Nellie Neilsen

Nellie Neilson (April 5, 1873 – May 26, 1947) was an American historian.

Nellie Neilson was born on April 5, 1873, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to William George Neilson, a metallurgical engineer, and Mary Louise Cunningham.

Neilsen attended Miss Cooper’s School in Philadelphia and received an A.B. in 1893 an A.M. in 1894, and a PhD in 1899 all from Bryn Mawr College. She was awarded an honorary degree (LHD) from Smith College in 1938 and an honorary Litt.D. degree from Russell Sage in 1940.

Neilsen taught at Agnes Irwin School in Philadelphia from 1897 to 1900, and lectured at Bryn Mawr from 1900 to 1902. In 1902 she moved to Mount Holyoke College as an instructor in history, and in 1904 was appointed professor of European history. Neilson graduated from Bryn Mawr – and later worked at Holyoke – with fellow medievalist Bertha Putnam.

In 1926 she was elected a fellow of the Medieval Academy of America, the first woman so elected; and in 1943 she served as the president of the American Historical Association, the first woman to do so.

Notes

• Wikipedia
• Women's History Month Meet Nellie Neilsen
• Nellie Neilsen's Presidential Address at the American Historical Association