Nell H. Trotter papers

Nell Hamilton Trotter was born in 1904 in Hartford, Arkansas. She attended Maryville College, Tennessee, and the University of New Mexico, before obtaining her BA in History and Political Science from the University of Arkansas (1924), and, after a short time teaching in the public school system, her MA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin (1929). While she was studying at the University of Wisconsin, Nell met Richard (Dick) Trotter. The couple married 28 August 1929, and not long after, moved to Atlanta Georgia, where Dick was offered a job at Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1931, having enrolled at the Georgia Tech Downtown Evening School of Commerce (later Georgia State College and eventually Georgia State University), Trotter made her first enquiries about the possibility of a faculty position at the school, only to be told that it was not the school's policy to hire women to its faculty. In 1933, after the birth of her first son, Richard, Nell made further enquiries about a faculty position, with the result that she was hired. In 1947, because she felt she needed more time with her family, Mrs. Trotter resigned her position, returning in 1953. During her time off she did some freelance writing work, and as a result became interested in teaching business communication. Mrs. Trotter remained at Georgia State College and University until 1971, when she retired.

During her tenure at GSU, Nell Trotter taught classes in social ethics, home economics, history, political science, and business communication. She went on to become Assistant Dean of Students, Dean of Women, and Assistant Professor of Business Education. She was chairman of the Board of Founders of the George M. Sparks Scholarship Fund, and having been an active member of the Georgia Association of Deans, was elected to serve as president in 1961. In 1963 she became president of the Atlanta branch of the American Association of University Women, and served as co-chairman of the Educational Committee of the Georgia Commission on the Status of Women. In 1962 she was named the 1961 Atlanta Woman of the Year in Education and overall Atlanta Woman of the Year. She was also included in Who's Who Among American Women. In 1964-1965 Mrs. Trotter traveled around the world as a student of the University of the Seven Seas, and during the trip, lectured at colleges in India and Japan. Atlanta Mayor, Sam Massell proclaimed May 17th 1971 Nell H. Trotter Day. After retirement Nell and Dick Trotter moved to Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Trotter died 26 March 1976, and Mrs. Trotter died 18 February 1996, at age 91.