MISS ANNIE B. CUMMINGS, Butler, Pa., Dec. 1- Miss Annie B. Cummings, aged 59, for 40 years teacher in the public schools here, 25 years of which she had been principal of the Broad Street school, died at her home here recently from pneumonia, following an illness of five days. She was a daughter of Isaac and Nancy Cummings, and a granddaughter of the late Judge John Bredin of Butler. She was a member of St. Peter's Epicopal church of Butler. She is survived by three brother, Steven H., Paul and George B. Cummings, all of Butler.

~ Pittsburgh Press 01 Dec 1916

In July 1877, Annie Cummings was elected as a teacher by the Butler School Board. On July 1, 1887 she was elected Principal of the McKean Street School. In 1888 Miss Cummings salary was $65 a month. In 1892 her salary was $75 a month. When the Mifflin Street School was opened, Miss Cummings was assigned as Principal in addition to her duties as Principal of McKean Street School. In 1896 her salary was raised to $85 a month and she was reassigned as Principal of the new Broad Street School, with Loyal F. Hall replacing her at McKean Street. In 1898, she was given responsibility for McKean Street School once again, in addition to her duties at Broad Street School. In 1899, she was once again replaced by Loyal F. Hall as Principal at McKean Street, but retained the Principal position at Broad Street. In 1903 her salary was $95 a month. In 1906 she was given a raise to $105 a month. When West End School was opened in 1911, Annie Cummings was named Principal of the new school, in addition to her duties at Broad Street. In addition to her school duties, she was also one of the most active members of the Children's Aid Society.

In late November 1916 she fell ill with pneumonia and died five days later. She had been an educator in the Butler schools for 39 years; 29 of them as a Principal.

The Butler Eagle noted "the announcement of her demise casting a shadow of grief over Thanksgiving morning in many a home throughout the city. In succeeding generations, father, son and grandson, mother, daughter and granddaughter have passed under her guidance through the formative years of childhood and school training. In all her work she left her impress upon all with whom she came in contact, as a thoughtful, constructive educator, and efficient and earnest disciple of authority, and the inspiring counselor and guide to all things that are good and perfect. The school system of the city can but slightly realize to what an extent it is indebted to her in her long period of service. Possessing a keen intellect, wide information, professional zeal, untiring industry, and an honest and sincerity of purpose seldom combined in one person, the essence of her whole life has been wrought into the fabric of the schools of the city, where it will remain as her real monument."

Her body lay at St. Peter's Episcopal Church "...so that the school children of the city may have a last opportunity to view the face of their beloved teacher" where thousands came to pay their respects before burial.