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 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.
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.
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.
The Book of Words of the Pageant of Sigma Kappa Program, July 3, 1924
This pageant was created by Founder Mary Low Carver, Alpha, Colby College, and was performed at the 1924 golden anniversary convention in Waterville, Maine.
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.
Ida Fuller Pierce to My Dear, Dear Sigma Letter, March 29, 1926
Ida Fuller Pierce, Alpha, Colby College, writes that she will write out her remembrances of fellow Founder Mary Carver Low, who recently passed away.
Unidentified Banquet Toast by Mary Low Carver
This rhyming toast discussing the Founders and the founding of Sigma Kappa was given by Founder Mary Low Carver, Alpha, Colby College, at an unidentified banquet.
