Biography;

Professor of English; college archivist.  Born– June 5, 1917, Norcatur, Kansas.  Parents– James S. and Ruth Diefendorf Bell. Married–Paul E. McLin, October 18, 1940.  Children–four.  Education–  Kansas State Teachers College, B. S. Ed., B.A., 1940; University of Alabama, M. A., 1964; Peabody Institute of Vanderbilt University, Ph. D., 1971.  Taught at many levels;  Taught English at Athens State College, 1965-1987; served as head of the English Department. Served as college archivist and historian, 1987-. Historian and Public Information for the Ordnance Division of the U.S. Army; wrote press releases and program histories. Member Sigma Tau Delta English honorary; served as National Historian.  Member College English Association, Shakespeare Association, AAUW and DAR.  Archives at Athens State is named in her honor.  Awarded emeritus status on her retirement at Athens State in 1987.  National Senior Scholarship of Sigma Tau Delta is named in her honor.  Athens State Alumni Association Teacher of the Year, 1987;  Distinguished Alumna Award, Emporia State College, 1991. Died February 21, 2015.

Source;

Obituary; Marquis who’s who online

Publications;

Athens College: A Definitive History, 1881-1991. Athens State College Foundation, 1991.

The Bell-Shirley Family.

Madame Childs of Precious Memory; Jane Hamilton Childs, College President.  Athens State College, 1989.