1 letter from Adams to Minnie McInnes, a friend from home in Philadelphia, describing her first few days at Vassar. Topics include entrance examinations, classes, food, and the students' daily routine.
1 brief thank you note to Annie Glidden Houts, possibly from Sophia D. Bagg or Sophia R. Burnham. All three were VC 1869.,VC 1869
1 letter from Banfield to her friend (or relative) Mary Banfield, and 2 letters from Banfield to her family. The letter to Mary Banfield contains information about a visiting Episcopal minister, a prayer meeting, academics (including a brief mention of Professor Salmon), and social news about
17 letters from Barnes to family. The 5 letters to George Taylor Barnes are transcripts only; Vassar does not hold the originals. The letters describe the daily student routine, food and meal time, prayer requirements, final examinations, student government and class government, traditions relating
12 letters from DeWitt (VC Ex 1896) to her mother, 3 to both parents, 2 to her brother, 2 to her father, and 3 addressed to the whole family. The letters describe finances, healthcare and the Infirmary, social life and organizations, academics, and religion & bible study. She describes some
1 letter from Nellie G. to Isabel Treadwell Towne. Nellie G. reflects on Towne's absence from Vassar as well as other friends who did not return, expressing her loneliness. Nellie also shares concerns about her own health. She relates news from Vassar, including information about their friends'
1 letter from Hollingworth to her friend Alice M. Howland. The letter begins with a description of dinner at Strong Hall. She resumes with details about the end of the year, including campus preparations and decorations, a Baccalaureate service, Class Day, a burial service, a concert by the Glee
1 letter from Ladd-Franklin to May Harry. Ladd-Franklin describes getting her teeth filled, writing an essay for Commencement Day, and an accident with the gas that almost caused an explosion.
A collection of 85 letters to Mansfield's mother, father and sister Louise. There is great detail about daily life at the college, academics, lectures, sermons, eating "spreads" in dorm rooms with her classmates, clothing, room decorating, and celebration of events, such as Washington's birthday. Of
2 letters, from Mary A. Mineah to her mother, about her spring semesters at Vassar in 1869 and 1870. In the first letter, Mineah describes lectures by Vassar astronomy professor Maria Mitchell, Yale professor Silliman, missionary in Brazil J.L. Fletcher, and Vassar religion professor Farrar. In
221 letters from Julia Pease, mostly to her parents and sister Caroline, concerning her experiences at Vassar between 1870 and 1875. Pease discusses social visits, family news, fashion trends, and academic experience. She describes Christmas festivities and theatricals at Vassar (Cara, Dec 1872) and
8 letters from Mary Pratt to her mother, one dated Nov. 1874 and the remaining seven between April 1877 and May 1880. The 1874 letter recounts making molasses with her classmates at Vassar. Remaining letters describe making chicken costumes for the Philalethean entertainment, the junior class
1 letter, dated 9 Apr 1869, from Ellen (Swallow) Richards to her mother. \nRichards describes finding the "first" spring flowers near Vassar College. She recounts giving flowers to VC Lady Principal Hannah Lyman during Lyman's illness, and to her classmates and instructors. According to Richards, VC
4 letters, dated between Oct 3 1905 and Nov 3 1908, from Ryerson (VC 1909) to her mother and father. Ryerson discusses her experiences at Vassar College. She describes her coursework, her instructors, Mrs. Kendrick [the Lady Principal], and the lectures that she attends. She asks her parents to send
Many letters in this collection are written by Abigail L. Slade or Caroline S. Slade, and noted accordingly; when letters were co-written, this is also specified. For some letters, it is impossible to determine which person wrote the letter, noted by "Slade, Abigail L. or Slade, Caroline S."\n\n18
3 letters from Stephenson to her friend "Sate" concerning her experiences at Vassar between 1884 and 1888. Stephenson details Vassar's election festivities of 1884, during which Republican students held a procession for Blaine, whom they assumed to be victorious, while the Democrat students dressed
VC Spec 1865-1869,1 letter, dated 3 Nov 1867, from an unidentified sender to her sister "Mary." The writer comments on missing her sister, studying, receiving flowers, planning social invitations, and listening to a sermon at Vassar College.
7 letters from Tappan to her mother about her semester at Vassar in the spring of 1874. Tappan discusses visiting arrangements for vacations, fashion trends, and the partiality that Poughkeepsie shopkeepers showed to Vassar customers. She evaluates various preachers and describes several faculty
13 letters from Thompson to her family about her experiences at Vassar from the fall of 1875 to the spring of 1876. Thompson describes her arrival, entrance examinations, the difficulty of having her first name registered in the catalogue, her freshman room, initial homesickness, and Christmas
4 letters from Thompson to her father about her experiences at Vassar from 1873 to 1876. Thompson reports social news and her performance on the entrance examinations, requests more money for school books, and repents accidental overspending on a dress to wear to an acquaintance's wedding.
The Archives & Special Collections Library is part of the Vassar College Libraries system. It holds the rare book, manuscript, and archival collections of the college. It collects, preserves, and makes available rare and unique collections, and also engages in teaching and outreach activities. This collection of finding aids describe items in both the Virginia B. Smith Memorial Manuscript Collection and the College Archives.
The Vassar College herbarium holds over 5,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae. Holdings are primarily from northeastern North America, and include collections made by several notable 19th century botanists. To learn more about this project visit the website here.
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