The Margaret Ball Letters

History

These letters were written to Margaret Ball 1900. The letter written on Aug 20, 1940 came to me around 2006, and the others came to me as a group years later. The letters in the fall of 1918 mention the flu pandemic. Margaret's mother Helen and Helen's sister Harriet were also Mount Holyoke alums. Margaret had two brothers, Allan and Walter, who are occasionally mentioned in the family letters. Allan's wife Vergie is also mentioned in several letters.

Margaret's correspondent Laura is not fully identified in any of these letters, but she was identified by noting that she was teaching at Wellesley College in 1918-1919. A perusal of the college bulletin from that year yielded several instructors named Laura, but Laura Alandis Hibbard was the only one that also had a Mount Holyoke connection. Both she and Margaret taught at Mount Holyoke in the English department in the decade preceding this correspondence.

Laura's letter on Sept 11, 1919 mentions the riots happening in Boston due to the police strike two days earlier.

The Images

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

A Letter written Dec 23, 1915, to Samuel Augustus Allen from Margaret's father Albert Horton Ball: envelope Postmarked Dec 24, 1915 10am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Mr. S. A. Allen in Westfield, Mass. A pencil notation in the return address corner: "A. H. Ball"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
Two Letters written on Apr 10 and 17, 1918, to Margaret from Helen Griffith: envelope Postmarked Apr 11, 1918 7pm [the 7 is upside down] in Ann Arbor, Mich, with return address 313 1/2 South 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, Mich. on reverse flap. Inscription on reverse in pencil: "Prose Style" Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.; page 1 Two letters in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Aug 23, 1918, to Margaret from Harriet Lee: envelope Postmarked Aug 23, 1918 in Evanston, Ill. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Westfield, Mass., with return address of 1110 Church St., Evanston, Ill. Inscription on the front: "September 1918 to September 1919"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written around Sep 21, 1918, to Margaret from Mathilda Wallin: envelope Postmarked Sep 21, 1918 11am in Hartsdale, NY. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Montgomery Rd, Westfield, Mass. and forwarded to South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Sep 3, 1918, to Margaret from aunt Sarah Ball Phillips: envelope Postmarked Sep 4, 1918 8am in Shrewsbury, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Sep 24, 1918, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Sep 25, 1918 am in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 2, 1918, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Oct 3, 1918 2pm in Pittsfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 6, 1918, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Oct 6, 1918 6pm in Pittsfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 8, 1918, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Oct 8, 1918 9:30pm in Pittsfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 8, 1918, to Margaret from Flora: envelope Postmarked Oct 8[?], 1918 12:30pm in New York, NY. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 19, 1918, to Margaret from aunt Harriet Savage: envelope Postmarked Oct 19, 1918 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Prof. Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College. Pencil inscription: "from Harriet E. Savage - aunt"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 19, 1918, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Oct 21, 1918 7pm in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 1, 1918, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Nov 1, 1918 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, South Hadley, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 16, 1918, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Nov 18, 1918 10am in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Dec 12, 1918, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Dec 12, 1918 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, South Hadley, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Dec 22-24, 1918, to Margaret from aunt Sarah Ball Phillips: envelope Postmarked Dec 24, 1918 12noon in Shrewsbury, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 3, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Jan 4, 1919 8am in Brookline, Mass.. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 12, 1919, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Jan 13, 1919 4pm in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 15, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Jan 16, 1919 8am in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Feb 6, 1919[?], to Margaret from aunt Sarah Ball Phillips: envelope Postmarked Feb 7, [1919?] in Shrewsbury, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College. Pencil inscription on front: "from Mrs. Sharah Ball Phillips"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
Two Letters written on Feb 6-9, 1919, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage and aunt Harriet Savage: envelope Postmarked Feb 9, 1919 5pm in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, South Hadley, Mass. (College).; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.; page 1 Two letters in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Feb 16, 1919, to Margaret from Bertha [Putnam?]: envelope Postmarked Feb 16, 1919 10pm in Cambridge, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College. Pencil inscription on front: "from Bertha Putnam?"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Feb 27, 1919, to Margaret from Anita Vale: envelope Postmarked Feb 27, 1919 8:30pm in New York, NY. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, 544 West 157th St, New York, NY. Pencil inscription on front: "from Anita Valle (?)" Pencil inscription on back: "Miss Johnson / Literature on schools / Grade or high school? / Miss Meyers / Facts about summer schools in Hubbard [...]itions Teall ... Miss Smith / white analysis school question"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Mar 3, 1919, to Margaret from Beth Gilchrist: envelope Postmarked Mar 4, 1919 12:30pm in Rutland, Vt. Addressed to Prof. Margaret E. Ball at Mount Holyoke College. Pencil inscription on front: "from Beth Gilchrist" Pencil inscription on back: "April 14"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written around Mar 4, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Mar 4, 1919 8am in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Mar 28, 1919 [?], to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Mar 28, 1919 [?] 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, c/o Miss E. B. Shepard, Ransom Road, Brookline, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Apr 28-30, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Apr 30, 1919 4:30pm in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only one page of the letter is scanned.
Two Letters written in May, 1919, to Margaret from her mother Helen Savage and aunt Harriet Savage: envelope Postmarked May, 1919 10am in Westfield [?], Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.; page 1 A second letter in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jun 5, 1919, to Margaret from Frances Close: envelope Postmarked 7pm in Croton Falls, NY, and Jun 8, 1919 430pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College (Faculty House), and forwarded to Montgomery Rd, Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jun 11, 1919, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Jun 12, 1919 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, 544 West 157th St, New York City.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
