Guide to the Laura Brownell Collier Papers, 1867-1949

Collection Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Subject Headings
Related Material
Administrative Information
Access and Use
Encoding Information
Series List
Container List

Repository:	Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries
Creator:	Collier, Laura Brownell
Title:	Laura Brownell Collier Papers
Dates:	1867-1949
Quantity:	1.8 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Abstract:	The collection consists of correspondence, notes, diaries, and other material relating to and created by Laura Brownell Collier (VC 1874), covering her time at Vassar and beyond.

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Laura Brownell Collier was born on January 27, 1851 in Williston, Vermont. A member of a prominent New England family, she was descended from Governor William Bradford and John and Priscilla Alden. Laura's father, Chauncey Wells Brownell, was prominent lawyer and Vermont state senator, and her mother, Laura Chapin Higbee Brownell, had been head of the Williston Academy.

At the age of 13 Laura began teaching in a one-room school in Williston and later taught in the Burlington, Vermont public schools for $1.50 a week. She entered Vassar College as a senior and was graduated in 1874 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After Vassar, she taught at Abbot Academy in Andover, Massachusetts for three years, and then studied at Berlin University from 1877 to 1878.

In 1882, Laura married John Austin Collier, a research chemist who worked on experiments involving sorghum, rice production, and milling. They then moved to Brooklyn, New York where Laura found a job teaching Latin at Packer Collegiate Institute. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Katharine, who attended both Packer and later, Vassar College. From 1902 until 1911, John was the manager of the Vermont and Arizona Copper Company, which was located in Arizona, although Laura and the girls remained in New York. Laura was widowed on September 11, 1920.

Active in various historical and social organizations, Laura was a member of the Alden Kindred Association, the Meridian Club, the League of Women Voters, and other groups concerning the antiwar and woman suffrage movements. She took pride in the fact that she voted at every regular and special election. Laura also wrote a number of editorials for the New York Press, on topics ranging from the Mexican Revolution to the College Settlement movement.

In 1942 she moved back to Vermont with her younger daughter, Katharine, where she remained until her death in 1949.

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The collection consists of correspondence, notes, diaries, and other material relating to and created by Laura Brownell Collier (VC 1874), covering her time at Vassar and beyond. Like both the Elizabeth Brownell Collier Papers Katharine Brownell Collier Papers, the papers of Laura Brownell Collier tend to be weak on substance and superficial in areas. For example, there is little or no information concerning her teaching career or the program she initiated between Packer Collegiate Institute and Vassar College. The collection's strength lies in the amount of personal correspondence, notes and diaries kept by Laura Brownell Collier, as well as newspaper articles written by her.

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Access

This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to quote (publish) from unpublished or previously published material must be obtained as described in the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library.

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Researchers interested in more of the personal aspects of Laura Brownell Collier's life are encouraged to examine the Class of 1874 Bulletins, as well as the Alumnae/i Biographical Files in the Archives and Special Collections Library:

Laura Brownell File, Alumnae/i Biographical Files

The papers of Laura's two daughters, Elizabeth Brownell Collier, VC 1906, and Katharine Brownell Collier, VC 1908, are also available for research:

Elizabeth Brownell Collier Papers

Katharine Brownell Collier Papers

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Names:

Brownell, Chauncey W.
Brownell, Laura Higbee
Collier, Elizabeth Brownell
Collier, John A.
Collier, Katharine Brownell

Organizations:

Vassar College--Alumni and alumnae

Document Types:

Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Diaries
Photographs
Printed ephemera

VCL Categories:

Family
Vassar College

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Encoded by Madeleine Amodio, June 2011. Updated by Emma Gronbeck, June 2025.

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Preferred Citation

Laura Brownell Collier Papers, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.

Processing Information

Collection processed by the Vassar College Library and Archives in November 1994. Last updated, 29 June 2011.

The bulk of this collection is the papers of Laura Brownell Collier; however, Box 4 contains materials related to both Laura Brownell Collier and Katharine Brownell Collier, as well as mixed papers that could have originated from either woman.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Lincoln Brownell, through Elizabeth Daniels, circa 1980-1984. Received in three accessions.

Custodial History

This collection was brought to the Vassar College Libraries in the early 1980s by Elizabeth Daniels, the Vassar College Historian, who received them from Mr. Lincoln Brownell, Laura Brownell Collier's closest living relative.

