixs, Lux. D. c Page Tu ' eiity-lhree

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:G tfi have general control oi the school, and Mr. King was elected liusiness Man- ager. Following Mr. Waddell ' s history to 1905, at which date these annals close, we find constant reference to Miss Weimar ' s successful management, but there are things in the life of a F ' rincipal of a boarding school which no historian can recount. Hers were long, weary days of hard work, continued activity, both mental and physical, and sleepless nights of anxiety, the constant reconciling of opposing elements, and the ever-pressing and earnest desire for the advance- ment of each individual student, and for the honored position of the school at large. Miss Weimar was most considerate of her teachers, and was ever readv to assist them, and would often at great sacrifice to her own personal comfort find ways to promote their interests. She continued in the office of Principal of Mary Baldwin Seminary until she resigned in January, 1916. Miss Marianna P. Hig- gins was elected by the Board of Trustees May 1, 1916, to succeed her. Following her position as assistant Principal from 1889 to 1897, Miss Weimar ' s administration as Principal of Mary Baldwin .Seminary continued from 1898 to 1916. The plant was enlarged, and many buildings erected during this period. The course of study was broadened and the organization strengthened. Just before she retired the Seminary was recognized by the Virginia State Board of Education as a Junior College. Her deep devotion to the .Seminary and to its success, her unfaltering loyalty to it. her ambition for the advancement of the school, her strict adherence to duty, her grim determination to abolish evil if it existed and to substitute good, her sincere scholarship, her ability as a leader, all combined to make her administration result in a marked development of the Semi- nary. Miss Weimar ' s interest in the old girls and her pride in their success and achievements and her distress at any failure of theirs continued to the end of her life. She was frecjuently heard to say, There is something different about the Mary Baldwin girls. After Miss Weimar retired, she returned to her own home, Green View, near Warrenton, Virginia, and there she lived quieth- until the end came December 28, 1926. She was the earnest student as well as teacher to the end. Some one who was close to her during her last years sa}s, I have known no one of her age so free from narrowness, so eager to grasp new ideas when beneficial and to apply them. She was keenly intere.sted in public afl airs with a progressive outlook on the rapidly changing history of the nations. She was particularly fond of History and Biography. Woodrow Wilson had no more earnest follower and admirer than Miss Weimar. She was a member of the Pres- byterian Church at Warrenton, Virginia, and she was always most conscientious in the discharge of all cliurch duties. When a complete Histor - of Mary Baldwin .Seminary is compiled, Miss Weimar ' s name will hold an honored place on the roll of those who have con- tributed so ];irgel - to the rich heritage of ] larv Baldwin College. — Makjanna p. ITir.cixs. Page Twenty- five