Alice Collins Gleeson papers (MS.1U.G4)

Biographical note

Alice Collins Gleeson, daughter of Simon S. and Elizabeth H. Collins and wife of Francis P. Gleeson, was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. After attending convent and Providence public schools, Gleeson went on to study history and education at Pembroke College – the women’s college at Brown University. Following her 1928 graduation from Pembroke College, Gleeson continued to study history at the graduate level at both Brown and Harvard Universities. As an author, historian and lecturer, Gleeson focused on the colonial history of Rhode Island. She wrote the book, Colonial Rhode Island and many articles for the Providence Journal and the Providence Evening Bulletin. Gleeson was heavily involved in the Rhode Island history curriculum development for the Providence public schools in the 1920s and 1930s, penning numerous historical radio plays for teaching purposes. She was an active member of the American Historical Association, the Rhode Island History Society, and many other Rhode Island committees and groups. Alice Collins Gleeson died on March 4, 1938.