Vassar College. Special and Preparatory Students

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

Brief daily entries written in 1866 during and after Slade's spring semester at Vassar College. Slade mentions entrance examinations, music lessons, botany expeditions, and compositions. She refers to various faculty members, such as [VC Lady Principal] Miss [Hannah] Lyman, Maria Mitchell, Dr

Brief daily or weekly entries written in 1866 during Slade's spring semester at Vassar College. Slade mentions faculty such as [VC Lady Principal] Miss [Hannah] Lyman, Dr. Raymond, Professor Buckham, Miss Avery, and Professor Tenney. She reports details of VC daily life such as recitations

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.

24 letters from Sylvester to her father, mother, and brother James concerning her experiences at Vassar from 1865-1866. Sylvester references the lectures of President Raymond and other faculty members, the sermons of visiting ministers, meeting Matthew Vassar, and Professor Knapp's resignation. She

1 letter from Taylor to Sue, relationship unknown. She describes her frustration with Miss Lyman, who is immoveable when in opposition to students (unlike more malleable faculty like Dr. Raymond) and will not allow her to drop Latin and take German instead. Miss Lyman also prevents her from walking

1 letter from Teegarden to her cousin Mary A. Starr. She describes her experience staying at Vassar over the Christmas holiday and the daily activities of the students during the break. On Christmas, she writes about attending a service at Christ Church in the City and hosting a Christmas party for

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

1 letter, dated Nov 18 1865, from Thompson (VC Prep 1865-Feb 1866) to Mrs. Boynton, her Bible class teacher and pastor's wife. Thompson writes formally. She details several features of life at Vassar College, such as shopping in Poughkeepsie, President Raymond, the professors, and the college

1 letter from Vincent to her aunt Anne. She lists her courses, praises the Vassar grounds and rowing, and describes the visits she has made in Poughkeepsie. Vincent also describes her impressions of a student from Japan. Vincent implores her relatives to visit her often, reporting that a classmate

1 letter from Washburn to her friend Alvah from Ann Arbor, who is also away at college. Washburn describes the reaction among the Vassar students to the death of their Lady Principal, the strict visionary [Hannah Lyman]. She congratulates Alvah on her 22nd birthday. Washburn discusses popular

49 letters from Williams to her family about her two semesters at Vassar from 1865 to 1866. Williams discusses her enjoyment of her geology and zoology classes with Professor Tenney, for which she collects butterflies and moths from the Vassar grounds (Jun 1866, letter to her mother September 1865)

1 letter from Wood to her Aunt Villa. Wood thanks her aunt and uncle for the shoes, pin, and buttons that they had sent her and promises to visit them during the following week's vacation from classes. She praises the view from her room, describes how easily she has made friends within her two weeks