From collection Member List
Born in Waterville, Maine on March 22, 1850, when Colby College began to admit female students, Mary Caffrey Low was the first to seek admission. She would be the only woman in attendance at Colby for 2 years until she was joined by the other Founders of Sigma Kappa - Elizabeth G. Hoag, Ida M. Fuller, Frances E. Mann, and Louise H. Coburn.
Mary Low graduated first in the Class of 1875 - beating 19 male classmates for the honor. She was not only the first woman to graduate from Colby, but was in fact the first woman to graduate from any four-year college in all of New England! When Phi Beta Kappa honors society was established there in 1896, Mary Caffrey Low was the first woman on its roll.
She began a career as a teacher after graduation and continued as a teacher until 1878, when she married Leonard D. Carver, a fellow Colby alum. After her marriage, Mary Low Carver studied cataloging and indexing at the Maine State Library, where her husband was the State Librarian. She served as a cataloger for the State Library for 25 years. She also often gave educational public presentations on historical subjects.
In 1916, Colby College presented Mary Low Carver with the honorary Litt. D. degree. When Colby celebrated the 50th anniversary of the admission of women to the college in 1921, Mary delivered the principal address.
Mary Caffrey Low Carver died on March 4, 1926 at the age of 75. She is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Waterville, Maine.
Additional archival information about Mary Low Carver can be found from the Colby College Special Collections: https://web.colby.edu/csc-home/low-coburn/
Related Items
Mary Low Carver Profile Cabinet Card, 1895
This profile picture of Mary Low Carver at age 45 was taken as a preliminary study for an oil painting. Mrs. Carver did not like it, however, so painting was never done.
Mary Low Carver to Lorah S. Monroe Letter, February 1, 1924
Mary Low Carver,Alpha, Colby College, writes to Lorah S. Monroe, Eta, Illinois Wesleyan University, that she and her daughter are planning to attend the 1924 national convention.
Sorority Celebrates Centennial Newspaper Clipping, June 16, 1974
This article discusses the founding and early years of Sigma Kappa Sorority at Colby College and plans for the upcoming Centennial convention. The article includes a photograph of the five founders of Sigma Kappa.
Ida Fuller Pierce Remembrances of Mary Low Carver, 1926
Founder Ida Fuller Pierce, Alpha, Colby College, writes about fellow Founder Mary Low Carver, Alpha, who recently passed away.
Mary Low Carver and Ruby Carver Emerson Photograph, Summer 1923
Founder Mary Low Carver, Alpha, Colby College, poses with her daughter, Ruby Carver Emerson, Alpha, Colby College, outdoors.
Colby University Class of '75 Class Day Exercises Program, July 29, 1875
The prophecies portion of the graduation exercises was presented by Mary Caffrey Low, Alpha, Colby College.
Sigma Kappa is Founded
Sigma Kappa is founded at Colby College by the first 5 women to attend the institution.
Lorah Monroe Founders' Day Speech, 1932
Lorah S. Monroe, Alpha Eta, Illinois Wesleyan University, delivered this speech, focusing primarily on biographical and personal information about each of the Founders, at an unidentified Founders' Day event in 1932.
Founders Coburn, Hall, Carver, and Pierce at Convention Photograph, 1924
Sigma Kappa Founders (back, left to right) Louise H. Coburn, Francis Mann Hall, (front, left to right) Mary Low Carver, and Ida Fuller Pierce pose together at the 1924 national convention in Waterville, Maine.
