Mary Zimmerman Scrapbook

Abstract

Mary Zimmerman’s scrapbook highlights her educational, professional and public achievements. Mary Zimmerman (1869-1953) was one of four original faculty members of John Marshall High School that opened in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood in 1895. She taught Latin for forty years until her retirement in 1935. Zimmerman was active with the American Friends of the Hebrew University and sought to raise funds for scholarships and programs for the Jerusalem institution that was founded in 1925.

Historical/Biographical

Mary Zimmerman was born in autumn 1869, the daughter of a Cairo, Illinois businessman. She was graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1891, and received her master’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1902. She was one of four original faculty members of John Marshall High School (3250 W. Adams Street) in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood, which opened in 1895. For the next forty years, Miss Zimmerman taught Latin at Marshall, retiring in 1935. She was active in securing higher education scholarships for promising students, to whom she became known as “Aunt Mary.”

Zimmerman took an interest in the fortunes of The Hebrew University founded in Jerusalem in 1925. Her extensive fundraising work on behalf of the University was acknowledged by that institution when it named the Mary Zimmerman Classics Room in her honor. On the occasion of her 78th birthday in 1947, many of her former students contributed to a fund which commissioned artist Benjamin S. Kanne to paint her portrait. The painting was later sent to The Hebrew University where it hangs in the room named for her.

Although she taught school in East Garfield Park, Mary Zimmerman lived in Hyde Park. After her retirement, she continued to reside in Flamingo Hotel at 5520 South Shore Boulevard. She died in Chicago, December 23, 1953, at the age of eighty-four. Her obituary appeared in newspapers nationwide, including the New York Times.

Scope and Contents

Mary Zimmerman’s scrapbook highlights her educational, professional and public achievements. Mary Zimmerman (1869-1953) was one of four original faculty members of John Marshall High School that opened in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood in 1895. She taught Latin for forty years until her retirement in 1935. Zimmerman was active with the American Friends of the Hebrew University and sought to raise funds for scholarships and programs for the Jerusalem institution that was founded in 1925.

The scrapbook creation may have been prompted by the events surrounding the commission and presentation of her portrait that was painted by Benjamin S. Kanne in 1948. The book’s entries are retrospective about some of the events in Zimmerman’s life. It is not clear if the book was assembled by, or with the assistance of, Zimmerman.

Arrangement

The scrapbook contents are described in the order of appearance with loose items filed at the end. Some of the items that were detached from the pages have been gathered in a separate box and folders. These materials continue to be described in their original placement.

Subject Headings

• American Friends of the Hebrew University
• East Garfield Park (Chicago, Ill.)
• Garfield Park (Chicago, Ill.)
• Jews--Education -- Illinois -- Chicago
• John Marshall High School (Chicago, Ill.)
• Schools -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History

Related Collections

• East Garfield Park Community Collection
• West Garfield Park Community Collection
• West Side Newspaper Collection

Separated Materials

The following items have been removed to East Garfield Park Community Collection: Marshall News, 1954 April 19, September 7

Collection Inventory