Vassar as it impressed a "poet" in 1871 
Extracts from the Diary of Miss Bertha Keffer of '76* (see following page) 

Monday January 16th 

Thursday Etta and I went to see Miss -- about one hundred and twelve. 

B. "We want to change our room." 
E. "We thought Eve would like to room together on the fifth floor." 
Miss -- "There is no room vacant there." 
E. & B. together "Yes, one hundred and twelve is." 
Miss -- slowly. "Yes if you want to go there without any bed, and sleep on the floor you can." to E. "Why do you wish 
to change your room?" 
E. "My room-mate is not very agreeable." 
Miss -- to B. "Is anything of that sort the matter with you?" 
B. O no, my room-mate and parlor are very nice and I like them ever 

so much, but we thought we would like to room together." 
Miss -- "Would you like to go to the first floor for the sake of rooming together?" 

E. Not liking that a bit, but not liking to back out now, "Yes ma'am." 
Miss -- "Well, I will see what I can do for you." To B., "You may go." 
Miss -- left E. and told her how much good she might to to her room-mate by staying put and behaving like a Christian, 
to try it on that plan a month longer." 

As soon as we had definitely arranged to go w Miss -- I felt sorry but could not very well back out then. Guess now I'll 
stay fixed and not trouble her any more. 

* Miss Keffer belonged to the class of '75 but having to remain at home her senior year she graduatted with '76. 

Tuesday January 17th 

President Raymond gave quite a lecure this morning on loyalty -- a word he thought we did not know the meaning of. I 
guess something disloyal in his sesne of the word came up in Faculty Meeting yesterday. We always have something 
new after the big folks talk us over. 

Wednesday January 18th 

Heard today of Miss -- slapping a girl over the fingers for not playing rightly, and so now despise her more than ever. 
The President told of Roger Sherman slapping his boy, and being slaped by his mother, and then kissing her hand and 
leading her to a seat. 


Thursday January 19th 

Mrs. Lyman requested through the president this evening that we try being quiet in the corridors in our talk, until 
Monday, and see how we like the change. 

Monday January 23rd 

Had a gay time tonight at supper over the professor's baby. Laughed till we tired. Something was the matter with the 
three waiters and they had to go out to laugh. It is curious to see them when they are feeling funny and Solomon looks 
at them. I am glad it is not against the rule for preps to laugh. 


Thursday February 2nd 

I wish it were the June examination instead of February. I wish the Faculty had to be examined before a lot of people 
twice a year, when we are. They would soon do away with all such botherations. 
Friday February 3d 
Thus endetth the two days of torture. I agree with Mr. J. in saying "Pity the sorrows of a poor young woman." Mrs. 

Lyman's corridor is covered all over with matting and her sister is here, so I suppose she is worse. 


Frday February 10th 

Saw in the paper yesterday, that a diary to be of any use ought to be truthful and one ought never to leave it unwritten 
for several days and then fill them all in at once withouth noting the fact. Therefore, I acknowledge this to be written on 
Saturday instead of Friday. Now my conscience is clear. 

Saturday February 11' 

Principal events of today, were the meetings of the Studet Association. It abolished the Transcript because the Faculty 
would not let it be published quarterly instead of yearly; and intends to send a printed circular to Exchanges notifying 
them of this action. The Student Association also resolved that each student should send a notice to her corridor teacher 
of what she particularly abominated in our face. At noon another meeting was held and they decided to send a written 
note instead of a circular to their exchanges, and voted against that way of altering our eatables, and decided on masterly 
inaction for the present. 


Friday February 17 
Meditated all silent time on what I would 
probably have to do after leaving college, 
and came to the conclusion that I must 
have some definite aim in view, and 
fit myself for it, and not keep going 
on in this blind aimless way. Made 
up my mind it was not sufficient to 
try to obey the Golden Rule and to be an 
accomplished well educated woman, 
but that I must have something definite 
in view. 
Tuesday February 21 
Miss Lyman died today at four o'clock. 
She peacefully slept away. I first 
heard of it at the gymnasium. It was 
curious to see how the girls received 
the news. Some looked as jolly as 
they heard it-as they had looked a 
moment before; some looked grave, and 
a very few cried. At supper the room 
was as still as chapel, almost, no one 


