PHOTOS: Graduating Girls of Medfield High Enjoy Traditional Tea Party

For approximately 40 years, the Hannah Adams Woman's Club annually hosts a Graduation Tea for graduating senior girls at and this year, 120 girls attended the traditional event at the home of Hannah Adams Club member, Annemarie and her daughter and MHS senior, Meghan Keleher.  

Senior girls were greeted at the door by Laura Mills-Smith, president of the club and the Kelehers.

MHS Principal Robert Parga, Dean of Academics Katie Nunes and Class Advisor Beth Sancher were also in attendance. 

The Hannah Adams Woman's Club was founded in 1894, has 52 members and is a non-profit organization. Each year, three scholarships are awarded to graduating Medfield senior girls. 

As mentioned in the Hannah Adams Woman's Club handout, Hannah Adams (1755-1831) was a pioneer American writer, born and raised in Medfield ... she became a school teacher at the age of 21 and she was the first female American author to be published ... her portrait has it's place there [the Boston Athenaeum], among those of other noted American authors.

According to the Boston Athenaeum website, "she was almost entirely self-taught, achieving financial independence and the respect of her male colleagues without the benefit of a formal education or family connections.  Adams is well remembered at the Boston Athenæum however, where some of her letters, early editions of her books and her portrait by Chester Harding are proudly kept.

According to Mills-Smith, this is the oldest continuous-running woman's club in the United States and is actively looking for new members.

"The club members take an active role in the community through service. High on the club's priority list is local public education. Each year scholarships are awarded to Medfield students. The scholarships and other benefits to the community are made possible by income from the Club's Scholarship Fund and fundraising during the year ... we warmly invite your consideration of becoming a member of the Hannah Adams Woman's Club and urge you to contact Ellen Gruhn, Membership Secretary bgruhn@yahoo.com ," she said.