Edith Scott Magna
Edith Scott Magna
A white woman wearing a large brimmed hat
Edith Scott Magna, from a 1920 publication
15th DAR President General, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
In office1932–1935
Preceded byEdith Irwin Hobart
Succeeded byFlorence Hague Becker
Personal details
BornNovember 15, 1885
DiedOctober 19, 1960 (aged 74)
Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
SpouseRussell William Magna
EducationSmith College (BA)

Edith Scott Magna (November 15, 1885 – October 19, 1960) was an American civic leader who served as the 15th president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Early life and education

Magna was born on November 15, 1885.[1] She was the daughter of Colonel Walter Scott, a businessman and philanthropist for whom the Scott Medal was named, and Sarah Dean Campbell.[2] She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College in 1909.[1]

Music

Magna was a soprano singer who specialized in Scottish songs.[3] She also wrote songs[4] and poems.[5][6]

Clubwork

Magna was vice-president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in the 1920s,[7] and served as the DAR's president general from 1932 to 1935.[2] She made it official that presidents general should visit all of the states during their term, and was the first president general to travel by plane to state conferences.[8] During the Great Depression, before her presidency, she raised funds to furnish the library at Memorial Continental Hall.[9]

In 1927, a bronze plaque was installed to mark Magna's work in preserving Crafts Tavern, the old post tavern in Holyoke, Massachusetts.[7] (The tavern was demolished by 1950, but the plaque was displayed in the school that was built in its place.)[10][11] The Massachusetts chapter of the DAR funded a college scholarship in her name in 1939.[12] She commented on the honor in 1940, "Faith in our schools is faith in our youth. They need us in these serious times, even as we need them."[13]

Magna was made a knight of the Legion of Honour.[1] She was a member of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century and the Mayflower Society.[1] A building at Clarke School in Northampton was named for her.[14]

Personal life

Scott married Russell William Magna on March 28, 1910.[1][15] After being hospitalized for a month following a hip fracture, she died on October 19, 1960, in Holyoke, Massachusetts.[2][16]

References

  1. ^ abcdeTobey, Fannie Smith (April 10, 1936). "Letter from Fannie Smith Tobey (Mrs. Walter L. Tobey) to Alva Morrison, with information about Edith Scott Magna". Five College Compass.
  2. ^ abc"Mrs. Edith Scott Magna". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. October 19, 1960. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  3. ^"Scottish Songs as Rendered by Mrs. Edith Scott Magna, Heard at Two Very Prominent Affairs"The Caledonian 20(April 1920): 38. via Internet Archive
  4. ^"Clan M'Laren Concert". Transcript-Telegram. 1920-02-17. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^"D. A. R. Echoes". The Birmingham News. 1934-12-02. p. 25. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^"Famous Spots in the Big Woods of Maine". The Independent-Reporter. 1922-07-13. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ ab"Bronze Tablet Will Tell of Mrs. Magna's Efforts to Restore Old Tavern". Transcript-Telegram. 1927-01-31. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^VanBuren, Denise Doring (April 22, 2022). "Travels with the President General". Daughters of the American Revolution.
  9. ^McNamara, Cynthia (March 6, 2024). "The DAR Library Jubilee". Daughters of the American Revolution.
  10. ^"Buick: Dealership's days numbered". The Republican. 1998-06-30. p. 29. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^Strahan, Derek (2019-02-26). "Crafts Tavern, Holyoke, Mass - Lost New England". Lost New England. Archived from the original on 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  12. ^"State D.A.R. Will Establish Edith Scott Magna Scholarship". The Republican. 1939-11-08. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^"Mrs. Magna Opens D.A.R. State Convention". Transcript-Telegram. 1940-10-01. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^"Housekeeper is Principal in Russel Magna Will". Transcript-Telegram. 1973-03-24. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^"Letter to Mrs. Russell William Magna of the DAR". The American Presidency Project. April 17, 1933. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  16. ^"Magna". Transcript-Telegram. 1960-10-19. p. 38. Retrieved 2025-03-10 – via Newspapers.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edith_Scott_Magna&oldid=1317047014"