ABSTRACT
Sabin, Ellen Clara (1850-1949). American college president. Born in Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin, the eldest of 11 children, Sabin grew up on her father’s farm, attending school in the district. At the age of 15, in 1866, she entered the University of Wisconsin remaining there for three years. In 1868-9, Sabin taught in the Sun Prairie grade school, then was appointed principal, Fourth Ward School, 1869-72. The family moved west to Eugene, Oregon, in 1872 and for the following year, she conducted a one-room school in the town. Nominated for the post of state superintendent at the age of 22, Sabin withdrew her name, taking a post at Old North (later, Atkinson) School, Portland, 1873-85. Situated in a poor part of the city, the school suffered from a regime of corporal punishment and over-traditional teaching methods. Sabin raised expectations, catering for difficult and special needs students and establishing a job placement scheme in factories and businesses in Portland. After spending a year in Europe, studying education systems, 1885-6, she became superintendent of schools, Portland, 1887, the first large city to appoint a woman. Returning home in 1891 she became president, Downer College, Fox Lake, Wisconsin, a girls’ school. Her success at the College led to its merger with Milwaukee College for Women: Downer College moved to Milwaukee in 1895 and Sabin was president of the combined colleges. Under her direction, the college gained full accreditation, the campus grew to 43 acres in size and an extensive building programme was undertaken. Sabin’s background of practical training determined the curriculum of the college. Besides the BA course, there were diplomas relating to home-making, nursing and occupational therapy. The liberal arts were also well represented and, as a staunch Congregationalist, she taught Biblical literature. Sabin retired in 1921, exactly 30 years after being appointed to the post. In 1964, the College became part of Lawrence University, Wisconsin. Sabin received honorary degrees from the University of Wisconsin, AM, 1895, and PhD, Beloit, Wisconsin, and Grinnell, Iowa, Colleges. Member, National Council of Education, 1886-92; member, Wisconsin State Board of Education, 1912-23. Sabin died at the age of 98 at Madison, Wisconsin. See Sabin, E.C., Twenty-Five Years of Milwaukee - Downer College (1920), and Adams, M., Ellen Clara Sabin: A Life Sketch (1937).
