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Allisonian Firsts: Louise Jean Landers

A virtual exhibition celebrating the bold Allisonians who became the "firsts" in their field.

Louise Jean Landers

First female instructor of elocution at the Mount Allison Ladies' College, 1890


Portrait of Lannie Jean Landers.

Louise Jean Landers, [ca. 1895 - 1900?]

Mount Allison University Archives. Raymond Clare Archibald fonds, 5501/9/7/71. May only be reproduced with permission of the Mount Allison University Archives.

Louise “Lannie” Jean Landers was born on 8 July 1860 in Margaretsville, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. She was the daughter of David Landers (1834-1896) and Elmira Ross (1834-1910). She was educated in local public schools and later attended Monroe College of Oratory in Boston, Massachusetts.

She was the first woman hired to teach elocution at the Mount Allison Ladies’ College in Sackville, New Brunswick, in 1890. She stayed for five years until the time of her marriage. She was responsible for the physical culture class between 1892 and 1895.

She was married to Cutler Lewis Dodge (1857-1924) in August of 1895 at Margaretsville. The couple had the following children: G. Murray (1897-1944), Horace H. (1898-1899) and Mary Elaine (1901-?). Following her husband’s death she returned to teaching in the Annapolis Valley. Louise Jean Landers died on 19 December 1941. She is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

 

Image Gallery


Lannie Landers sits in a chair surrounded by her elocution students in a photographer's studio.

Mount Allison Wesleyan Ladies' College Elocution Class, 1893-1894

Louise "Lannie" Landers sits surrounded by her students, which include:  Carrie Atkinson (Sackville, NB), Alice Butcher (St. Stephen, NB), Georgia Cole (Moncton, NB), Robina Hay (Woodstock, NB), Florence B. White (Shediac, NB), Blanche Wotton (Parrsboro, NS).

Mount Allison University Archives. Raymond Clare Archibald fonds, 5501/9/7/14. May only be reproduced with permission of the Mount Allison University Archives.

Studio photograph of a group of women sitting or standing with books.

Ladies' College Students and Faculty, 23 March 1895

Individuals include, left to right: (standing) Janie Harris, Louise Jean Landers, Bessie Lewin, Anna L. Read, Alma Mary Gibson, Carrie Crompton, Sallie Benedict; (sitting) Roberta Murchie, Georgia "Ginger" Cole, Lilian B. Johnson, Phoebe Large.

Mount Allison University Archives. Picture collection, 2007.07/574. May only be reproduced with permission of the Mount Allison University Archives.