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Series List

Series I. PERSONAL CORREPSONDENCE, 1879-1947

Series II. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 1867-1942

Series III. ORGANIZATIONS, 1929-1943

Series IV. NOTES AND NOTEBOOKS, 1881-1943

Series V. PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, 1874-1949

Series VI. PERSONAL BUSINESS, 1877-1941

Series VII. PHOTOGRAPHS, 1874-1934

Series VIII. POSTCARDS, 1877-1912

Series IX. MEMORABILIA, 1882-1945

Container List

SERIES I. PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1879-1947
Correspondence to Laura Brownell Collier (LBC)
Folder 1.1	Collier, Elizabeth Brownell (daughter of LBC), 1908-1937 (10 items)
Folder 1.2	Collier, John A. (husband of LBC), 1908 (3 items)
Folder 1.3	Collier, Katharine Brownell (daughter of LBC), circa 1904-1908 (2 items)
Folder 1.4	Collier, Katharine Brownell, 1907-1909 (14 items)
Folder 1.5	Collier, Katharine Brownell, 1936-1942 (3 items)
Folder 1.6	Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1880-1884 (10 items)
Folder 1.7	Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1903-1921 (7 items)
Folder 1.8	Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1923-1938 (13 items)
Folder 1.9	Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1939-1947 (8 items)
Folder 1.10	Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated (5 items)
Folder 1.11	Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated (9 items)
Folder 1.12	Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated (3 items)
Folder 4.2	Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated
Folder 4.3	Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated
Folder 4.9	Collier, Katharine Brownell - Correspondence to KBC, undated
Correspondence from Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 1.13	Brownell, Chauncey W. (brother of LBC), 1932, undated (5 items)
Folder 1.14	Brownell, Laura Higbee (mother of LBC), 1879, undated (3 items)
Folder 1.15	Collier, John A., 1912 (1 item)
Folder 1.16	Collier, Katharine and Elizabeth, 1923 (1 item)
Folder 1.17	Various friends (form letter), 1941 (1 item)
Folder 4.1	Letters From LBC, undated
SERIES II. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 1867-1942
Burlington Public Schools
Folder 1.18	Correspondence from the Superintendent (annotated by LBC), 1867-1868 (4 items)
Folder 1.19	Correspondence from the Superintendent, 1869-870 (7 items)
Vassar College
Folder 1.20	Booklet-Associate Alumnae Annual Meeting, 1922 (TS, 19 p.)
Folder 1.21	Report of the Associate Alumnae (annotated by LBC), 1929-1930 (TS, 69 p.)
Folder 1.22	Vassar Quarterly (annotated by LBC), 1931 Feb (TS, 90 p.)
Folder 1.23	Address given by LBC at an Alumnae Luncheon, 1934 Jun 9 (TS, 2 p.)
Folder 1.24	Letter from President MacCracken, 1934 Jun 21 (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 1.25	Letter from Allan Richardson, Comptroller, re: Brownell-Collier Scholarship Fund, 1937 Dec 17 (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 1.26	Alumnae questionnaire, 1939 (MS, 1 p.)
Folder 1.27	Commencement week invitation (annotated by LBC), 1941 (1 item)
Folder 1.28	Draft of a speech by LBC re: VC, undated (MS, 2 p., 1 draft, 1 fragment)
Folder 4.12	Vassar College, undated
Abbott Academy
Folder 1.29	The Abbot Courant (annotated by LBC), 1881 Nov (TS, 48 p.)
Folder 1.30	Memorial to Philena McKeen, Principal of Abbot Academy, 1898 May (TS, 58 p.)
Folder 1.31	Abbot Academy Club constitution (annotated by LBC), 1914 (TS/MS, 10 p.)
Folder 1.32	Letter from Alumnae Association incl. draft of LBC's reply, 1923 Jun 5 (3 items)
Folder 1.33	Abbot Academy prospectus or circular, circa 1940s (TS, 23 p.)
Folder 4.4	Collier, Laura Brownell- Abbot Academy, undated
Acadia University
Folder 1.34	Acadia Bulletin, 1934 Apr (TS, 24 p.)
Folder 1.35	Correspondence from the Office of the President (annotated by LBC with an explanation of connection to Acadia), 1935 (2 items)
Folder 1.36	Acadia University Calendar, 1935-1936 (TS, 164 p.)
Miscellaneous Institutions
Folder 1.37	Princeton University Commencement program (annotated by LBC), 1913 (TS, 11 p.)
Folder 1.38	Hamilton College Bulletin (see p. 12 for obituary of John Collier), 1938 (TS, 51 p.)
