From 1873 until 1910, St. Mary's Episcopal School was run under the direction of the Sisters of the Order of St. Mary.

During their tenure, the Sisters were confronted by the challenges and consequences of two yellow fever epidemics. Despite this, the School survived and continued to offer girls a fine college-preparatory education. One of St. Mary's most treasured traditions, May Day (now known as Springfest), began when the Sisters were in charge of the School. 

In 1880, the School was relocated to St. Mary's Cathedral on Poplar Avenue near downtown. Today, each senior class, as a reminder of the Sisters' dedication, visits St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.

Perhaps the individual most responsible for St. Mary's gaining its outstanding reputation as a college preparatory school, not only in Memphis, but also in the South and throughout the country, was Dr. Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes.

Hughes was headmaster of the School from 1962-1973. During his tenure, St. Mary's graduated an increasingly high percentage of National Merit Scholars, incorporated as an independent Episcopal school, and became the first independent school in Memphis to integrate its student body.

Hughes established the Honor Council in 1962, creating a tradition of student integrity that continues today. He also helped bring back the school newspaper, The Tatler, instituted a training for the board of trustees, focused on growing the school's endowment, and appointed the first director of alumnae, resulting in the annual homecoming celebration for alumnae. 

Since Dr. Hughes, the School has enjoyed four more headmasters, including the Rev. David Leech, Geoffrey Butler, Thomas Southard, and today's Head of School, Marlene Rutledge Shaw.

Rev. Leech was instrumental in acquiring a building that has become the heart of the Lower School - Moss Hall. The school bought the large brick home and its acreage, a deal struck thanks in large part to both his vision to give the school the space it needed to expand, and also to his close relationship with Mr. & Mrs. Morrie Moss. The Mosses sold the property to the school for $200,000 - far less than the $438,000 property value.

Geoffrey Butler, headmaster from 1981 - 1987, oversaw many changes in both curriculum and facilities during his tenure. Technology increased from one computer in the development office to a computer in every classroom and the libraries. The positions of admission and alumnae directors were upgraded to full-time, and the Hyde Building was added on the Moss Hall campus.

From 1987 - 2001, Tom Southard led St. Mary's to the dawn of the next century, crafting a successful capital campaign to add the Willmott Gymnasium, a ballet room and cafeteria to Hyde Activity Center. Southard also focused on growing the endowment, which at the time he arrived on campus was just over $1 million. By 1997, the endowment stood at $7 million.

Marlene Rutledge Shaw was named head of school in 2003, and at day one, she began the difficult task of a major capital campaign. Undaunted, Shaw led the parents and board members to an ambitious goal over the first three phases of the campaign, raising more than $25 million to build the Early Childhood Center, Garrott Hall, and the Windland Smith Rice Middle School.

Her passion for professional development and her pride in the faculty and staff at St. Mary's has brought the area's top teachers to the school, as well offering them myriad opportunities for expanding their skill sets and base of knowledge. Shaw has also been instrumental in overseeing the expansion of technology on campus, but with the mantra that at St. Mary's, curriculum drives our technology. As a result, St. Mary's is regarded as an innovator in educational technology, using tech tools to enhance classroom learning that's led by a motivated faculty dedicated to helping each student reach her full potential.

Currently, more than 850 girls continue to experience the remarkable journey of a St. Mary's education. The Class of 2011 included two Presidential Scholars, the highest percentage of National Merit Scholarship semifinalists of any school, public or private, in the state of Tennessee, as well as a Morehead-Cain Scholar.  More athletic teams are fielded than ever before and the creative arts program includes dance, drama, music (both vocal and instrumental) and art.

For those of us who have been at St. Mary’s for over 7 years, we remember when Moss Hall (now our Lower School) was home to grades PK through 4th. In 2005, the Marlene Shaw Early Childhood Center was built on the adjoining property to Moss Hall and our North Campus doubled in size.

However, we today remain the Moss Hall Campus in honor of Morrie and Lillian Moss, whose beautiful home became an edition to the St. Mary’s campus in 1974.
Begun in 1949 and completed in 1950, the building we today fondly call Moss Hall, was originally built by Morrie and Lillian Moss as their family home. At the time of completion the Moss’ property covered 6 acres facing Perkins Road, then a dirt road that ended at Walnut Grove and marked the city limits of Memphis.

Moss Hall.

The original house was built of special brick and concrete molding to resemble an older home and consisted of the entrance hall, living and dining rooms, 2 kitchens, breakfast room, recreation room, library, master bedroom and Mrs. Moss’ private lounge. There were two guest bedrooms upstairs and a garage and servant quarters in the back. Later an additional room was added to house the Mosses’ extensive silver, porcelain, and fine arts collection. Each room was graced with a beautiful chandelier and many of the floors were solid walnut. In front of the house was a large rose garden that sat in the middle of the driveway; another rose garden was situated along the West side of the property.

Thirty years after moving into the house, Mr. and Mrs. Moss felt it had become too large for them and decided it was time for a change. In 1974 they sold the existing property to St. Mary’s and moved to their winter home in Miami. The following year, the first and second grades moved into the house occupying what was originally the living and dining rooms and the upstair’s guest rooms. Today much of the original house has been reconfigured to accommodate Grades 1 through 4 and special subject rooms. The original library is now our Moss Hall parlor, the living and dining areas are office spaces, and the original silver room is the North wing of the Kelsey Zehring Library.

In 1996, Morrie Moss returned home to Moss Hall for a visit. The third grade class spent time interviewing him and showing him around his former home. He reminisced about the happy years he and his wife lived in the big house filled with music, art, parties, and guests. With the information gathered that day, the third grade girls wrote the book, History of Moss Hall, that can still be found in our library and was the source of the information shared here.