Mary E. Markley Professional Papers

Mary E. Markley was the secretary of the United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) Board of Education from 1919 until her retirement in 1946. She was the first woman to serve as a staff member on any board of the ULCA. A pioneer for women’s work in the Lutheran church, she was also active in Christian higher education, and the education division of the Women’s Missionary Society.

Ms. Markley served on the faculty of Elizabethtown College from 1909-1911 and Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia from 1911-1918. From there she organized and supervised a service program called Service Houses for National Lutheran Commission for Soldiers and Sailors Welfare from 1918-1919. Mary was dedicated to the Women’s Missionary Society, serving as chairman of the Candidate Committee and later the Personnel Committee from 1922-1937. She continued as a member of the committee until her retirement in 1946. She started the student census conducted by the Board of Education. She has a significant part in the work of the Lutheran Student Association, from its beginning, the student Volunteer Movement and was one of the organizers of the United Student Christian Council. The National Lutheran Education Conference also received her full cooperation. She made a tour of mission fields form 1929-1930, visiting Japan, China, India, Palestine, Egypt and part of mission in the United States. She was involved in many other organizations including: Board of Governors at Vellore Medical College, India, Board of Governors at Christian College for Women, Madras, India, Board of Governor at St. Christopher’s College (chairman 1924-46), Madras, India, Vice President of Council of Church Boards of Education.

Born on February 2, 1881 in Millersville, Pennsylvania, Ms. Markley was the daughter of a ULCA pastor, the Rev. A. B. Markley. She received an A.B. from Ursinus College in 1902, a M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1907 and was honored with a Doctor of Literature degree by Carthage College in 1925 and a Doctor of Letters from Ursinus College in 1931. She began her professional career by teaching in public schools in Derry, Pennsylvania.

Ms. Markley was a gifted speaker and writer. After she retired, she wrote The Lutheran Church and Its Students published in 1947. She died at the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Washington D.C, on May 23, 1954.