Mumford, Mary Bassett (1842–1935)

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Mumford, Mary Bassett (1842–1935)

American education and social reformer. Name variations: Mary Bassett. Born Mary Eno Bassett, May 9, 1842, in CT; died May 9, 1935, in New Britain, CT; dau. of Ozias Buell Bassett (farmer and magistrate) and Emeline (Eno) Bassett; m. Joseph Pratt Mumford (bank cashier), May 9, 1866 (died 1915); children: 5 children.

Published children's book Hilda Dart; A Born Romp (1871), later reissued as A Regular Tomboy (1913); served as chair of educational committee, director, and president of New Century Club (1889–92), Philadelphia-based women's organization; elected to sectional school board for local district (1882); was 2nd woman selected to be ward representative to Philadelphia central Board of Public Education (1889); co-founded Civic Club of Philadelphia (1893) and General Federation of Women's Clubs (1890); worked with Pennsylvania Congress of Mothers to establish juvenile courts, mothers' clubs, and day nurseries; elected to (1891) and served as president (1893–1912) of board of corporators of Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.