The Early Years
Sarah B. Holmes was born in Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pennsylvania in 1886 and married her husband, Percy K. Holmes, on August 31, 1910. After they were married, Sarah and Percy spent time in Mexico helping to create a public health center for Mexican citizens.
In 1920, Sarah and Percy moved to Kentucky, where Percy was employed as the inaugural Director of the University of Kentucky Department of Hygiene and Public Health.
In 1924, died from an illness, leaving Sarah a widow with four young children, all under the age of 11. Understanding she would need to work to support her young family, Holmes returned to school, this time with UK, and earned her bachelor's degree in 1929 and a master's degree in 1939.
While returning to school and raising a family, Holmes worked as dean of the Sayre School in Lexington from 1924 to 1929
In 1929, Holmes became the Assistant Dean of Women at UK. Holmes also received her college degree at UK in 1929, just over 5 years after her husband's death.
Then, in the fall of 1932, the previous Dean of Women, Sarah Blanding, left to pursue a career in Europe, leaving Sarah Holmes to step into her place as Dean of Women, a position she would serve in for nearly 40 years.
