QUINTRELL, MARY CORINNE

QUINTRELL, MARY CORINNE (8 Jan. 1839-18 July 1918) was an educator in Cleveland public schools who introduced the phonic method of teaching reading, and a founder of the CLEVELAND SOROSIS SOCIETY.

Born in St. Austell, Cornwall, England, Quintrell came to Cleveland with her parents, Thomas and Emma Brewer Quintrell. Quintrell attended Cleveland (West) High School where she edited the high school paper, the first school publication west of the Cuyahoga river, and was its first female graduate in 1857.  Quintrell resided in Cleveland while devoting herself to teaching becoming the first graduate of Cleveland (West) High School to teach in public schools. For nearly 25 years she taught reading using the phonic method and trained fellow teachers to use the system. She authored large portions of the chart used in teaching reading in the schools and worked to restore Bible reading in the classroom.

For nearly 30 years Quintrell supplied area hospitals with reading materials. She frequented Lakeside Hospital conducting the singing for religious services for the patients and distributing literature.

As a leader in women's activities, Quintrell became the first woman to run in the Republican primaries as a candidate for the Cleveland School Council in 1895.

Quintrell wrote many papers and poems for Cleveland clubs, several of which had been published. She was an original trustee and charter member of the Cleveland Sorosis Society, founded on 7 Oct. 1891. She chaired both the parliamentary law and art departments for the society and contributed numerous writings. Quintrell never married. A Presbyterian, she is buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.


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