College Relations

March 28, 2005

Contact: Jim Glynn at 978-542-7519 or email james.glynn@salemstate.edu

SALEM - Edna McGlynn, 97, of Beverly, died Sunday, March 27 at Beverly Hospital.

A history professor at Salem State College from 1936 to 1976, McGlynn organized a letter-writing campaign to soldiers fighting overseas in World War II. The campaign resulted in an exchange of over 1,400 letters and postcards from Salem State College students who had gone off to war. A room in the college's library was named in her honor in 1976. In 1997, Salem State College put the World War II letters on display in the library, along with postcards and memorabilia that McGlynn had donated.

"Edna loved to share her knowledge of colonial Salem and of Ireland. We never had to look up anything - Edna always knew. We will miss her a great deal, " said her sisters Anita McGlynn of Beverly and Priscilla Murphy of Highland, Indiana (a 1943 graduate of the college).

"No single community member at SSC has been as influential to our students as Edna McGlynn," said college president Nancy D. Harrington. "She was particularly close to our students who served in the armed forces during World War II and the Korean War. They wrote to her as though they were writing to their own mothers. She mentored them, offering special assistance to our veterans as they transitioned back to civilian life. She was one of the first women faculty at SSC to hold two doctoral degrees, and she was truly a fantastic teacher."

"She is easily the most renowned professor at Salem State," said Bob Powers of Lynn, a member of the college's Class of 1951. "She had a PhD when PhDs were hard to come by. Because of her training, the students at Salem State received an education in history equal to any university in the country. She also had a radiant, magnetic personality and treated everyone the same. I just can't say enough about her."

Marilyn Flaherty of Arlington, a member of the college's Class of 1954 who serves on the Salem State College Alumni Board of Directors, said "Professor McGlynn was brilliant in her knowledge and understanding of history. What made her special was her ability to teach that knowledge to her students. She made history come alive and we would look forward to her classes."

"She was in a class of her own in all respects, highly respected, brilliant, warm and compassionate. She worked you hard, but it was just a joy to attend her class," said Lenny Zani of Danvers, president of the Class of 1954.

"I'm crushed," said Herb Schlegel of Beverly, a member of the class of 1954 and a visiting lecturer at the college. "I majored in math and science but, because of Edna McGlynn, I've had a strong interest in history as well. I've been to many schools and colleges, and I can honestly say she is one of only three people who have had a profound influence on me. She was a friend and an advisor."

After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees from Boston University, McGlynn earned two doctorates, one from Boston College in medieval history and the other from Georgetown University in American Diplomatic History. Prior to her career at Salem State College, she taught at Keene State University in New Hampshire from 1928 to 1936.

She is survived by two sisters, Anita McGlynn of Beverly, and Priscilla Murphy of Highland, Indiana and a sister-in-law, Virginia McGlynn of Beverly. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Edna McGlynn Scholarship Fund at Salem State College.

Visiting hours will take place 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Campbell Funeral Home in Beverly. A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John's church in Beverly.