Evalyn France
Evalyn Smith Nesbitt Tome France | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1855 Port Deposit, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | April 22, 1927 (aged 71–72) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, philanthropist |
| Known for | First female president of a national bank; co-founder of the Tome School |
Evalyn Smith Nesbitt Tome France (1855 – April 22, 1927) distinguished herself as the inaugural female president of a national banking institution.
Early life
Evalyn Smith Nesbitt entered the world in 1855 in Port Deposit, Maryland. She was the daughter of Henry C. Nesbitt, a merchant who operated a general store in Port Deposit along with additional locations in Harford County, Maryland. In 1873, she completed her studies, obtaining a degree in English literature from Wesleyan Female College located in Wilmington, Delaware.
Career
In partnership with her husband Jacob Tome, she played a foundational role in establishing the Tome School in Port Deposit and took on leadership as president of its board of trustees following its inauguration in 1894. From 1898 until 1906, she held the presidency at Cecil National Bank of Port Deposit and concurrently served as president of the National Bank of Elkton, Maryland during those same years.
Personal life
On October 1, 1884, she married Jacob Tome, a wealthy philanthropist who passed away in 1898. Subsequently, on June 24, 1903, she wed Dr. Joseph I. France, who was an educator at the Tome School. After Dr. France became a U.S. senator in 1916, Evalyn contributed to founding the Ladies of the Senate organization (later known as Senate Spouses) in Washington, D.C., and hosted First Lady Grace Coolidge. Dr. France pursued a presidential campaign in 1932, which occurred after her passing.
Death
Evalyn Smith Nesbitt Tome France died on April 22, 1927, due to complications following surgery for a goiter at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Her final resting place is Hopewell Cemetery near Woodlawn, Maryland.
References
- "Milestones: May 2, 1927". Time. May 2, 1927. "Died. Mrs. Evalyn Smith Nesbitt Tome France, first woman president of a national bank; wife of onetime (1917-23) Senator from Maryland Dr. Joseph Irwin France; widow of Jacob Tome; co-founder with him of the Jacob Tome Institute (Port Deposit, Md.—commonly called Tome School); president of Cecil National Bank (1898-1905) and National Bank of Elton (1898-1904)."