Adams, Juliet Amelia. Letter, 1869
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 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.
VC Spec 1866-1867,1 letter, dated 10 Oct 1866, from Anderson (VC spec 1866-1867) to her brother Norton B. Anderson. Anderson promises to write every week and keep a daily journal of her experiences at Vassar College. She describes the geology walks led by Professor Tennyson, provides a comprehensive
3 letters from Arnzen to Caroline and Abigail Slade (all three were VC Special Students from 1865-1866) while the sisters were still home in Fall River, Massachusetts. The letters describe student life in the first few months of the college. Arnzen encourages the sisters to join her at Vasssar
7 letters from Badgley to Kate Flanders, a friend from home in Milwaukee, about her 1866-1867 fall semester at Vassar. She describes entrance examinations, classes, the rooms, food, exercise, and prayer meetings. She also chats about news from home. In one letter (Oct 15) she talks about the
7 letters from Brown to Abigail L. and Caroline E. Slade (both VC Special Students from 1866-1867) at Fall River, Massachusetts. The letters discuss housing, upperclassman recitations, social news, Founder's Day and faculty, including Henry Van Ingen and his wife. Brown details changes to the
1 letter from Camp to her friend Abigail L. Slade (VC Spec 1866-1867) including gossip about their social set, as well as happenings at the college.
1 letter from Chase to her mother. She describes a walk with a teacher and six other girls (all wearing "gymnastics dresses"). She also relates information about her health and discusses possibly bringing a friend home with her over Christmas vacation. She attaches an article in the Eagle by
1 letter from Cornell to her father. She asks for information about a men's college that her father is involved with. She gives a detailed and favorable impression of the morality of Vassar, concluding that most of the students are Christian and become closer to their faith during their time at the
1 letter, from Fales to "dear Aunt Susan." Fales complains about Vassar's strictness, particularly compared to the freedom afforded to students at men's colleges. She gives a detailed account of the faculty and staff at Vassar, including Dr. Raymond and Miss Lyman. She explains how meals are
1 letter from Fales to "dear Aunt Susan." Fales complains about Vassar's strictness, particularly compared to the freedom afforded to students at men's colleges. She gives a detailed account of the faculty and staff at Vassar, including Dr. Raymond and Miss Lyman. She explains how meals are
1 letter from Fogg to "friend Annie." Fogg describes her entrance examinations for Vassar, along with her settling in at the college.
4 letters and a clipping from Foster to her cousin Louisa Burton and to Jennie Elizabeth Clark. The clipping is about the death in battle of Foster's husband Captain Oscar O. Miller on Sep. 2 1864. The letters describe Foster's dedication to her Vassar academic responsibilities and student life
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'
2 letters from Gallup to her parents, in Jun 1867. Gallup sends the tuition bill and considers attending Vassar for a further two years. She reports on social events and her election as Recording Secretary of Chapter Alpha of the Philalethean Society.
3 letters from Holtz to her brother and mother between 1865 and 1866. Holtz wishes her family a happy new year and describes the Christmas festivities at Vassar. Later letters describe her algebra field trip to Rhinebeck, her visit to the home of a trustee, and meeting a well-known missionary. There
VC Spec 1878-1879,1 letter, dated Dec 31 1878, from Moore (VC spec 1878-1879) to her father, John Adams Moore. Moore reports having received her father's two letters and requests family news. She describes a New Year's party given by the assistant lady principal, student visits to their professor
1 letter from Neef to Abbie Farwell (VC 1872). Neef discusses the death of a mutual acquaintance, explains her busy academic schedule, and discusses news from friends and family (particularly regarding cholera).
1 letter from Sawyer to Belle Greene Sawyer. A short letter saying goodbye to Belle, who is going home while Kitty remains at Vassar.
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
VC Spec 1865-1869,1 letter, dated 3 Nov 1867, most likely from Helen "Nellie" W. Stewart 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.
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
Here you will find digitized archival collections, oral histories, and more. We are continually expanding the collections and improving access. You may find additional digital resources that reside outside the digital library here, and a selection of Online Exhibitions here.
Collections Overview
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 8,000 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.
Vassar College's institutional repository reflects the research and scholarly output of the Vassar College community. It provides access to senior theses, peer reviewed open access articles, and projects from a wide range of disciplines.