State College Woman's Club

- Documenting the Role of Women in Local History -

Lucretia Van Tuyl Simmons was one of the most academically successful women in Penn State's early history. An active member of the Women's Literary Club, Simmons also came to Penn State to teach. Born in Schenevus, New York in 1875, she dreamed of one day becoming a doctor like her father. Though her father tried to convince her that being a doctor was not an occupation for a lady, Lucretia still pursued her education.

From 1898 through 1929, she earned various degrees, including a Masters in 1903 and a Ph.D. in 1913. She made numerous trips abroad to study and teach at various institutions all over Europe. During this time, she simultaneously taught at Penn State. She came to Penn State in 1903 to teach German. As a teacher, she sought to further her education and became Professor of German and Head of German Department. She was also a published author and upon retirement in 1936 was named Professor Emerita.

Simmons set a good example to all her students by being an active member of the Red Cross and the State College Woman's Club. She raised two thousand dollars for Penn State during their Emergency Building Campaign. An active community member, Simmons helped to establish the Cosmopolitan Club, the Dickens Club, the Deutscher Verein, the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors, the local branch of the American Association for Women, and the Penn State Alumnae Club. The Penn State Alumni News deemed her life as "...an inspiration and a pattern for all aspiring teachers." Her impressive achievements are numerous and extremely honorable.

She also served one year in 1918 as Dean of Women. She, however, resigned after only one year due to the demands of the joy. The position of Dean of Women was not yet considered a full-time position. Juggling teaching, heading the Department of German, and watching over the entire female student body took skill. Though she enjoyed this position, Simmons decided that it took too much time from her teaching to continue, though she enjoyed it. In 1919, the university made the position full-time and Margaret A. Knight took over.