Mary Tucker Thorp papers (CA-0001)

Biographical/Historical Note

Mary Tucker Thorp was born in 1899 in the Ottoman Empire under the name Halda Dahood. Her family immigrated to New York in 1904. When her father died, her mother placed her in Rock Nook Home Orphanage. The Thorp family in Westerly, Rhode Island became her legal guardians and later formally adopted her into the family. She was a teacher in Washington County, Rhode Island and later attained her bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees.

In 1926, Thorp accepted a teaching position at the Rhode Island College of Education (which was renamed Rhode Island College) and later became president of Henry Barnard School in 1938. Thorp retired from Rhode Island College in 1962. Her contributions include heading a committee for the creation of accreditation standards for early childhood education which were later adapted into the Rhode Island Department of Education’s Standard for early education. Thorp was involved with multiple organizations that involved early childhood education, civic engagement, and public health. She died in 1974.

The legacy of her contribution to Rhode Island College includes the dedication of a dormitory hall and the creation of the Mary Tucker Thorp Award for professors who display exceptional teaching to students.