Newswise — The Washington, DC, police put their best men on the case. More than 500 people were interviewed in the neighborhood hours after the incident. The investigation went on for months. But there were few clues to go on. In the early morning hours of Sunday, February 28, 1954, an intruder broke into the home of Maryland's beloved Registrar Alma Preinkert and when she woke up to find him ransacking her second story bedroom, he stabbed her to death before escaping.
Preinkert's murder shook the entire University of Maryland community. She had been the registrar since 1936 and the associate registrar for many years before that. But her association with Maryland went further. She was awarded her masters degree from Maryland in 1923 and took her first full-time position - as a clerk - the same year.
To students she was simply "Miss Preink," an inspiration and "perfect employer." As a former female student put it, she was an "enormous influence for good" and "had a real social conscience," who "made a distinct contribution to worthwhile organizations she was a member of, even serving as president of the Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs." An editorial in the Diamondback student newspaper said on March 3, 1954, she "had time for everyone who came to her seeking advice or information, she found time always for those who needed her help."
Maryland's Archivist, Anne Turkos, concurs, saying, "Alma was a much beloved figure on campus." She points to Gordon Prange, of Prange Collection fame, who "often closed his letters to (University President) Curley Byrd from Japan with a request to give his best to Miss Preinkert and Miss Stamp."
As registrar, Preinkert wore many hats. The 1942 Terrapin yearbook described her duties by saying she "sees to the registration of all students, keeps their records, and finally makes the commencement arrangements for them. She also publishes the directory, the final examination schedule, and transcripts of records. Just to keep life interesting, Miss Preinkert also serves on a number of committees."
By 1954, she was handling the records of some 42,000 Maryland students around the world annually.
MANY INTERVIEWED, NONE ARRESTED
Newspaper stories at the time quoted Preinkert's sister Margaret Heine (who lived next door) as saying that the 58-year-old Preinkert had a premonition something was wrong when they returned home from a Saturday night bridge game with friends. It was late - 1 a.m. An hour or so later, The Evening Star reported that:
"The killer stole a stepladder from the rear of a rooming house... near the Preinkert home. He placed the ladder against the west side of the yellow clapboard house and climbed to a window about 10 feet from the ground. He broke the glass and reached inside to unfasten the lock."
Not only was "Miss Alma" viciously murdered, but sister Alvina (who lived with her) was also attacked when she tried to rescue Alma from the intruder. Alvina was taken to Garfield Hospital to recover from her wounds. Reports indicated that more than 30 detectives worked the case, canvassing the neighborhood. Hundreds of residents were interviewed. Neighbors who heard sounds of the sister's screams and struggle "thought it was just an alley fight" according to the Evening Star.
Despite the lengthy investigation and a $1500 reward, no one was ever charged with the murder. David Preinkert, a distant cousin, was attending Roosevelt High School in the District at the time of the murder. Still a DC resident, he says that even after 50 years, he can't understand why she was murdered: "It must have been horrible," he says. "Shame on the person who did that."
The tragedy was so painful for sister Alvina that she decided to move. "I will never go back to that house again," she told the Washington Post on March 2, 1954.
"GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"
The University paid its final respects to Alma Preinkert on Thursday, March 5. Classes were dismissed so that faculty and students could attend her funeral service in the Memorial Chapel. 500 attended the service, including Governor Theodore McKeldin, President Emeritus Harry Byrd, the Board of Regents and Acting President Thomas Symons.
Students unable to get into the chapel waited outside in a driving rainstorm. Deans of the various colleges served as honorary pallbearers. Outside, flags flew at half-staff. During the service, Ms. Preinkert was called "a leader in civic affairs who spent her life in service to mankind." She was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery - just 2 miles from her home.
The mystery surrounding Alma Preinkert's murder remains, but the memories continue as well. The board of regents named the women's field house after her on March 12, 1954. Preinkert Drive takes students to The Robert H. Smith Business School and South Campus Dining Hall. And a painting of Miss Preinkert is in the archives of Maryland's Hornbake Library.
Web page with pictures at: http://www.urhome.umd.edu/newsdesk/culture/Preinkert.cfm
Explore Our World on Maryland Day - April 24
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