Dr. Anne Meek spoke Feb. 28 at the Annual Women’s History Month Luncheon, sponsored by the UTM Faculty Women’s Club. Dr. Meek reflected on her early years in Martin, “Playing Second Fiddle: Martha Meek’s Legacy of Love.”
Georgia Baskett, the Faculty Women’s Club president, gave the welcome.
After lunch, Dr. Tom Rakes introduced Meek.
“Today we get to hear from a lifelong supporter of UT Martin,” Rakes said.
Meek spoke on the role of her mother, Martha C. Meek, in the development of UTM.
In 1915, Martha Meek entered the University of Tennessee with a double major in English and Home Economics. During her college years, World War I was going on, as was the flu epidemic of 1918.
After graduating, she began her teaching career at E.W. Grove High School in Paris, Tenn.
Then she began teaching at Carson-Newman College.
Martha Meek married Paul Meek on Sept. 5, 1922.
In 1934, Paul Meek took a job as executive officer at the University of Tennessee Junior College, with a salary of $2,700.
“His (Paul Meek) success depends on how well she could get connected and accepted within the community,” said Meek, discussing her mother’s obstacles in moving to Martin.
Martha Meek was the first president of the Faculty Women’s Club at UT Junior College.
She played a major role in the community, hosting several events. She had 332 guests in just five years.
Meek recalled how her mother would tell her that during that time, Snowball was her only pet rabbit, and all of the other rabbits were food sources.
Also, all of the families in the Martin area would have picnics together.
“My mother was an emblem of the value of education for women,” Meek said. “She was managing accounts, demonstrating executive planning skills, practicing social interactions in various venues, and keeping house.”
Meek said her mother was a passionate advocate for literacy and learning, reading and writing.
“She also was an example of clean living, Christian faith, and an advocate for children and young people,” Meek said.
Martha Meek would accompany Paul Meek to speaking engagements and university meetings.
She would also write his speeches and inform him about issues, especially on those pertaining to the community, education, and family.
There was an unspoken rule against gossiping in the Meek household. Paul and Martha Meek never gossiped in front of the children.
“Taught five years in Martin Elementary School – the fifth grade (which I loved)” is an excerpt from Martha Meek’s notes in 1967.
Her mother made a great impression on the students while she taught at the school, Meek said.
There was a student who once vandalized Martin Elementary School, all except Mrs. Meek’s classroom.
When the police asked him why, he replied, “Mrs. Meek was always good to me.”
Meek recalled once when her mother was a guest lecturer in one of her classes.
“I saw a woman who loved teaching, loved students, and knew how to get the best from them” Meek said. “Teaching was her identity, her calling, teaching was who she was.”
“She was not second fiddle; she was the conductor of the symphony orchestra.”
Meek made a donation to the endowment at the Library.
As a token of appreciation for speaking, the Faculty Women’s Club also made a donation to the Paul Meek Library in honor of Meek.