Folder 1.39	Pratt Institute library card, 1942 (1 item)
SERIES III. ORGANIZATIONS, 1929-1943
Alden Kindred of America
Folder 1.40	Roster notes, undated (TS, 6 p.)
Folder 4.5	Collier, Laura Brownell - Alden Kindred and Clinton Ave. Congregational Church, undated
American Red Cross
Folder 1.41	Correspondence and program (annotated by LBC), 1942 (TS, 3 p.)
Brooklyn Church and Mission Federation
Folder 1.42	Correspondence (annotated by LBC), 1933-1934 (3 items)
Folder 1.43	Pamphlet (annotated by LBC), 1942 (1 item)
Brooklyn Colony of the National Society of New England Women
Folder 1.44	By-laws, undated (TS, 20 p.)
Folder 1.45	Programs (annotated by LBC), 1936-1938 (4 items)
Clinton Avenue Congregational Church
Folder 1.46	Church bulletins, 1929 (TS, 10 p.)
Meridian Club
Folder 1.47	Correspondence, 1938-1940 (3 items)
Folder 1.49	Constitution, 1930 (TS, 12 p.)
Folder 1.49	Membership list and receipt (annotated by LBC), 1938-1942 (TS, 7 p.)
Folder 4.6	Collier, Laura Brownell- Meridian Club, undated
Phi Beta Kappa
Folder 1.50	Correspondence, 1940-1942 (4 items)
Folder 1.51	Publications (some annotated by LBC), 1937-1943, undated (14 items)
Folder 4.13	Phi Beta Kappa, undated
Woman Suffrage Party
Map Case - Drawer 37	Sash, yellow with black letters, "Woman Suffrage Party", undated (1 item)
Women's University Club (KBC)
Folder 4.10	Collier, Katharine Brownell - Women's University Club, undated
Miscellaneous Organizations
Folder 4.14	Miscellaneous Organizations, undated
SERIES IV. NOTES AND NOTEBOOKS, 1881-1943
Notes Written by Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 1.52	To S.A.B. and C.W.B. Compensations (brothers of LBC), 1922 Apr (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.53	A Priceless Heritage, 1935 (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.54	All Shall Have Joy, undated (MS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.55	The Blizzard, undated (TS, 2 p., 2 drafts)
Folder 1.56	Contrasts, undated (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.57	The Eternal Conflict/High Tide, undated (TS, 4 p., 4 drafts)
Folder 1.58	In The Park, undated (TS, 3 p., 3 drafts)
Folder 1.59	Just to say..., undated (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.60	Lo! First comes our..., undated (TS, 4 p., 1 draft (?))
Folder 1.61	Nature's Work, undated (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.62	The Recluse, undated (TS, 3 p., 3 drafts)
Folder 1.63	Suppressed Desires, undated (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.64	Threescore and Ten, undated (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.65	Training Tells (short story), 1917 (TS, 9 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.66	An Interesting Old Plant (bryophyllum), undated (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.67	Autobiographical notes, undated (MS, 4 fragments)
Folder 1.68	Mrs. Elizabeth Collier (upon the death of), 1889 (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.69	Woman's place is in the home..., undated (MS, 2 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.70	Fragments of verses, undated (MS, 10 fragments)
Folder 4.7	By Collier, Laura Brownell: Manuscript (Memoir) and Letters, undated
Folder 4.15	Written by KBC/LBC, undated
Notes Written by Others
Folder 1.71	Sketches: ink/pencil artist unknown, undated (5 items)
Folder 1.72	This is the... author: John Gadge (?) (facsimile), [1564] (MS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.73	I knew the trees would leaf... author: Martha Dickinson Bianchi, 1942 (TS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.74	Guilty or Not Guilty author: Leah Sinsky, undated (MS, 4 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.75	Oh Laura Collier bless your heart..., 1941 (MS, 3 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.76	Love suffereth long... author unknown, undated (MS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.77	Magnum iter... author unknown, undated (MS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.78	O true and tried... author unknown, undated (MS, 1 p., 1 draft)
Folder 1.79	Note cards with verses, 1903-1905 (MS, 18 items)
Folder 1.80	Note cards with verses, undated (MS, 28 items)
Folder 1.81	Miscellaneous fragments, undated (MS, 17 fragments)
