Vassar College Digital Library

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897

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Document
Date
1893-1901
Description
This scrapbook covers Adelaide (Claflin) Mansfield's years at Vassar, from 1893 through 1897. She provided materials about Vassar traditions such as Thanksgiving, Founder's Day, the Sophomore Party, the Senior Parlor, Halloween, Trig Ceremonies, Tree Ceremonies, Commencement, Field Day, the Mohonk trip, Junior-Senior Excursions, Class Day, and songs for a variety of occasions. She also described protests over the College's decision to stop giving Washington's Birthday as a holiday. Claflin pasted photographs of campus into the volume as well. During her time at Vassar, Claflin participated in the Young Women's Christian Association (saving documents from prayer meetings, receptions, and attending the Convention of the Young Women's Christian Association of the State of New York in 1895) and the VC Teachers' Club, debated for T. and M., and enjoyed student athletics like basketball and the annual tennis tournament. She also included programs from plays and concerts on and off campus, including by the Philalethean Society, Exoteric Society, and Glee Club. Claflin preserved memories of her social life at Vassar, such as visiting cards, invitations, place cards, poems, valentines and correspondence from friends, and friends' wedding announcements (the end of the scrapbook lists some engagements, marriages, births, and deaths for her class). She also saved receipts for board and tuition, laundry, and her subscription to the Miscellany. In terms of her academics at Vassar, Claflin kept examinations, notes, and her class schedules. She included some correspondence with librarians, professors (such as Susan B. Franklin, Lucy Maynard Salmon, and Abby Leach), and Lady Principal Kendrick. She transcribed a lecture on rhetoric by Professor Manuel J. Drennan as well. Claflin also depicted Vassar's political climate during the presidential election of 1896.
Extent
202 p.
Genre
Subject (Corporate Body)
Identifier
vassar:62681
Local Identifier
VC 1897
Rights
These materials are made available for research and educational purposes. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of materials in the Vassar College Digital Library.