Lucy Comins Tucker Collection

University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2007

Collection Overview

Title:	Lucy Comins Tucker Collection
Date range:	1899-1958
Creator:	Tucker, Lucy Comins, 1876-1958
Extent:	2 box(es) (1 linear feet)
Abstract:	The records of Lucy Tucker contain correspondence relating to her position as secretary and registrar of Rhode Island State College from 1896 to 1946. Also included in the records are news clippings, a desk diary, reports, notes, and histories of the College written by Tucker.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	Rec. Gr. 132

Scope & content

The records of Lucy Tucker contain correspondence relating to her position as secretary and registrar of the University of Rhode Island from 1896 to 1946. Also included is a desk diary from 1899-1929, newspaper clippings, reports on scholastic averages, notes from a testimonial dinner, copies of various histories she wrote about the early days at the College, and a graphologist's analysis of her writing. Of note is a letter, May 4, 1935, about the early history of Negroes at Rhode Island State College.

The records are in fair to poor condition; many of them are stained from rusty paper clips and staples. Some are water stained. Most are in a brittle condition. Many are carbon copies on onion skin paper. A block of correspondence to recipients with the last name beginning with "B" is present but lacking is correspondence with recipients with last names beginning with other letters.

Arrangement

This collection contains one series as follows:

1. Subject Files

Biographical note

Lucy Comins Tucker (born in
Sturbridge, Massachusetts on June 22, 1876) worked for the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
, which later became Rhode Island State College
, from 1896 to 1946. She was a member of the fourth graduating class of Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, as the University of Rhode Island was then called, but attended for only three terms from 1893 to 1894. Because her family did not have the money for her to finish at the College, she took a business course in
Providence for six months and returned to the College to work. She was first hired to type building specifications for Lippitt Hall. At the end of that 10-day temporary position, a measles epidemic in March 1897 caused the President's secretary to become ill and Miss Tucker temporarily took her position. Soon she was hired permanently to replace that secretary.

Lucy Tucker was secretary for the first three presidents of Rhode Island State College: John H. Washburn (1892-1902), Kenyon L. Butterfield (1903-1906), and Howard Edwards (1906-1930). As part of that job, she was responsible for preparing the registration papers for incoming students. Eventually she took over the duties of admissions officer as well. With the induction of Dr. Raymond G. Bressler as 4th president in 1930, she officially became Registrar and Admissions Officer. She was responsible for admissions until June 1942 and acted as secretary of the Faculty and Executive Committee during her entire tenure. When she retired in 1946, she had worked for the College for fifty years.

In 1945, the State College awarded her an honorary degree of Master of Science. When she retired in 1946, she had been an important part of the College during her fifty-year tenure as student, secretary, and Registrar. Lucy Tucker died in
South Kingstown, R.I. in December 1958.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Distinctive Collections Unit.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	Lucy Comins Tucker Collection, Rec. Gr. 132, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The records were acquired by University Archives and Special Collections prior to 1974.


ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Leslie Tobias Olsen.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Yuan Li 2007 November 21, updated by Erin Mullen on 2015 January 2, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 16.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Series 1. Subject Files
Box 1-2, Folder 1-36
The Subject File series contains correspondence written mainly to and from people whose last name begins with "B". It also includes letters from job applicants, and letters about various professional responsibilities such as annual reports to Washington, D.C., and professional organizations. Correspondence relating to business dealings, such as that concerning the water supply at the College and requisitions for coal supply, are included in folders marked Business correspondence. This series also contains Miss Tucker's desk diary from 1899 to 1929 and newspaper clippings about her. Of interest is a photograph album with early photographs of Kingston, RI, and India. A survey on faculty careers, a report on scholastic averages of various groups made for the editor of The Beacon,the student newspaper, and holographic and typescript drafts of articles are also included in this series.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within folders.

Container

Description

Date

Box 1, Folder 1

American Association of Collegiate Registrars
, correspondence

1929

Box 1, Folder 2

Articles and Essays

1946?, scattered, undated

Box 1, Folder 3

B (Babb-Bliss), correspondence

1928 Dec-1930 Feb

Box 1, Folder 4

B (Bloomfield-Butler), correspondence

1927 Jan-1930 Apr

Box 1, Folder 5

Burlingame, L. D., correspondence

1927 Jun-1930 Apr

Box 1, Folder 6

Bliss, Zenas, correspondence

1922 Mar-1929 Jun

Box 1, Folder 7

Bates, Reuben, correspondence

1925 Dec-1935 Mar

Box 1, Folder 8

Business, correspondence

1930

Box 1, Folder 9

Business, correspondence

1931

Box 1, Folder 10

Business, correspondence

1932

Box 1, Folder 11

Business, correspondence

1933

Box 1, Folder 12

Business, correspondence

1934-1935

Box 1, Folder 13

Business - Water analysis, correspondence

1932

Box 1, Folder 14

Diary, desk

1899-1929

Box 2, Folder 15

Diplomas, correspondence with W. Pengelley

1930 May-1934 May

Box 2, Folder 16

Education in the war years, letters concerning

1941 Dec-1945 Jun

Box 2, Folder 17

Funeral, Lucy Tucker

1958 Dec 31

Box 2, Folder 18

History of Agricultural Education (article)

1939 Mar-1940 Aug

Box 2, Folder 19