The Elizabeth Bailey Letters, 1958

History

These letters were written from Elizabeth ("Liz") Bailey to her parents in Syracuse NY. Liz still enjoys skiing, and is also very interested in rock climbing this year. It is her final semester at Mount Holyoke, and she is seeking a job as an English teacher to begin after she graduates. The final letter listed here is undated, but appears to be written shortly after the other letters and postcards written in May.

The Images

All documents have at least a portion of the first page scanned, and comments about their contents are included below.

A Postal Card Written on Jan 7, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs A. E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Jan 8, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "Tues. / Dear Mom & Dad, Arrived here about 2. Trip wasn't bad. Left the skiis [sic] in Holyoke. Looked for my statement of my Red Cross earnings, etc. but couldn't find it here. It's not very nice to get back! No snow & the place looks terribly drab but only 2 weeks of classes & then exams. 3 weeks from today I'm through exams. What's Aunt Hat's address? Love, Liz"

A Postcard Written on Jan 23, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front North Campus with Physics Building

back Addressed to Mr and Mrs A. E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Jan 24, 1958 12pm in South Hadley. "Thurs. / Hi - I've invited Charlie to dinner Tues. night - O.K.? I expect to get in around dinner time. First exam was today. Music - & it was a good one & not hard. Love, Liz"

A Postal Card Written on Feb 5, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs A. E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Feb 5, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "Wed. / Dear Mom, Would you please send up my German grammar - a think greenish book by Erika Meyer, and the red & yellow German dictionary? I'm auditing Int. German. Other courses about the same except American History - a seminar & should prove interesting. Love, Liz"

A Postal Card Written on Feb 10, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Feb 10, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "Monday A.M. / Dear Mom & Dad, Skiing at Stowe this weekend was nicer than any I've seen before. Beautiful light powder snow, zero most of the weekend [so there were no lift lines] and a tremendous ski area with 2 chair lifts, 3 T-bars & a couple of rope tows. Awfully hard to come back. Managed to break my glasses-frames. Will see what I can find here[.] Love, Liz"

A Letter Written on Mar 2, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

envelope Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY, with corner card for Mount Holyoke News crossed out and Liz's return address (South Mandelle) inscribed in its place. Postmarked Mar 3, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.

A Postcard Written around March 11, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Skiers on a snowy slope

back Addressed to Mr and Mrs A. E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Mar 11, 1958 2:30pm in Brattleboro, Vt. "Dear Mom & Dad, Not as many people as in picture & we're not skiing on slopes like this. Beautiful warm day & I'm really sunburned! Couldn't be nicer & my skiing is improving by leaps & bounds. Love, Liz"

A Letter Written on Mar 12, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

envelope Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY, with corner card for Mount Holyoke News crossed out and Liz's return address (South Mandelle) inscribed in its place. Stamp missing. Postmarked Mar 12, 1958 5pm in South Hadley.

page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Mar 13, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

envelope Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY, with corner card for Mount Holyoke News amended with Liz's return address (South Mandelle). Postmarked Mar 13, 1958 5pm in South Hadley.

page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Mar 24, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

envelope Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY, with corner card for Mount Holyoke News amended with Liz's return address (South Mandelle). Postmarked Mar 25, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Postcard Written on Mar 28, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Mt Katahdin from York's Camps, Daicey Pond

back Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Mar 29, 1958 10:30am in Millinocket, Me. "Friday / Dear Mom & Dad, About to leave the civilized world for a few days. Spent last night in Boston & drove up here today. Tomorrow we pack in to Chimney Pond. We saw the mountain from the distance - Just like the picture only white. See you by the 3rd - evening. L."

A Postcard Written on Mar 30, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Hillman Highway on Boott Spur, White Mountains, New Hampshire

back Addressed to Mr and Mrs A. E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Mar 31, 1958 2pm in Gorham, NH. "Sunday / Climbed Katahdin yesterday - spent only a day at it so drove here today[.] Tonight in the Ravine, climb tomorrow, then Boston. Love, Liz"

A Postal Card Written on Apr 9, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Apr 9, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "Wednesday / Hi! Catastrophe averted. Man in snack bar cashed my check, following which, I found my wallet. Arrived, S. Hadley around 5:30 after nice drive. Berkshire trail was really a pretty drive. Nothing from the West so I wired Kents Hill I would be there Friday. Nothing lost by taking a look at the place. That commits me to nothing. 'T was a very pleasant few days in Syracuse. Love, Liz [chess game drawing] center of board, your side. N'est pas?"

A Postal Card Written on Apr 22, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked Apr 22, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "4/22/58 / Yo-ho! Sorry I haven't written. Been a rather busy few weeks. Wound up the skiing season in great style at Stowe and Smuggler's Notch this weekend. Very few people, 90 temp. and lots of sun. Great. Have heard nothing new from schools so got [sic] of letters this A.M. inquiring what the story was. Miss Voorhees said, in light of Maine offer, I should do this this [sic] & not keep them on the hook too long. Not much time left. This final stretch is a rat race but you can see the end, at least. The big obstacle looming between us and June 1 is, of course, major comprehensive exams. They come May 20 & 21 - less than a month away. Don't know if it'll help but I wrote T.B. & tole [sic] him what I thought of his showing. Love, Liz"

A Letter Written on May 2, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

envelope Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY, with Liz's return address (South Mandelle) in the top left corner. Postmarked May 2, 1958 9:30pm in Cambridge, Mass. Interesting cancel: 'Effective July 1, 1959 minimum size for envelopes 2-3/4"x4"'

page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.

A Postal Card Written around May 5, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs A. E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked May 6, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "No news from Denver yet so guess I'll wait before coming home. Weekend in Cambridge was really good - studied some & unlaxed [sic] - got lots of sleep. Came back really refreshed & ready to dive in. Love, Liz"

A Postal Card Written on May 7, 1958, from Elizabeth to her parents

front Addressed to Mr and Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked May 8, 1958 12pm in South Hadley.

back "[nothing new on jobs] Wed. / Classes ended today. Strange to be through them. Would you do me a favor & find out when S.U. summer school begins? I have a chance to climb in the "Gunks" the 2nd week in June with Ira & would love to if it can be arranged. Also - did you ever deposit the money for my ski-bindings in the bank? I never heard so haven't added it in. I'm ahead of schedule as am already studying majors work. Let me know about s-school as soon as possible. Love, Liz"

A Postal Card Written on May 9, 1958, from Elizabeth to her mother

front Addressed to Mrs Alan E. Bailey, 107 Columbia Ave, Syracuse 7 NY. Postmarked May 9, 1958 5pm in South Hadley.

back "Friday / Dear Mom, What with this chess game, these postcards seem to be turning into a daily routine. I keep thinking of things I'd forgotten on the last that can't wait too long. This time - Marybet's wedding is May 17. Of course I can't make it & have replied in proper form. But - could you pick up some suitable wedding gift & get it to her? Don't look for a bargain - she's an old friend & put it on the bill. By the way, have you gotten any sort of commencement fee bill from here? L."

A Undated Letter, from Elizabeth to her parents

page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.