HEAD MISTRESSES ASSOCIATION OF THE EAST, FOUNDED IN 1911 to provide an opportunity for the furtherance of mutual acquaintance among heads of secondary or elementary schools for the interchange of ideas of common interest or looking toward the advancement of standards.

The HMAE was founded in 1911 by a group of headmistresses of schools in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, “to provide an opportunity for the furtherance of mutual acquaintance among heads of secondary or elementary schools… for the interchange of ideas of common interest or looking toward the advancement of standards.” The organization first welcomed heads of coed schools, both men and women, in significant numbers post 1960. Our official records from 1911 – 1990 were accepted by Smith College in 1990, and are part of the Sophia Smith Collection, accessible to scholars, where they “provide a good record of the activities of the association as well as insight into the educational and social philosophy of private education in America.” We look with pride to our 100th anniversary in 2011.

Today, HMAE, the oldest NAIS organization for heads of school, is a vibrant, coed organization serving ca. 122 Active members, heads of girls and coed schools located along the Atlantic Coast. In 2008 we have 23 Affiliate Members in other states, including a number from the West Coast. (For them we replace the long gone Head Mistresses of the Midwest and Head Mistresses of the West… recalling to us the days of train travel for these wonderful women of other eras.) We also have 42 Associate Members, former heads, some of whom are still active professionally in a number of ways, and others who are retired, and 13 Honorary Members.

All members mark their personal and professional calendars well in advance of our annual fall conference, the principal focus of HMAE. Members know and value this conference for its scale (ca. 90-100) and focus (collegiality, renewal), allowing them to nurture personal and professional friendships, and, as one member recently noted “to give us the tools to do our jobs well.”