Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Wood, Annie Cogswell February 9, 1940
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Dorothy Strawhand https://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008405 June 4, 2020, 11:48 am

Norfolk Virginian Pilot February 10, 1940

                   ANNIE S. WOOD, ONCE NORFOLK EDUCATOR, DIES

           Co-Founder of Leache-Wood School in 1871 Succumbs in Italy

Miss Annie Cogswell Wood, for many years a prominent figure in the cultural 
life of Norfolk, died yesterday morning in Florence, Italy, where she had 
been residing for several years.
Miss Wood was born in Winchester, the daughter of Algernon Ridgeway and 
Louise Cogswell Wood.  She came to Norfolk with her friend, the late Irene 
Leache, in 1871 to establish a school for girls.  Under the direction of 
these two women Leache-Wood Seminary became one of the leading educational 
institutions in the South.  Colleges for women at that time were not so 
general in the South so the curriculum included general and classical 
collegiate courses as well as music and art. Many of the leading women of 
the city received their education under the guidance of these two talented 
women.
                             Retired in 1891
In 1891 Miss Wood and Miss Leache both retired from the active operation of 
the school, and the two travelled extensively in Europe.  After the death of 
Miss Leache in 1900, Miss Wood had constantly in mind the idea of 
establishing a memorial to her beloved friend and co-worker.  This 
ultimately became the Irene Leache Memorial Association.  Its object was the 
collection of gifts for an art gallery, which might at some time be built in 
Norfolk.  Miss Wood in her residence in Europe for many years after Miss 
Leache's death collected and sent to the association many art treasures 
which now are housed in the Irene Leache Memorial Room in the Norfolk Museum 
of Arts and Sciences.
                     Presented Bust of Miss Leache
Among her many gifts are a portrait bust of her friend, and a number of 
books in which she made, with notations, inscriptions and lettering written 
by her.  The books are encased in beautiful Italian bindings.
Miss Wood also was author of several books and essays, most notable of these 
being "The Story of a Friendship."
She returned to Norfolk at the beginning of the World War.  During this 
period she started the Irene Leache Memorial lecture course and its contest 
bureau.  
Miss Wood returned to Florence in 1921, remaining there until her death.  
She was a member of the congregation of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  Her 
body will be brought to Norfolk for burial.


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