Greene, John Morton, 1830-1919

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Generally regarded as the originator of the idea of founding Smith College. College Trustee, 1871-1919. Amherst College, A.B., 1853; A.M., 1856. Married Louisa Dickinson, 1857. Pastor, Congregational Church, Hatfield, Mass., 1857-1868; Congregational Church, South Hadley, Mass., 1868-1870; Eliot Congregational Church, Lowell, Mass., 1870-1910.

From the description of John Morton Greene papers, 1856-1930. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 51515414

John Morton Greene, Sophia Smith's pastor, is generally regarded as the originator of the idea of founding Smith College as a college for women. Born in Hadley, Mass. on March 12, 1830, he was an 1853 graduate of Amherst College, which also granted him the A.M. in 1856 and D.D. in 1881. In 1857 he married Louisa Dickinson of North Amherst, an 1857 graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary. In the same year, he was installed as the pastor at the Congregational church at Hatfield, where he remained for eleven years. In Hatfield he met Sophia Smith. In 1868 he was called to the pastorate at the Congregational Church at South Hadley, Mass. Two years later he went to the Eliot Congregational Church in Lowell, Mass., where he remained for thirty years. After retiring from regular pastoral duties in 1910, Greene assisted in the establishment of a mission in Maine. He died April 28, 1919.

John Morton Greene was a trustee of Smith College almost continuously from its founding in 1871 until his death. In addition, he served on the board of trustees of Mount Holyoke Seminary (now Mount Holyoke College), 1866-1875; and was president of the board of trustees at the French Protestant College in Springfield, 1885-1889. As advisor to Sophia Smith, he was also instrumental in the founding of Smith Academy in Hatfield, and acted in a similar capacity for Miss Rogers to found the Rogers Hall School in Lowell, where he acted as president of its board of trustees, 1892-1909. For over forty years he was one of the overseers of the charity fund at Amherst College.

From the guide to the John Morton Greene Papers RG 10., 1856-1930, (Smith College Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf John Morton Greene Papers 1856-1930 Smith College Archives
creatorOf Seelye, Laurenus Clark, 1837-1924. Laurenus Clark Seelye papers, 1820-1995 (bulk 1875-1924). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Daniel and Tammy Dickinson Family Papers, 1818-1901, 1850-1880 Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Laurenus Clark Seelye Papers RG 32., 1820-1995, 1875-1924 Smith College Archives
referencedIn Smith College. Founding documents collection, 1868-ca. 1930. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Greene, John Morton, 1830-1919. John Morton Greene papers, 1856-1930. Smith College, Neilson Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Burton, Marion Le Roy, 1874-1925 person
associatedWith Dickinson family family
associatedWith Greene, Helen French, 1868- person
associatedWith Greene, Louisa Dickinson, 1830-1881 person
associatedWith Hubbard, George W. (George Warner) person
associatedWith Hubbard, George W. (George Warner) person
associatedWith Seelye, Laurenus Clark, 1837-1924 person
associatedWith Smith College corporateBody
associatedWith Smith, Sophia, 1796-1870 person
associatedWith Wells, Daniel White, 1842- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Massachusetts
Subject
Congregational churches
Clergy
Clergy
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1830

Death 1919

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