A Profile of Nellie L. Humphrey

The Parents of Nellie L. Humphrey

William E. Humphrey I and Carrie E. Robinson Humphrey

Humphrey Family Tree

Robinson Family Tree

Nellie Humphrey

From the Geneseo Scene, circa 1978, by Marcia Craner.

“The chapel on the first floor occupied a large space on the north side. A high platform nearby reached across the width of the room, leaving just enough room for an entrance at the back. We had exercises each morning at nine o’clock. On the platform was the grand piano, chairs for the faculty, and a lectern for Dr. John Milne, the principal. We marched to our classes to the music of the orchestra, which was seated in front of the platform. There was a large balcony at the back.”

Nearly a third of Geneseo’s Alumni body could give this same description. Geneseo’s earliest graduate, Miss Nellie Humphrey, class of 1898, is talking about the Old Main building which housed the Geneseo Normal School.

When Nellie talks about Geneseo, she recalls three years of English and Latin, Chemistry and Physics labs where she wore heavy aprons. Nellie also knows the Geneseo “of today” because she faithfully attends Alumni Day each spring. At 97 years of age, she watched the Homecoming Parade while attending the Alumni Coffee Hour this fall.

This no-nonsense lady is always surprised when people comment on how active she is. Once you get to know Nellie though, you can understand why she looks surprised. She has spent the bulk of her life helping others achieve and demonstrating a host of talents in the process.

Born in 1881, in Springwater, N.Y., Nellie is the oldest of five children, three brothers and a sister. At eleven, Miss Humphrey moved to Geneseo with her family because her father had been elected County Clerk. She remembers going to Rochester by horse and buggy to help her father purchase the “big books all the official documents were to be kept in.” The Humphrey family rented a house on south Second Street. Nellie played with about 30 other children almost daily at a vacant lot at the end of her street.

Eventually, her father’s term was over and the family moved to Livonia. “We rented the only house in the Village that had running water. There was a slate roof and a large tank which collected the water,” Miss Humphrey recalls.

While attending the Normal, Nellie stayed with the Ward family, at the Hatch house, and the Agonian House. She was a member of the Agonian Society. There were four brother and sister societies at the Geneseo Normal. Similar to fraternities and soroities, the Delfics and Philaletheon were for men and the Arethurse and Agonian for women.

“During gradution week, the brothers and sisters societies gave a play. The properties were arranged back of a large curtain we had to put across the stage in the chapel. After each-society was done, everything was taken down and the other societies put up their decorations for the next night. “I was in one play. Of course, the play was good and received much applause!”, Nellie says with a smile.

Actually, Nellie was developing a musical talent. When she was small, her brothers and sister had their own “little orchestra” and each child had a different instrument they knew how to play. Nellie took piano and organ lessons as a teenager and while attending Geneseo Normal.

For four winters after graduation, Miss Humphrey lived in New York City and studied voice with a Mr. McKinley. “There were several students from Geneseo and Livonia who studied with him also. Mr. and Mrs. McKinley were fond of going to the new plays and they would take me with them occasionally. Mrs. McKinley was a good pianist but I did some accompanying for the students as well,” Miss Humphrey said.

“I went to three different church services on Sunday and if there was an orator in the afternoon I would go there as well. I spent Saturdays in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was there the year the 9th Avenue trolley was to be taken down so one day I entered the 9th Avenue station and rode up and down all the lines for five cents,” Nellie added.

She returned from New York to take charge of the voice department at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima. “It was the 75th anniversary and Lima was celebrating. There were flags everywhere and prominent people giving speeches every day when I started,” Nellie said.

After a few years at the Seminary, Nellie left for Europe with a small group of friends. “We sailed on a beautiful steamship of the Holland - American company called the “Rotterdam.” I had always wanted to see Holland and it was like I had pictured it. We sailed up the Maas River to Rotterdam and it was interesting to look down on the canals, the neat and clean houses and the acres of tulips.”

Nellie spent time in Paris and lived at a student hostel. She describes, “... it was a YWCA on Boulevard Street Michel! I went over to see it and I was pleased. It was a large brick building with a high wall and besides all the living rooms there were rooms for 25 English and American students,” Nellie explained.

“I studied voice with Oscar Seagle, a pupil of Jon DiRetske, an opera tenor,” she said. The hostel was within walking distance of the Cathedral, the two opera houses and the stores. Nellie recalls people being very good to American students and she often attended performances every night of the week.