Two Letters written on Jun 12, 1919, to Margaret from aunt Harriet Savage: envelope Postmarked Jun 13, 1919 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, 544 West 157th St, New York City.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.; page 1 A second letter in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jun 25, 1919, to Margaret from Martha Cramer: envelope Postmarked Jun 26, 1919 10am in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, 544 West 157th St, New York City.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jul 1, 1919, to Margaret from aunt Sarah Ball Phillips: envelope Postmarked Jul 1, 1919 12noon in Shrewsbury, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Barnard College, and forwarded to Allan Ball in New York City.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jul 23, 1919, to Margaret from Lucy Lester: envelope Postmarked Aug 8, 1919 1am in Grand Central Station, New York, NY, and Aug 9, 1919 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College, and forwarded to Montgomery Road, Westfield, Mass. A notation in blue pencil, perhaps from the post office: "September 1919 to August 1920" Corner card for L. Lester, 12 rue d'Aguesseau, Paris.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Sep 11, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Sep 12, 1919 12:30am in Boston, Mass. (Back Bay Station) Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Montgomery Road, Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Sep 21, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Sep 21, 1919 8pm in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Sep 21, 1919, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Sep 21, 1919 5pm in Newburyport, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 19, 1919, to Margaret from aunt Sarah Ball Phillips: envelope Postmarked Oct 20, 1919 8am in Shrewsbury, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Oct 28, 1919, to Margaret from Estelle Potter Harrison: envelope Postmarked Oct 28, 1919 pm in Hawleyville, Conn. Addressed to Miss Margaret E. Ball in South Hadley (College).; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 2, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Nov 2, 1919 8pm in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 4, 1919, to Margaret from her mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Nov 4, 1919 4pm in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, City Hospital, Holyoke, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 6, 1919, to Margaret from Nell: envelope Postmarked Nov 6, 1919 5:30pm in South Hadley Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, The City Hospital, Holyoke, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 7, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Nov 7, 1919 8pm in Wellesley, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Holyoke City Hospital, Holyoke, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
Two Letters written on Nov 8 and 14, 1919, to Margaret from her mother Helen Savage and aunt Harriet Savage: envelope Postmarked Nov 14, 1919 12:30pm in Providence, RI. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.; page 1 A second letter written six days earlier was in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 9, 1919, to Margaret from Emily Blanchard Shepard: envelope Postmarked Nov 10, 1919 12noon in Brookline, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, City Hospital, Holyoke, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 10, 1919, to Margaret from Emma Marshall Denkinger: envelope Postmarked Nov 10, 1919 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, The Holyoke Hospital, Holyoke, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 11, 1919, to Margaret from Mathilda Wallin: envelope Postmarked Nov 11, 1919 6:30pm in Grand Central Station, New York, NY. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College, with return address for 616 Madison Ave printed on the envelope.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 13, 1919, to Margaret from Estelle Potter Harrison: envelope Postmarked Nov 13, 1919 3:30pm in Putnam, Conn. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Holyoke Hospital, Holyoke, Mass. with corner card for State Mutual Building in Worcester, Mass. crossed out.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 14, 1919, to Margaret from aunt Sarah Ball Phillips: envelope Postmarked Nov 14, 1919 12noon in Shrewsbury, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 18, 1919, to Margaret from cousin Katharine Fullerton Gerould: envelope Postmarked Nov 18, 1919 3pm in Bryn Mawr, Pa. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Nov 23, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Nov 24, 1919 8am in Wellesley, Mass. and Nov 26, 1919 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College (Everett House), and forwarded to Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Dec 20, 1919, to Margaret from Laura Alandis Hibbard: envelope Postmarked Dec 24, 1919 4:30am in Chicago, Ill. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball, Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
An Undated Letter, to Margaret from Avalita Howe: envelope Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 7, 1920, to Margaret from mother Helen Veith Rigby Dall: envelope Postmarked Jan 7, 1920 10pm in Chicago, Ill. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College, with return address for Mrs. A. Dall, 253 N Washtenaw Ave, Chicago, Ill.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 15, 1920, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Jan 15, 1920 9:30pm in Station M, New York City. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 22, 1920, to Margaret from aunt Harriet Savage: envelope Postmarked Jan 22, 1920 7pm in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley (College).; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 24, 1920, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Jan 25, 1920 4pm in New York City. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Feb 1, 1920, to Margaret from brother Walter Savage Ball: envelope Postmarked Feb [3?], 1920 10:30pm in Providence, RI. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Feb 22, 1920, to Margaret from cousin Katharine Fullerton Gerould: envelope Postmarked Feb 23, 1920 8am in Princeton, NJ. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Feb 29, 1920, to Margaret from mother Helen Savage: envelope Postmarked Mar 1, 1920 11am in Westfield, Mass. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
Two Letters written on Mar 5 and 7, 1920, to Margaret from brother Walter Savage Ball: envelope Postmarked Mar 7, 1920 11:30pm in Providence, RI. Addressed to Miss Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.; page 1 A second letter in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Apr 13, 1926, to Ethel Allen from sister Vergie Allen Ball: envelope Postmarked Apr 13, 1926 11am in Mount Vernon, NY. Addressed to Miss Ethel S. Allen, 26 Day Ave, Westfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Aug 20, 1940, to Margaret from Roswell Ham: envelope Postmarked Aug 20, 1940 12midnight in South Hadley. On Mount Holyoke College stationery. Addressed to Prof. Margaret Ball at Mount Holyoke College. Pencil inscription: "Mr. Ham, about filling Mr. Cramer's place."; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only a portion of the first page of the letter is scanned.