Mary Katharine Woltz Farinholt

Background

Mary Katharine Woltz Farinholt was born on February 5, 1912, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the daughter of Albert Edgar Woltz and Daisy Caroline Mackie Woltz. She later established her professional and civic life in Atlanta, where she became active in education, literature, charitable service, cultural organizations, and the affairs of Agnes Scott College. Her papers preserve family materials, diaries, correspondence, scrapbooks, travel records, and documentation of her educational and volunteer work.

Education

Farinholt graduated from Agnes Scott College in 1933 with a Bachelor of Arts degree earned with honors. She later studied at Emory University and completed a master's degree in education in 1964. Her academic and professional development connected literary interests with a long career in teaching, school administration, counseling, and educational service.

Career

Farinholt began her teaching career as an English teacher at Belmont High School in North Carolina, where she worked from 1933 to 1934. After moving into Atlanta educational work, she taught English at The Westminster Schools during 1958–1959 and again from 1964 to 1974. From 1964 to 1974 she also served as principal of the girls' junior-high division at Westminster and later worked as an educational consultant. Alongside her school career, she pursued writing, producing articles, book reviews, and the novel Alexander's Daughter. Her professional life combined teaching, administration, counseling, literary work, and sustained civic service.

Achievements

• Published articles, book reviews, and the novel Alexander's Daughter.

• Served as a national officer, section director, and member of the National Council of Mortar Board.

• Served as president of the Atlanta-area Girl Scout council in 1953 and received the organization's Thanks Badge.

• Was elected to honorary membership in Phi Beta Kappa in 1949.

• Received a 1967 Mortar Board certificate of recognition for her achievements and service.

Works

• novel

  • Alexander's Daughter

    (Novel by Katharine Woltz Farinholt; a typescript is prese...)

Religion

She was an Episcopalian and participated in the civic, cultural, and religious life of Atlanta, including activities associated with All Saints Episcopal Church.

Views

Quotations: "I am deeply indebted to Agnes Scott for giving me a rich heritage, and I shall always use my best efforts in her behalf."

Membership

Farinholt maintained extensive involvement in educational, civic, cultural, charitable, and social organizations. She served as a trustee of Agnes Scott College in 1944–1945, president of its Alumnae Association in 1944–1945, and later a member of its board of directors. She was a trustee of Appleton Church Home in Macon, Georgia, a director and president of the Atlanta-area Girl Scout council, a member of the Atlanta Music Club's executive board, and president of the Child Service Association. She was also an honorary director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Child Service and Family Counseling Center, a patron of the High Museum of Art, and an active member or participant in organizations including the American Association of University Women, Village Writers Group, Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists, Atlanta Historical Society, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta Opera Guild, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors, Mortar Board, Georgia associations of middle-school principals and women deans, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Beta Kappa, and several Atlanta literary, garden, social, and cultural clubs. Her national educational service included leadership in the junior-high section and executive, editorial, advisory, and treasury roles in the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors.

• Trustee.

  Agnes Scott College , United States

  1944 - 1945

• President; later served on the board of directors in 1983–1985 and received a citation award in 1975.

  Agnes Scott College Alumnae Association , United States

  1944 - 1945

• Trustee in Macon, Georgia.

  Appleton Church Home , United States

  1962 - 1965

• Board member; president in 1953.

  Atlanta Council of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America , United States

  1950 - 1953

• Member of the executive board.

  Atlanta Music Club , United States

  1951 - 1959

• President.

  Child Service Association , United States

  1956 - 1958

• Honorary director.

  Metropolitan Atlanta Child Service and Family Counseling Center , United States

  1975

• Patron.

  High Museum of Art , United States

• American Association of University Women , United States

• Village Writers Group , United States

• Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists , United States

• Atlanta Historical Society , United States

• Atlanta Botanical Garden , United States

• Friends of Decorative Arts , United States

• Atlanta Opera Guild , United States

• Served on the Georgia board of managers.

  National Society of the Colonial Dames of America , United States

  1985 - 1987

• Junior-high section chair and executive-board member in 1969–1970; editorial-board member in 1972–1974; advisory-committee member in 1975; treasurer in 1975–1977; citation award in 1982.

  National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors , United States

• National treasurer; fellowship chair in 1950–1952.

  Mortar Board , United States

  1945 - 1947

• Secretary.

  Georgia Association of Middle School Principals , United States

• Georgia Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors , United States

• Thursday Book Club , United States

• Wayside Garden Club , United States

• Tuesday Bridge Club , United States

• Piedmont Driving Club , United States

• Delta Kappa Gamma , United States

• Honorary member from 1949.

  Phi Beta Kappa , United States

Personality

A 1975 Agnes Scott alumnae profile characterized Farinholt as a versatile scholar, teacher, leader, volunteer, career woman, wife, and mother, emphasizing her energy, talent, and organizational leadership.

Quotes from others about the person

• In a 1975 Agnes Scott alumnae profile, Farinholt was described as a “Renaissance woman” whose life joined scholarship, teaching, leadership, volunteer service, family responsibilities, and literary interests.

Interests

• Her documented interests included literature, education, social issues, women's movements, travel, the arts, gardening, music, historic and decorative arts, and civic and religious activities.

Connections

Farinholt was the daughter of Albert Edgar Woltz and Daisy Caroline Mackie Woltz. She married Holcombe Tucker Green on October 16, 1934, and they had two children, Caroline Tucker Green and Holcombe Tucker Green Jr. She later married William Wortham Farinholt on July 18, 1959, and had a stepchild, Lewis Sharp. Her long association with Agnes Scott College was commemorated through the Katharine Woltz Reception Room and the Katharine Woltz Farinholt Scholarship.

Father:

Albert Edgar Woltz

Mother:

Daisy Caroline Mackie Woltz

husband:

Holcombe Tucker Green

Married Mary Katharine Woltz on October 16, 1934.

husband:

William Wortham Farinholt

Married Mary Katharine Woltz Green on July 18, 1959.

Daughter:

Caroline Tucker Green

Son:

Holcombe Tucker Green Jr.

Son:

Lewis Sharp

Stepchild.

References

• Farinholt, Katharine Woltz, papers, 1930–1984 Emory University Libraries collection guide documenting Farinholt's education, teaching and administrative career at Westminster Schools, volunteer activities, publications, novel Alexander's Daughter, family materials, travel records, and awards.
• Outstanding Alumnae Previous Winners Agnes Scott College lists Katharine Woltz Farinholt as the 1983 Outstanding Alumna.