After completing her work, she returned to Rochester to teach at the Conservatory of Music before it became the Eastman School of Music. Nellie taught in a number of villages around Geneseo and she sang for three years in the Methodist Church in Canandaigua and seven years in the Presbyterian Church in Geneseo. She was then asked to take charge of the music in the downtown Methodist Church in Troy, N.Y.

Miss Humphrey traveled to Japan to attend the Fifth World’s Sunday School Convention. “This part of the world’s delegates and speakers were to meet the Cook’s Tour Company in Minneapolis. I arrived a little early so I went to St. Paul to visit the Capitol. The caretaker took me to the top of the building in the dome and I had a splendid view of both cities,” she said.

The Canadian - Pacific trains took the delegation to the coast. Nellie remembers crossing the Pacific Ocean, which was very rough and being in the tail end of several typhoons. After the convention, she returned to Chicago and stayed with friends. She stopped in an employment office and met Dr. Charles Gray, president of Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. “He was looking for minutes, I had a job!” Miss Humphrey said.

Nellie taught at Tusculum for “nine happy years.” She resigned when her mother became ill and returned to Geneseo, taking an apartment in the Old Tavern Apartments. Nellie became involved in a group that was begun in 1882 and still exists today. The Monday Evening Class began when eight women in Geneseo started a group with Miss Culbertson’s help, a retired teacher. It has flourished for 96 years and this year has 45 members.

Miss Humphrey also attended Chautauqua each summer up until about four years ago, participating in courses and workshops involved with the arts. “Mrs. Pennypacker of Texas was President of the Chautauqua Women’s Club and all the women everywhere took back to their states what they had learned. Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt also attended. One of the years when Mrs. Roosevelt was having her peace conferences, she invited the members of the White House for a luncheon. Originally 300 women could attend but the group grew to 1,100 attending. “All the chairs were taken so I had to stand and I recall how I put my cup on the mantle very carefully in the Red Room. We had a very interesting time!” Miss Humphrey said.

Miss Humphrey lives in Geneseo on Center Street. She enjoys attending her Monday Evening Class, and being involved with the Geneseo Historical Society and the Alumni Association.

In talking to Miss Humphrey about her experiences, she commented: “I like to do things and be involved with people. I like this part of the country but I’ve always enjoyed my travelling. There is always so much to do with one’s life.”

The Obituary of Nellie L. Humphrey

1 June 1881 - 18 July 1979

From the Livingston Republican, 26 July 1979

Geneseo - Nellie L. Humphrey of 19 Center Street, Geneseo died July 18, 1979. She was 97 years old, she was born June 1, 1882. She was the daughter of William and Carrie Robinson Humphrey. She is survived by one brother, William Humphrey of Blue Hill, ME; three nephews and three nieces.

Miss Humphrey was originally from Springwater. She and her family lived for a while in Livonia until she went to school at the Geneseo Normal School which is now the State University College at Geneseo. Miss Humphrey graduated from the Normal School in 1898 and was the oldest living graduate of the College. Miss Humphrey was a member of the Agonian Society, which was similar to the present day sororites.

Miss Humphrey did much during her lifetime to develop her musical talents. Four winters after her graduation from Geneseo Normal School she studied in New York City. She lived in Europe for a while where she studied voice.

After returning from Europe, Miss Humphrey taught music and voice at the Rochester Conservatory of Music which is now the Eastman School of Music. She also taught in a number of villages around Geneseo and sang for three years in the Methodist Church in Canandaigua and for seven years in the Presbyterian Church in Geneseo.

Miss Humphrey taught voice and music for nine years at Tusculum College in Greeneville Tenn. She also went to Japan to attend the Fifth World’s Sunday School Convention.

Miss Humphrey remained active up to her death. She was involved in the Alumni Association at the College and the Geneseo Historical Society. In an interview a year ago Miss Humphrey said, “I like to do things and be involved with people. I like this part of the country but I’ve always enjoyed my travelling. There is always so much to do with one’s life.”

A memorial service for Miss Humphrey will be held Thursday evening, July 26, at 7:30 at Geneseo Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements were made by Brown-Drowne Funeral Home in Livonia. Memorial contributions may be made to the Geneseo Ambulance Fund or the Salvation Army.

The Burial of Nellie L. Humphrey

Mt. Vernon Evergreen Cemetery in Springwater NY

Newspaper articles from FultonHistory.com