spoke above a whisper, and the creaking 
of the waiters shoes was plainly 
heard. The President made some 
very fitting remarks in chapel. He 
said we nust not feel sad. Miss 
Lyman wished us to rejoice that she 
was gone. Her prayer for days had 
been not that she might stay, but that 
she might be made willing to stay. 
Wednesday February 22 
We had funeral services today in the 
chapel. There were a great many strang 
ers here from town. All the gallery 
was filled and downstairs packed. 
Nearly all the girls had on black entirely 
There was a meeting of the Student Association 
in the morning at which it 
was decided to send to town for flowers, 
the Freshmen a wreath, the Sophomores a 
cross, the Juniors an anchor, the Seniors 
a crown, the Specials and Preps. cut flowers. 


At another meeting it was decided that 
we all wear crepe for thirty days. 
Twenty-three carriages of teachers and 
visitors went to the train. 
Thursday February 23 
Day of Prayer for Colleges. Had Chapel 
services at 11.15, prayer meeting in 
the afternoon and evening. Heard a 
good sermon by the Rev. John Hall of 
New York, a Presbyterian. He is an 
Irishman and has been in this country 
only three years. About every evening I 
think of going to Dr. Avery and saying 
I want some medicine, but before 
her office hours the next day, I feel 
so much better I put it off hoping 
to get well of myself. I have a great 
admiration for Dr. A. and if I had 
anything serious troubling me would 
go to her. 


Friday February 24 
Mina went to Miss--- today. Miss --said 
she-a-thought-that-a-fruit 
cake-was-a-not necessary, nor-acandy-
or-a-raisins-or chickens-a 
-could we strike some of those off? 
As we could not help ourselves we struck 
off the cake and raisins and candy. She 
is afraid we will spend too much money 
and "-a-Vassar College-a-has a name 
-a-to be sustained and -a-she wishes 
we would try not to feel her objections as 
restrictions at all, but try and feel 
cheerful over it. It is queer how she can 
imagine in what other way we could 
take them. It is a pity Vassar is 
in such need of a character for solidity, 
that we can't have a spree 
once a year. 


Sunday February 26 
Last night after I got into bed, I suddemly 
thought of the basket of remains and 
hopped out and set it on top of the 
two pitchers, the basin being filled with 
water, to keep the mice off. I hear 
them all going to prayer-meeting but 
I aint going. The great subject of 
conversation is Miss S. who has been 
put back from the Senior class. I 
pity her, but am not yet sure 
whether herself or the faculty is most 
to blame. 
Monday February 27 
Miss Z. slid neatly over the 21st chapter 
that we were dreading so, when Prof. H. came 
in, by tell us to turn directly to the advance 
in the 22nd. Today we had a whispering ex 
ercise beside the breathing and sounds of a 
in Elocution. I distinguished myself in a very 
uncomfortable manner in the Latin class, but 
did better than my associates. It was an abominably hard lesson anyhow 


Wednesday March 1. 
The subject of College colors was 
settled in Student Associaton meeting 
today, and we are to send for the 
number of yards of ribbon we want before 
Saturday. 
Saturday March 4. 
Miss Monks and Miss Nichols were the 
essayists of the evening. The latter's 
Essay was "A Plea for Charles Dickens" 
and was first rate. She is a smart 
girl and thinks correctly of Charles-
according to my idea (Miss Keffer had 
read nearly every one of Dickens' 
works before she was eleven 
years old) 
The girls in Vassar are the poorest set I 
ever came across for change or big bills either 
I guess, from the way they spoke when I tried to change that X today 


Wednesday March 8. 
The President said we would have no 
new lady principal until next year, but 
the same arrangement as at present 
would continue. Did not take off our 
blankets this morning as ordered. 
Friday March 10 
Lecture by Robinson - professor of some 
college and author of our Algebra. 
- on "The Real Movers of the World." 
About half the girls think it was 
splendid and the other half think it 
was abominable. I don't like lectures 
on Friday evening for we have to 
study so hard Saturdays in consequence. 
Wednesday March 18 
Last night - M. & G. were scared because 
they thought some one was 
at their window, and they screamed. 
This brought in Misses Preston, Swayze 
and Hamlin. They got quieted down 
soon and went to rest again. It was 
kept pretty quiet all day but at 
night E. R. came up and heard the news 


and said she was going to frighten 
the girls and sure enough she 
did. About two hours after - a 
deputy came up from the 1st South 
to know if they should barricade 
their windows to keep people out, and 
as soon as I got home L. and J. 
called out to know all the story. 
Thursday March 16 
M's man is growing. Today 
the story is that he got in the 
window and had a heap of 
jewelry out and was just going off 
with the watches, and when they 
screamed he ran. He went through 
several stages before he got to this 
Miss H. says he was all made by the 
watchman shutting down the windows 
when it began to rain. Anyway it 
was nice for a little excitement. 