Notebooks of Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 1.82	South Hall Chronicles diary while at Abbot Academy and beyond, 1881-1903, 1943 (MS, 113 p., incl. enclosures)
Folder 1.83	Calendar, 1910 (no handwritten notations)
Folder 1.84	Travel Notes L.B. Collier, 1912 (MS, 61 p.)
Folder 1.85	Daily Calendar (removed from metal stand), 1943 (MS, 322 p.)
Folder 1.86	Notebook, probably not LBC's handwriting, undated (MS, 118 p.)
SERIES V. PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, 1874-1949
Periodicals
Folder 2.1	Massachusetts Teacher (see p. 490), 1874 Dec (TS, 41 p.)
Folder 2.2	Keith Johnson's Political Atlas, circa 1870s (1 book)
Folder 2.3	Vocal Culture and Selections for Reading, undated (TS, 11 p.)
Folder 2.4	The Chicago Amateur, undated (TS, 8 p.)
Folder 2.5	History Facts and Worth of the Bible, undated (TS, 32 p.)
Newspaper Articles Written by Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 2.6	op-ed articles source: New York Press, 1915 Jul-Aug (TS, 9 p.)
Folder 2.7	op-ed articles source: New York Press, 1915 Sep-Dec (TS, 15 p.)
Folder 2.8	op-ed articles source: New York Press, 1916 (TS, 5 p.)
Folder 2.9	letter to editor; published poem source: Burlington [VT] Free Press, 1937-1942 (TS, 2 p.)
Folder 2.10	Popular Humorists of the Decade; op-ed articles sources unknown, undated (TS, 8 p.)
Newspaper Articles About Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 5.1	The Women's College Alumnae Associations source: Harper's Bazar, 1896 (TS, 2 p.)
Folder 2.11	Articles re: donation to Canastota Hospital, NY, 1920-1921 (TS, 5 p.)
Folder 5.1	Article re: LBC's Vassar College semi-centennial reunion, circa 1924 (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.12	Articles re: travel, advice, and awards of LBC ,(some annotated by LBC), 1930-1942 (TS, 4 p.)
Folder 2.13	Obituaries for LBC, 1949 Dec (TS, 2 p.)
Folder 2.14	Obituaries - Clark, Kate Upson, 1935 Feb (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.15	Obituaries - Collier, Helen M. (sister-in-law of LBC), 1903 Sep (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.16	Obituaries - Darling, Frank W., 1941 Feb (TS, 10 p.)
Folder 2.17	Obituaries - Dinsmoor, Alice, undated (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.18	Obituaries - Frost, Elinor White, undated (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.19	Obituaries - Kimball, Mrs. James P., undated (TS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.20	Obituaries - Montague, Amy Collier (niece of LBC), 1941 (TS, 1 p.)
Articles About Honorable Guy Charteris
Folder 2.21	Articles re: Guy Charteris (shipmate of LBC in 1912), 1912-1923 (TS, 6 p.)
Folder 5.1	Articles re: Guy Charteris (shipmate of LBC in 1912), undated (2 items)
Folder 2.22	Articles re: Guy Charteris, undated (TS, 8 p.)
Miscellaneous Articles
Folder 2.23	Miscellaneous articles, 1936-1942 (TS, 4 p.)
Folder 2.24	Miscellaneous articles, undated (TS, 15 p.)
Folder 4.16	Newspaper Articles, undated
SERIES VI. PERSONAL BUSINESS, 1877-1941
Folder 2.25	Letter from The Republican re: publishing LBC, 1877 (MS, 1 p.)
Folder 2.26	Correspondence re: memorial to John A. Collier, Canastota Memorial Hospital, 1921 (MS/TS, 3 p.)
Folder 2.27	Correspondence and account statements from White, Weld and Co., a Wall Street firm, 1940-1941 (TS, 8 p.)
Folder 2.28	Bills and receipts, 1941, undated (10 items)
Folder 2.29	Canceled checks, 1939-1941 (2 items)
Folder 2.30	Business cards, undated (3 items)
Folder 2.31	Notes re: financial matters, undated (MS, 3 fragments)
SERIES VII. PHOTOGRAPHS, 1874-1934
Photographs of Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 2.32	Portrait of LBC seated, holding a book photographer: Sarony's, circa 1874 (1 item)
Folder 2.33	Portrait of LBC profile, seated at desk photographer unknown, circa 1898 (1 item)
Folder 5.2	Portrait of LBC - head and shoulders -head and torso wearing white dress photographer: Curtis Bell, Inc., 1924 (2 items)
Folder 2.34	Photo of LBC full length, standing sideways photographer unknown ref. number 3.599, 1931 (1 item)
Folder 2.35	Portrait of LBC head and torso, wearing dark dress photographer: Alice Boughton ref. number 3.598, 1931 (1 item)
