Early Life and Marriage

Elizabeth Stoffregen May was born in St Louis, Missouri, on April 25, 1907, the daughter of Carl H. Stoffregen, and Caroline (Stumpf) Stoffregen. Carl H. Stoffregen was a businessman involved in the coffee roasting business, which on May 26, 1911 formed the forerunner of today’s National Coffee Association.

She graduated from Smith College, MA in 1928 with honors in Economics. She did her postgraduate work at Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 1930-31. In 1931 she received her Ph.D., from the London School of Economics and Political Science. That same year she married Geoffrey May on September 22, 1931.

Upon returning to the United States Mrs. May taught at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was an economics professor from 1931 to 1939. During World War II, she left Goucher College to work for the federal government in Washington, D.C. She was an economic analyst at the Treasury Department from 1939-41, and a principal fiscal analyst at the Bureau of the Budget from 1941-47.

When Geoffrey May was appointed to the post-war aid mission to Greece, Elizabeth May accompanied him and worked as a contractor for the United States Mission for Aid to Greece, from 1947-48.

Wheaton College

In August 18, 1949 she was hired as Academic Dean at Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts. She and Geoffrey May resided during the academic year at Wheaton’s Hollyhock House, and they spent the rest of the year at their home on West Bare Hill Road in Harvard, Massachusetts.

In addition to her administrative duties as Academic Dean, Mrs. May also taught two upper level economics classes, International Trade and Public Finance.

Elizabeth May served as Acting President for a 6-month period in 1956, while President A. Howard Meneely took a sabbatical. The Trustees formally designated a title change from Academic Dean to Dean of the College on November 10, 1956. The Trustees voted that in the absence or incapacity of the President, the Dean of the College would fulfill the duties of the President under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

In 1960-61 Mrs. May was appointed Wheaton’s Acting President following the death of President Meneely. She filled the post until the search for a new president concluded with the hiring of William C.H. Prentice. Wheaton College awarded Mrs. May an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1962.

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

In 1963, May was elected first vice-president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a post she filled from 1961- 69. She had been a member of AAUW since the 1930’s.

Retirement and Legacy

Geoffrey May died suddenly in February 1964. That same year, Elizabeth May left Wheaton College when President Lyndon Johnson appointed her as the first female member of the board of directors of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. She remained at the board from 1964-69.

During this period she remained connected to Wheaton College by participating in the President’s Committee, an advisory group established by President Prentice. Although she retired from the committee in 1973, Mrs. May remained very active in the Wheaton community by participating in other committees, frequently visiting the campus, and making donations to the college including land in Wyoming. In 1983, the faculty lounge in Mary Lyon Hall was renamed The Elizabeth May Faculty Club additionally a portrait of Mrs. May also hangs in the faculty club in recognition of her contribution to the growth of Wheaton College.

Mrs. May formed strong lifelong associations at Wheaton, particularly with Jane Chidsey, Wheaton professor of Biology, who shared her home after Geoffrey May’s death. She worked closely with Leota Colpitts, the Dean of Students at Wheaton.

In 1977, May became a founding member of the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia, in association with Catherine Filene Shouse, Wheaton Class of 1918. She served as President of the International Federation of University Women from 1974-77. She is also a member of the Trustee Consortium of Universities, Washington.

She belonged to a number of clubs such as the Cosmopolitan in New York City, the Chilton in Boston, and University Women in London.

May also authored two books, Government, Business and the Individual in 1936 and International Control in the Nonferrous Metals in 1937 along with W.Y. Elliot.

In 1999, she was among the thirty alumnae honored by Smith College in celebration of its 125th year. In 2001, she was named ‘Citizen of Note’ for the town of Harvard, MA.

Mrs. May died in her home in West Bare Hill Road in Harvard, MA. of natural causes on March 27, 2011.

Timeline

1907

Birth

1928

Graduated with A.B. from Smith College

1930-1931

Postgraduate work at Radcliffe College

1931

Married Geoffrey May

Received Ph.D. from London School of Economics and Political Science

1931-1939

Economics Professor at Goucher College

1939-1941

Economic analyst for the Treasury Department

1941-1947

Principal fiscal analyst for the Bureau of the Budget

1947-1948

Private contractor with the American Mission for Aid to Greece

1947-1949

Consultant for the Committee for Economic Development

1949-1956

Hired at Wheaton College as Academic Dean

1957-1960

Appointed Dean of the College

1960-1961

Appointed Acting President

1961-1969

Elected vice-president of the AAUW

1962

Awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by Wheaton College

1964

Geoffrey May dies

1964-1969

Board of Directors member for the U.S. Export-Import Bank

1977

Founding member of Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia

1999

Honored at Smith College as notable alumnae

2001

Honored as ‘Citizen of Note’ in Harvard, MA.

2011

Died in Harvard, MA.