From theArchives 80 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2025 Seventy years ago this fall, the Everglades School for Girls opened in Coconut Grove. Founders Marie and Edward F. Swenson Jr. moved to Miami from Connecticut in 1951 and aspired to create a school that would not only educate their seventh-grade daughter and her contemporaries, but also make a lasting contribution to the Florida educational landscape. They envisioned an inclusive academic environment of the highest caliber. When the school opened in September 1955, it included 22 students in grades 7 through 9. Under headmistress Gertrude Peirce, the Everglades School for Girls welcomed all qualified applicants, regardless of race, religion or social status, a policy that set it apart from many other schools of that era. In the following years, enrollment increased, grades 10 through 12 were added, and the first graduation ceremony took place on June 3, 1960. As the school grew in size and stature, Marie Swenson became the public face, while Edward provided support and business expertise. Under the leadership of Ms. Peirce, the school took pride in its academic rigor, which prepared students for college and professional careers. At the same time, Everglades saw the establishment of traditions and school spirit, such as the competitive teams of “Egret” and “Ibis,” which inspired today’s “house” system. By the mid-1960s, the school had earned a reputation as one of the top independent schools in the region; however, at the same time, societal norms were changing and coeducational schools were considered a better option. By the early 1970s, the Everglades School for Girls and the Ransom School, a boys’ school two miles to the south, had decided to merge. They had a close relationship, so combining seemed a natural step. The corporate merger took place in 1974 with the students co-mingling from the fall of 1975. The new school, Ransom-Everglades School, consolidated the innovations of Marie and Edward Swenson with Paul Ransom’s ideal of experiential learning, along with their shared belief in the value of community involvement as a means of moral and practical education. Seven decades later, the founding ethos that launched the Everglades School for Girls continues to inspire students and educators at Ransom Everglades School. By Katrina Patchett, Director of Libraries and Archivist 70 Years Since the Founding of Everglades School for Girls 1 2 3
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