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Vassar College Student Diaries

The Student Diaries collection provides access to more than fifty diaries from Vassar students from the nineteenth century. The diaries concern life on campus, other students, classes, relationships with their professors, vacations, family news, and other subjects; some volumes have short entries on daily activities while others have longer, more reflective entries. Students include Florence Wislocki, 1922; Frances M. Bromley, 1875-1877; Abby Holden, 1871-1872; Bertha Keffer, 1868-1871; Elma G. Martin, 1892-1893; Anne Page Brydon, 1922-1923; Helen Hartley Pease, 1914-1915; Anne Wyman, 1878-1880; Marjorie Anthony Markwich, 1914; and Constance E. Anthony, 1915.
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Vassar College Student Diaries

Vassar College Student Diaries

Judd, Dorothy (Leonard). Diary, 1917

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Date
1917
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

This item consists of typed extracts of Dorothy Leonard Judd's 1917 diary. Judd briefly discusses home life in Grand Rapids, Michigan; viewing footage from soldiers in the first world war and the new Russian revolution; trips to New York City; and camp life in the Gulick summer camp in Maine.,From

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Keffer, Bertha. Diary, 1876

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Date
1876-01-01T01:00:01Z-1876-12-31T23:59:59Z
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

VC 1876, handwritten.,This item is a collection of writings by Keffer and her classmates. It features a lengthy poem about the arrival of the first Japanese students in 1872, which also appears in Ella C. Lapham's (VC 1876) scrapbook. The racist poem mocks the Japanese students' English language

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Vassar College Student Diaries

Keffer, Bertha. Diary, Jan-Jun 1871

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Date
January-June 1871
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

Although Bertha Keffer's diary was printed with the date 1854, she wrote in it during the months of January-June 1871. Keffer generally describes her day-to-day life at Vassar, focusing heavily on her time in the College Chapel. She speaks briefly, and sporadically, about her father (John C

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Keffer, Bertha. Notes from Diary, Jan-Jun 1871

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Date
Jan-Jun 1871
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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Vassar College Student Diaries

Ladd-Franklin, Christine. Diary, 1860-1866

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Date
1860-1873
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

This volume begins with 56 pages of handwriting exercises. The narrative then begins with Christine Ladd's adolescent years during the Civil War. The diary is not simply a daily chronicle; rather, it is a serious journal of self-examination, expressing despondency over the death of her mother, hopes

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Ladd-Franklin, Christine. Diary, 1866-1873

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Date
1866-1873
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

In this diary, Christine Ladd-Franklin chronicles her time at Vassar and several years following her graduation in 1869. She escribes her experience as a Vassar student, the challenges of financing her education, and her early years of teaching before beginning her graduate work in mathematics.

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laddfranklininside

52427-Service File.jpg
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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Markwick, Marjorie (Anthony). Diary, 1914

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Date
1914
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

Daily entries from July through December 1914. Newspaper clippings concerning Vassar's field day, moonlight sail, and mountain climb; a letter from Markwick's aunt Mollie; an invoice for directing song practice and class meeting; and a Vassar room deposit receipt are pasted into the diary beginning

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Martin, Elma G. Diary, 1892

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Date
1892-1907
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

Daily entries of varying length concerning Martin's experiences as a special student at Vassar College between September 22, 1892 and June 28, 1893. Further entries until June 23, 1894 discuss Martin's return home and work teaching. After a break of several years, Martin resumes the diary with an

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Ordway, Katherine Gretta. Diary, 1909-1910

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Date
1909-01-01T01:00:01Z-1910-12-31T23:59:59Z
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

VC 1913,1909-1910: Detailed daily entries from 11 Nov 1909 to 2 May 1910 of Ordway's first year at Vassar College. Throughout the diary, Ordway demonstrates an intense interest in her academic coursework, including her classes in Latin, math, history, English, and German. Additionally, Ordway

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Ordway, Katherine Gretta. Diary, 1910-1911

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Date
1910-1911
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

Detailed entries every day. In this volume, written during her sophomore and junior years, she describes student life on campus, including "fancy dancing" class, concerts, a YWCA conference, Vassar College Christian Association, sports (track, swimming, basketball, bicycling, rowing, and tennis)

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Ordway, Katherine Gretta. Diary, 1911-1912

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Date
1911-01-01T01:00:01Z-1914-12-31T23:59:59Z
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

VC 1913,1911-1912: Detailed daily entries from February of Ordway's junior year to January of her senior year at Vassar College. Ordway discusses coursework and lectures in Latin, German, physics, English, biology, philosophy, and economics. She records scholarship information. Ordway mentions gym

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Ordway, Katherine Gretta. Diary, 1912-1913

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Date
1912-1913
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

Entries every day. Ordway details her experiences at Vassar College between January of her junior year and May of her senior year. Her academic involvement in English, German, Economics, Biology, and American History is a central theme of the diary. Ordway mentions attending concerts and dances

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Ordway, Katherine Gretta. Diary, 1913-1914

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Date
1913-1914
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Abstract

This volume covers the end of Ordway's senior year at Vassar and her first year after graduation. She describes the Senior Excursion to Mohonk and bicycling trips. She includes accounts of her graduation events, specifically Commencement, Class Day, "Strong Steps," Tree Ceremonies, and the Daisy

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Vassar College Student Diaries

page1

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Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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page10a

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Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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page10b

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Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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page11a

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Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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page11b

Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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page11b

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Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
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