Mary Avery correspondence, 1879-1881

Summary

Creator:

Avery, Susan

Abstract:

The Mary Avery correspondence consists of 28 letters written by Mary Avery, primarily to her mother, Susan C. Avery, from 1879-1881. In her letters, Mary described her academic and social life while attending Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

Extent:

28 items

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Meg Hixon, October 2011

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection contains 28 letters written by Mary Avery, primarily to her mother, Susan C. Avery, from 1879-1881. Mary described her daily life at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, mainly regarding her social engagements. However, in her letter of November 15, 1880, she discussed her charitable efforts for a school for African Americans in South Carolina, and mentioned her donation toward a scholarship for a potential student. She also mentioned aspects of her recovery from an outbreak of measles that had spread throughout the school, and told of her need for a pair of dark colored glasses (February 22, 1881). Her letters revealed much about her family's life, as well; for example, her father, a clergyman, was temporarily unemployed and her mother suffered from a medical ailment that was causing her vision to decline.

Biographical / Historical:

Mary Angelyn Champion Avery was born in Connecticut on November 15, 1861. Her father, John Avery, was a Congregational minister for several congregations in Connecticut. Mary attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts, during the early 1880s, and graduated in 1884. She later became a teacher.

Acquisition Information:

1998. M-3492.4 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Bibliography

Avery, Elroy M. The Groton Avery Clan. Higginson Book Company, 1998.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Women--Education--United States--History--19th century.

Formats:

Letters (correspondence)

Names:

Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.
Avery, Mary, b. 1861.