Wednesday March 22 
Small explanation this evening on examinations. 
The three weeks review determines 
whether we pass in our studies, 
and the two days are for the benefit 
of the examining committee. President 
Raymond made several little jokes about 
our changing our names and having 
our pet names go down to posterity. 
He wants good names, respectable if not 
beautiful to go into the Vassar Catalogue. 


Thursday May 4th. 
Two ladies from Philadelphia, principals 
of schools have been here. One wears 
a cap on her head, like a crown. It 
is trimmed with purple feathers. She 
looks as Queen Victoria would look if 
she were an old maid and fixed her 
hair in little bunches of curls sticking 
out in front and at the sides 
under her crown. 
Saturday, May 6th 
Hope my cold will get well soon. Also 
that the supply of coal will not 
give out again this spring, or I 
will have another cold. 
Friday May 12th 
Miss C. told us yesterday that a 
principal of a school, visiting here, 
said he was much surprised to 
see that there was communication 
in every class he saw. As an 
offset to that Lady A. said she was 


delighted with the girls here because 
they did not stare her out 
of countenance. 
Saturday May 13th 
Went to the Field lecture on 
French literature last night. It was 
fine. The President had the lecturer 
change her subject to "What French 
will do For You". She said, that even 
if we learned French pretty well, 
it would not do us much good in 
French society, for the people were 
too selfish and fond of good 
conversation to invite anyone to 
their parties, who could not be 
an ornament to society. French 
would do us good in reading 
French writings, memoirs and letters, 
It would help us in giving entertainments 
and to secure 
general converse, instead of paring [sic] 
off people for the evening. 


Monday May 15th 
Heard that the minister who has 
been here several days, and who 
preached yesterday, is going to write 
us up in Scribner's. He appears better 
in the pulpit than out. It would be 
well if he could always stay there. 
Went to supper with Corinne, and when 
we saw what a horrid supper there 
was, we left after pocketing some 
cookies from our respective tables. 
It was well we were in soon or 
we would have had to stay. An 
illustration of how the early bird 
catches the worm. 
Saturday May 20th 
Have on a summer dress for the 
first time. This is a good place not 
to wear out summer clothes in. 
Sunday May 21 
A nice looking gentleman preached 
this morning, his sermon full of poeti 
cal quotations fro Paradise Lost 
& the Queen of the May. He called 
this a "unique Seminary," "a seminary 
of secular learning. 


20 
Tuesday May 30 
Had a lecture by the President on 
the frivolity of the Literary Society. 
[He objected to the character of the 
show the Society was going to give] 
and said too much time was spent 
on such things for our intellectual 
growth. 
Friday June 2 
The President modified his Tuesday 
night remarks a little Thursday night. 
May asked me to Delta. The girls 
had given up the grand show they 
had expected to have, because of 
the President's remarks. But they 
had essays and music and everyone 
enjoyed it. The one who 
seemed to enjoy the show least 
was Miss B's young man. I think 
the poor fellow may have been 
scared by the presence of so 
many of "the sex." 


Tuesday June 13 
Nothing to say except that I am 
no longer a "prep." There was the 
usual rustle over the chapel when 
the President said he would read 
the names of those, who by a vote 
of the faculty, were admitted to the 
Freshman class. 
Tuesday June 20 
Have enjoyed the day exceedingly so far 
and am now writing the events before 
packing up my book. Now that we are 
through I am in a hurry to go away 
and get out of all this muss. The 
history of the Senior class by Miss 

G. was first rate, and the prophecy 
was very good. The sibyl was rather 
rough on poor D. and I should 
think Miss M. would hope the cat 
would soon be buried and forgotten 
Miss F. and Miss L. did well at the 
tree. The Juniors and Seniors like 
to fling at one another. 
Wednesday June 21 
The End.