Mary Texanna Loomis

Mary Texanna Loomis (born August 18, 1880, near Goliad, Texas) was an early pioneer in the field of radio, best known for founding the Loomis Radio School in Washington, D.C. in 1920, which was later called Loomis Radio College. With an academic background in languages and music, Loomis became interested in wireless telegraphy during World War I, influenced by her cousin, Dr. Mahlon Loomis, an early wireless experimenter. After gaining a license in wireless telegraphy, she sought to honor her ancestor's legacy by establishing a radio school. The Loomis Radio College gained a reputation for excellence, offering comprehensive training and producing graduates who were well-versed in both radio technology and practical skills.

Early life Mary Texanna Loomis was the second child born to Alvin Isaac and Caroline (Dryer) Loomis. Though born on a homestead in Texas on August 18, 1880, by 1883 her parents had returned to Rochester, New York and then on to Buffalo, New York where Alvin became president of a large delivery and storage company.

Little is known of her early life, but it appears she had a fairly middle-class upbringing. It is believed she was well-schooled, with early interests in music and languages (including mastering French, German, and Italian).

Miss Loomis also had an interest in sports in her youth, including swimming, skating, and horseback riding. Later, she took a course in voice culture and became a talented soprano. She also reportedly went to art school and became adept at sketching. Miss Loomis was a lecturer, wireless teacher, and author, as well as a member of the prestigious Institute of Radio Engineers. She was also reported to be the principal.

Loomis enjoyed teaching as much as she enjoyed radio itself. In an interview, she said:

Really, I am so infatuated with my work that I delight in spending from 12 to 15 hours at it. My whole heart and soul are in this radio school.

The Loomis Radio College offered a six-month course leading to a first-class commercial radio license, and a four-year course leading to a degree in Radio Engineering.

Publications

Loomis's most notable publication is Radio Theory and Operating for the Radio Student and Practical Operator, first published in 1927. The textbook was a key resource for aspiring radio operators and engineers, providing foundational knowledge on radio theory, electronics, and practical operation. It went through several editions, with the fourth edition released in 1928. The work contributed to the early training of radio operators in the United States and is considered one of the early comprehensive texts in the field of radio education.

Later life Little is known about life after the Radio School for Miss Loomis. She is known to have relocated to San Francisco in 1938, where the census shows that she lived in the St. Francis Hotel and listed her occupation as a stenographer. She died in San Francisco on June 7, 1960, at the age of 79, and was buried at the Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.