Born: 21 September 1827, United States
Died: 23 April 1894
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Martha Rand Morse
The following is republished with permission from the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
Martha Rand Morse was born in Massachusetts and became involved with the management of the Industrial School for Girls (ISFG) when it was in the process of relocating from Winchester to a new site on Centre Street in Dorchester in 1858. The following year, she married Frederick W.G. May. The couple moved to 69 Adams Street where they remained for the rest of their lives. Martha’s tenure as a manager of the ISFG lasted less than a decade, but she made a significant contribution to its development as she was instrumental in overseeing the maintenance of the building and in dealing with such routine problems as a leaky cupola and overflowing cistern. The Mays lived within walking distance from the school, and Frederick, too, was actively involved. His interest may have been linked to his work as a hardware dealer and manufacturing agent. Proximity allowed for the students to visit the Mays’ home and for Martha to conduct regular checks on their activities at the school.
She resigned from her role as a manager in 1865 while expecting her fourth child, but she continued to help fund the institution until 1883. Martha May is buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain, as is Frederick who died a decade later.