Queer Places:
Brown University (Ivy League), 13 Brown St, Providence, RI 02906
University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League), 3355 Woodland Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104
72 Oakridge Rd, West Orange, NJ 07052
Jean Elizabeth Wolfe (October 3, 1925 - May 7, 1997) was head of the physical education department at the Kimberley School, a private girls' school in Montclair, New Jersey, from 1950 to 1952. Although she enjoyed teaching physical education, Wolfe wanted to earn a living as an artist. She attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, earning her degree in medical illustration in 1955. From 1960 to 1985, she worked at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine as an instructor of medical art, specializing in ophthalmology. After leaving the Scheie Eye Institute in 1985, Wolfe struggled to make a living outside the professional world. Diagnosed with various medical conditions and severe depression, Wolfe battled alcoholism and an addiction to prescription drugs. A self-described "mid-century gentleman butch," Wolfe's lesbian relationships with women were often tumultuous.
Born October 3, 1925, in Newark, New Jersey, Jean Elizabeth Wolfe was the only child of Arthur H. Wolfe and Ethel Harper. Her father Arthur (1884-1969) was an industrial engineer who managed various companies including Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Growing up in Newark, he worked on the family farm with his father, George H. Wolfe (1843-1928), mother, Ida (Young) Wolfe (1856-1927), and younger brother, Fred E. Wolfe (1887-1964). Jean Wolfe's mother Ethel (1889-1977) also grew up in Newark, with her parents David E. Harper (1856-1943) and Katie Belles (1856-1943). David Harper was a mason contractor who played a leading part in the development of downtown Newark, including building New Jersey's first concrete paved road during World War I. He was also a co-founder of the first Motor Truck Club in New Jersey and sat on numerous bank boards of trustees. Jean Wolfe's early childhood was spent in the company of her parents and maternal grandparents, with neighborhood boys her only peers. Growing up as "one of the boys," she cut her hair short, dressed in knickers and neckties, played football, boxed, and had "snowball wars." In 1934 at the age of nine, Wolfe was sent to her first overnight camp at Camp Lenoloc in New York. While at Camp Lenoloc, she formed a bond with Dr. Hazel "Rusty" Wacker, the director of the camp's waterfront and a physical education teacher. Wolfe credits Rusty as the one who inspired her to develop a deep, life-long love of camping, physical education, and water sports. From 1934 to 1960, Wolfe spent every summer at various girls camps including Eagle Island (New York), Blazing Trail (Maine), Silver Lake (New York), Quanset Sailing (Massachusetts), Onaway (New Hampshire) and others. She served in every capacity from junior camper to camp director. In 1943 Wolfe entered Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, to earn a degree in physical education. After graduating in 1947, she worked as an instructor at Pembroke College at Brown University, teaching swimming and personal exercise in the Department of Hygiene and Physical Education under the supervision of Bessie Huntting Rudd. From 1950 to 1952, Wolfe was head of the physical education department at the Kimberley School, a private girls' school in Montclair, New Jersey. Although she enjoyed teaching physical education, Wolfe desired to earn a living as an artist. Doubting that she could fit into the "super-feminine" world as an abstract-expressionist New York City artist, she decided to go back to school to earn a degree in medical art. She attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, earning her degree in 1955. From 1960 to 1985, she worked at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine as an instructor of medical art, specializing in ophthalmology. In 1965, she curated and published a brochure on her ophthalmological illustrations called "Highlights of Surgery." After leaving the Scheie Eye Institute in 1985, Wolfe struggled to make a living outside the professional world. Diagnosed with various medical conditions and severe depression, Wolfe battled alcoholism and an addiction to prescription drugs. A self-described "mid-century gentleman butch," Wolfe's lesbian relationships with women were tumultuous, and towards the end of her life, she felt very much alone. Often writing or speaking her feelings on audiocassette tapes, Wolfe struggled to find a sense of balance in her life. "My heart has been a blow to which I haven't had time to adjust. I was a woodsman, Maine guide, sailor, canoeist, hiker -- lost it all and all the people who were part of it... I am totally alone and isolated. I have no family anywhere and no friends who are more than Xmas cards from far away" (circa 1995). Jean Wolfe died on May 7, 1997.
My published books:
