Mary Jane Rait

Individual, Rait_Mary

Lifetime

1894 – 1989

About

Among the best known educators and historians in Mesa County is Mary Rait. For 42 years she has influenced lives directly as a teacher at Grand Junction High School, and as a Mesa College faculty member. Indirectly, she influenced generations of researchers by creating one of the most definitive volumes of Mesa County, "Development of Grand Junction and the Colorado River to Palisade from 1881-1931" (unpublished thesis, University of Colorado, 1931). 

Rait, a Kansas native, moved as a youngster to Palisade with her family. She completed high school in the Palisade area, and taught school for a few years. She completed BA and MA degrees at the University of Colorado, and her post-master's work was conducted at CU, Columbia and Northwest University.  In 1983 Rait received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, CU. She taught high school from 1922 to 1933, and college at Mesa from 1925-1960 and Casper College in 1964 and 1965. She became dean of Women at Mesa (then Grand Junction State Junior College) in 1933, and Vice-President in 1937. She received the CU Distinguished Alumni award in 1957, was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 1959 by the Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs, and was awarded the "Learn -- and Live" award by Colorado's broadcasting industry. The first Mesa College dormitory, opened in 1948, was named in her honor. She retired from the college in 1960. 
McCreanor, Emma. 2002. Mesa County Colorado a 100 Year History: Updated and Expanded with Timeline through 2002. Grand Junction Colorado: Museum of Western Colorado Press.

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