Folder 5.2	Portrait of LBC head and torso, wearing dark dress photographer: Alice Boughton ref. number 3.598, undated (1 Item)
Folder 2.36	Portrait of LBC with Peace Committee of Federation of Protestant Churches, 1933 (1 item )
Folder 5.2	Portrait of LBC with Peace Committee of Federation of Protestant Churches, undated (1 item)
Folder 2.37	Collier, Laura Brownell with Helen Jackson Sellers, VC 1874, at their Vassar College 60th reunion, 1934 (1 item)
Folder 2.38	Collier, Laura Brownell with unidentified man and woman in a wooded area ref. numbers 6.560 and 6.561, undated (2 items)
Photographs of Friends and Family
Folder 1.87	Collier, Helen M., undated (1 item)
Folder 1.88	Marvin, Mary, undated (1 item)
Folder 1.89	Prentiss, Mrs. George H., undated (1 item)
Folder 1.90	Stanton, Maggie, undated (1 item)
Folder 1.91	Talmage, David, 1883, undated (2 items)
Folder 1.92	VC: Avery, Alida; Backus, Truman J.; Farrar, Charles, undated (3 items)
Folder 1.93	VC photo album of students and faculty, [circa 1874]
Photographs of Trips Taken by Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 1.94	View of Lake George, 1882 (1 item)
Folder 1.95	Adirondacks - 7th Lake, Fulton, Chain, Wheeler's Camp, 1906 (14 items)
Folder 1.96	Niagara Falls, 1909 (15 items)
Folder 1.97	Canastota Memorial Hospital, 1920 (3 items)
Folder 1.98	Mt. Vernon and Washington, DC, undated (4 items)
Folder 1.99	Sleepy Hollow [NY], undated (2 items)
Folder 1.100	Miscellaneous photos of houses, undated (2 items)
Photographs of Artwork
Folder 1.101	Photos of paintings, unmarked, artists unknown, undated (2 items)
Folder 4.17	Miscellaneous, undated
SERIES VIII. POSTCARDS, 1877-1912
Trips Taken by Laura Brownell Collier
Folder 1.102	European trip-German landscapes, 1877-1878 (4 items)
Folder 1.103	European trip-German monuments, 1877-78 1877-1878 (4 items)
Folder 1.104	European trip-famous Germans, 1877-1878 (7 items)
Folder 1.105	European trip-Masterpieces in the Dresden Gallery (annotated by LBC), 1877-1878 (8 items)
Folder 3.1	European trip-famous Europeans, 1877-1878 (4 items)
Folder 3.2	European trip-view of Rome, 1878 (1 item)
Folder 3.3	Trip to United Kingdom-view of ship, 1912 (1 item)
Folder 3.4	Trip to United Kingdom-view of Ireland, 1912 (1 item)
Folder 3.5	Trip to United Kingdom-views of England, 1912 (2 items)
Folder 3.6	Trip to United Kingdom-Investiture of the Prince of Wales, 1912 (3 items)
Folder 4.18	Miscellaneous, undated
Landscapes
Folder 3.7	Long Island and ocean views, undated (3 items)
Buildings
Folder 3.8	Cazenovia Seminary-attended by John A. Collier, undated (6 items)
Folder 3.9	Brownell Homestead, Williston, VT, undated (1 item)
Folder 3.10	Miscellaneous houses, undated (2 items)
SERIES IX. MEMORABILIA, 1882-1945
Travel Information
Folder 3.11	Brochure of Adirondacks, circa 1906 (TS, 7 p.)
Folder 3.12	Niagara Falls information, circa 1909 (TS, 2 p.)
Folder 3.13	United Kingdom trip: brochures and programs re: Atlantic Transport Lines, 1912 (5 items)
Folder 3.14	U.K. trip: Ireland information, 1912 (TS, 3 p.)
Folder 3.15	U.K. trip: Scotland information (some annotated by LBC), 1912 (TS, 5 p.)
Folder 3.16	U.K. trip: England information, 1912 (TS, 20 p.)
Folder 3.17	Miscellaneous travel information, undated (4 items)
Miscellaneous Memorabilia
Folder 3.18	Marriage certificate: John Austin Collier and Laura Higbee Brownell, 1882 (1 item)
Folder 3.19	Programs, 1910-1912, undated (4 items)
Folder 3.20	Material re: World War II, including war ration booklets, ca. 1940-45 circa 1940-1945 (3 items)
Folder 3.21	Material re: Brooklyn area; LBC's Senators, undated (3 items)
Map Case	World War I poster "Imprunt National 1918 Societe General Pour nou rendre entiere…," circa 1918 (1 item) [MISSING as of June 2025]
Folder 4.8	Collier, Laura Brownell - Miscellaneous undated
Folder 4.11	Collier, Katharine Brownell - Political Material undated

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Details

Abstract

The collection consists of correspondence, notes, diaries, and other material relating to and created by
Laura Brownell Collier (VC 1874), covering her time at Vassar and beyond.

Member of

Finding Aid Collection

Finding Aid Date

Dates: 1867-1949

Document Types

Clippings (information artifacts)

Names

Collier, Elizabeth Brownell