معرفی
Emily James Smith Putnam (1865–1944) was the first dean of Barnard College (affiliated with Columbia University) and a prominent historian, educator, and author. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1889 and studied at Girton College, Cambridge, becoming the first American woman to attend. As Barnard’s dean from 1894–1899, she advocated for equitable access to Columbia’s resources for Barnard students and taught Greek literature and philosophy. After marrying publisher George H. Putnam in 1899, she resigned her deanship upon becoming pregnant but remained active in academia, lecturing part-time at Barnard and the New School for Social Research. She co-founded the New School in 1919 and delivered influential lectures like "Habit and History," analyzing societal norms and individual agency. Her publications include The Lady (1910), a seminal work on women’s roles across history, and translations of classical and modern texts. Putnam also led the League for Political Education (1901–1904) and advised the New School’s early development. She retired in 1930 and later lived in Spain and Jamaica before her death.
- Education: Bryn Mawr College (1889), Girton College, Cambridge (1890–1891)
- Key Roles: Dean of Barnard College, Lecturer at Barnard and New School, Board Member of New School
Her research focused on classical antiquity, women’s history, and societal structures. She critiqued rigid traditions in her lectures, emphasizing the interplay between habit and progress. Though no formal awards are cited, her legacy includes shaping Barnard’s trajectory and co-founding the New School.
Putnam advised no known students but mentored early 20th-century social reformers through her educational initiatives. Her work remains foundational in gender and classical studies.
