PORTER, Alice Downey
Source:
Indianapolis News Fri 21 Nov 1947 p 22
Greencastle
Nov 21 – Dr. Alice Downey Porter, a graduate of DePauw University in 1879 and a
member of an old Greencastle family will be buried in Forest Hill Cemetery,
Greencastle, Saturday. Dr. Porter, one of the oldest of the DePauw alumni group
died in Providence, RI Nov 19. Dr. Porter, who was 91, formerly taught at
DePauw and later at Northwestern, Wellesley and Baker University. Following her
retirement at Baker she taught more than 20 years at a settlement house in
Boston. Born in Greencastle in 1856, Dr.
Porter was the daughter of Prof. Charles G. Downey of DePauw’s mathematics
department. She received her master’s degree from DePauw in 1882 and the doctor
of Philosophy degree from Cornell University in 1899. Dr. Porter taught rhetoric in the DePauw
Academy until 1883, when she was married to the Rev. Frederick Porter. On his
death in 1892 she resumed teaching at DePauw and later went to other schools.
At Baker she served as professor of English and dean of women from 1899-1918.
Following her retirement she undertook additional study in Italian and
citizenship and published a book, “Easy Lessons in Browning.” Following 20 years of social work in Boston
she entered yet another new field, that of stimulating interest in world peace
among the nation’s teachers. From her house at 4 Brighton St, Providence, she
sent out thousands of pamphlets and leaflets urging world cooperation. She met
the expenses of printing and mailing and neighborhood children helped her stuff
and seal the envelopes. Dr. Porter last visited Greencastle Alumni Day in June
1946 and was the oldest graduate on the campus for the occasion. Her daughter,
Mrs. Ross A. Baker of New York will accompany the body to Greencastle. Her
son-in-law, Dr. Ross Baker, a DePauw graduate in 1906, is a professor of
chemistry in the City College of New York. - kbz