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Founders Alpha Omicron
Esther Maxwell, Corresponding Secretary, 1940-1942
Like many another girl in the early days of statehood, Esther Maxwell took the teacher‚s examinations and qualified for a third grade certificate to teach an ungraded school. When she was sixteen she started teaching in the Grass Lake No. 3 School in Burleigh County/ In the summer she rode horseback to school and in the winter drove a horse with an open cutter over ice and through snowdrifts. The winters were severe. Frozen fingers and toes were common experiences, as was the thawing of frozen cheeks and noses ˆ teacher‚s as well as pupils‚.
Esther maxwell was born on November 24, 1887, at Perry, Iowa. When she was three years old her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Maxwell, moved to Dakota Territory to the area where Wilton now stands. Her early education was secured in a country school, typical of those on the prairies. She entered the Valley City Preparatory Department in 1906 to begin her high school courses. She alternated teaching with attendance at the Normal School to complete the Standard curriculum in 1921, with a special certificate in art and a second special certificate in manual training. Miss Maxwell enjoyed going to college and went, every summer that it was possible to do so during her later years, to the University of Washington to take more art courses and study methods which she could use in her work with children.
In the years between 1905 and 1920 she taught in rural and small town schools in Burleigh, McLean, Walsh, Oliver, and Barnes Counties, including experience in village and town schools in Grafton, Center, Coleharbor, Wilton, and Valley City. She taught in Bismarck 1920-1949.
Teaching was her vocation and her avocation as well for she was superintendent of the primary department of the Sunday School in the Presbyterian Church and superintendent of the Vacation Bible School. One of her last adventures was organizing and acting as principal of a Church School workshop in which she gave lessons in weaving with several types of looms. Too, she was an instructor of handicrafts for children at Camp Grassick. Handicraft was her hobby and she utilized this skill in occupational therapy for children who were handicapped. She put the hobby to use for herself in making furniture for her apartment. Her interest in Bible study is indicated in a letter to Mr. A. C. Van Wyk, who at the time (November 26, 1943) was superintendent of city schools in Bismarck. This is the pertinent excerpt: "I do believe we have filed somewhere, whether in home, school or church, to have pupils appreciate the Bible as real reading material. Certain Bible passages could be classified as Bible literature."
Miss Maxwell was active in social and club work as well as in church and charitable work. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Business and Professional Women‚s Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Inter-church Council and the Gray Ladies. She participated in numerous Red Cross activities.
Esther Maxwell was one of the founders of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society in North Dakota. She was initiated at Valley City in November, 1940, and was a member of Delta Chapter (Bismarck).
She had at heart the interests of the Society. The secretary‚s minutes contain mention as, "Esther Maxwell made a study of the Constitution and Bylaws and explained them to Delta Chapter." She was active in Delta Chapter until the time of her death on August 14, 1949. Her varied interests and genuine services attracted many friends. She will long be remembered. Of herself she said, "My greatest ambition is to take what life can give and be cheerful about it ˜ to meet others on the square and to give of myself whenever possible."
Information for this article was taken from the following: Swanson, Nellie R. & Bryson, Eleanor C. (Eds.). 1965. Pioneer Women Teachers of North Dakota. Minot: ND: Alpha Omicron State, The Delta Kappa Gamma
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