Phebe Sudlow
Encyclopedia
Phebe W. Sudlow was a pioneer for women in the education field and was the first female superintendent of a public school in the United States
. Sudlow also became the first female professor at the University of Iowa
in 1878, despite having no formal college degree.
. Sudlow soon began teaching, at the age of fifteen, at the same school where she was taught. After the death of her father in 1855, Sudlow moved to Rockford, Illinois
to live with her brother and a year latter moved to rural Scott County, Iowa
. Sudlow started teaching at a local school, and soon was moved by Superintendent Abram S. Kissell to Davenport sub-district 5 as an assistant of the district.
She soon became the assistant principal of two schools in Davenport and a year later, in 1860, she was the principal of both schools. Sudlow was paid a wage less than that of male principals. She argued with the school board about the pay disparate, and was soon paid an equal wage. On June 19, 1874, Sudlow became the first woman in United States history to be appointed superintendent of public schools when she was unanimously chosen by the Davenport school board.
She originally was offered a lower salary than that of a male superintendent, but was paid an equal wage after she told the school board, "Gentlemen, if you are cutting the salary because of my experience, I have nothing to say; but if you are doing this because I am a woman, I’ll have nothing more to do with it." Sudlow served as superintendent for four years. Among her achievements was the construction of a new high school.
In 1876, Sudlow became the first female president of the Iowa State Teachers Association. She obtained another first by becoming the first female professor at the University of Iowa
in Iowa City, Iowa
, despite having only an honorary Masters degree from Grinnell College
. She taught at the university for three years when she resigned due to poor health. She went back to Davenport to become a principal for one year before retiring from education.
On June 8, 1922, Sudlow died in her home in Davenport
. She is buried in Oakdale Cemetery
in Davenport. Sudlow was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Sudlow also became the first female professor at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1878, despite having no formal college degree.
Biography
Phebe W. Sudlow was born on July 11, 1831 in Poughkeepsie, New York. When Sudlow was four, she, her parents Richard and Hannah, and her five siblings moved to Nelsonville, OhioNelsonville, Ohio
Nelsonville is a city in northwestern Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,230 at the 2000 census. Hocking College is located in Nelsonville.-Geography:...
. Sudlow soon began teaching, at the age of fifteen, at the same school where she was taught. After the death of her father in 1855, Sudlow moved to Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
to live with her brother and a year latter moved to rural Scott County, Iowa
Scott County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 165,224 in the county, with a population density of . There were 71,835 housing units, of which 66,765 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. Sudlow started teaching at a local school, and soon was moved by Superintendent Abram S. Kissell to Davenport sub-district 5 as an assistant of the district.
She soon became the assistant principal of two schools in Davenport and a year later, in 1860, she was the principal of both schools. Sudlow was paid a wage less than that of male principals. She argued with the school board about the pay disparate, and was soon paid an equal wage. On June 19, 1874, Sudlow became the first woman in United States history to be appointed superintendent of public schools when she was unanimously chosen by the Davenport school board.
She originally was offered a lower salary than that of a male superintendent, but was paid an equal wage after she told the school board, "Gentlemen, if you are cutting the salary because of my experience, I have nothing to say; but if you are doing this because I am a woman, I’ll have nothing more to do with it." Sudlow served as superintendent for four years. Among her achievements was the construction of a new high school.
In 1876, Sudlow became the first female president of the Iowa State Teachers Association. She obtained another first by becoming the first female professor at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, despite having only an honorary Masters degree from Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
. She taught at the university for three years when she resigned due to poor health. She went back to Davenport to become a principal for one year before retiring from education.
On June 8, 1922, Sudlow died in her home in Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
. She is buried in Oakdale Cemetery
Oakdale Memorial Gardens
Oakdale Memorial Gardens, formerly Oakdale Cemetery, is located in east-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was established in 1856 and designed by Captain George F. de la Roche, who had finished the design of Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. five years earlier. It is considered a...
in Davenport. Sudlow was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.