Our Collections

WELCOME TO THE DOROTHY COX COLLECTION

Dorothy Cox (8/5/26 –8/18/17) was passionate about teaching. After losing her husband in the Korean War, she was determined to make the most of her teaching career by joining the United States Dependents Schools on military installations overseas. For her first assignment, Dorothy flew to Tripoli on a military charter filled with soldiers.

Over her 21-year career with the Department of Defense from the 1950s to the 1970s, she taught in England, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. She used her teaching posts as a base for further travel and exploration. As she traveled, she made friends who helped her immerse herself in the local culture and discover antique and specialty shops where she could find unique artifacts for her collection. Always thinking of her students, Dorothy sought out items that would help them learn more about life in different parts of the world. She became a skilled negotiator with merchants in the souks—the local markets—and oftentimes, her genuine interest in an item would lead shopkeepers to give it to her.

This collection is not just a set of souvenirs; it is an assembly of tools, garments, and personal effects that represent the lives of individuals in distant places.

Dorothy wanted to share her treasures with teachers and military families everywhere, and after her passing, the collection was donated to MAMF by Dorothy’s family and the American Overseas Schools Historical Society. In 2023 and 2025, thanks to generous grants  from New Mexico Arts, our high school intern Nathan Steen created graphics from photos of her collection. Enjoy “Nate’s Notes!”