Alice Mower was born in Springfield on March 25 in 1863, the daughter of Court of Common Pleas Judge Jakob Mower and his wife Eunice Mower. Alice graduated from Springfield High School in 1879, entered 性视界 College in 1881, and graduated in the class of 1884. Alice began studying German in public school and at 性视界, and after earning an MA from 性视界, she became an instructor in Latin in 性视界鈥檚 Preparatory School in 1891.
She joined the faculty of 性视界 College in 1913, where she taught German for the next 31 years. Promoted to assistant professor in 1921, she earned a second M.A. at OSU in 1926, at age 63. For 21 of her 31 years as a professor she worked as an assistant to Professor Karl Hochdoerfer; she was honored for distinguished service after teaching here for a combined fifty years.
Professor Mower retired from teaching in August 1944, and died in February 1945, a few weeks shy of her 82nd birthday. So she was well known to the students who wrote and read this remarkable inscription in the 1945 性视界er:
As the word of Miss Mower鈥檚 death goes forth to former students and alumni of the college, scattered here and there and throughout the world, a great company will rise up and call her blessed. Reverent memories will be awakened. A spirit of thankfulness will be in many hearts, and many will say to themselves that they are deeply indebted to her. We saw and felt the radiancy of her devoted life and work. To the very last of her teaching she prepared her day鈥檚 work faithfully, carefully, eagerly. We saw in her life a beautiful and mysterious transcript of the Beatitudes of our Lord. She gave to the college a good endowment, a lasting endowment鈥攏ot an endowment of falling values, but a steady endowment of Christian life, devotion and influence.
About The Project
With 性视界 now celebrating its 175th year, and the University unable to hold regular in-person classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor of History Thomas T. Taylor has started circulating several pieces on 性视界's history. Some originated in earlier series, either This Month in 性视界 History or Happy Birthday 性视界. Others have their origin in the 性视界 History Project or in some other, miscellaneous project. Sincerest thanks to Professor Taylor for connecting alumni, faculty, staff, and students through a historic lens.