Lucy Comins Tucker Collection (Rec. Gr. 132)

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.