The Bliss Letters
History
This small collection of letters is from two sisters who attended MHC in the late 1890s, Seraph Annie Bliss 1895 and Mary Alice Bliss x1897. Many of the letters are addressed to Mrs. D. J. Bliss, their mother, who is also a Mount Holyoke graduate (Seraph A Bemis 1861).
The Images
All letters have at least their first page or a portion of the first page scanned, and comments about their contents are included below.
- A Letter written on Nov 24, 1888, from Seraph to brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked Nov 26, 1888 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Nov 30, 1888, from Seraph to Mary Alice
- envelope Addressed to Miss Mary Alice Bliss. Postmarked Dec 1, 1888 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Receipt written on Jan 19, 1892, from Florence Purington to Daniel J. Bliss
- front "Received of Daniel J. Bliss One hundred Dollars in full payment for board and tuition at the Mount Holyoke Seminary the present School year, for Miss Mary Alice Bliss" Signed by Florence Purington.
- A Letter written on Jun 5, 1892, from brother Charles to Mary Alice
- envelope Addressed to Miss M. Alice Bliss at Mount Holyoke. Postmarked Jun 6, 1892 9am in New Haven.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Apr 25, 1893, from mother Seraph Bemis to son Charles
- envelope Postmarked Apr 25, 1893 in Leonard Bridge, Conn. Addressed to Mr. Chas. B. Bliss, 22 Whalley Ave, New Haven, Conn.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on May 16, 1893, from Seraph to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on May 23, 1893, from Seraph to her parents [?]
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- An Undated Letter written in January, from Mary Alice to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. Rev. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked January in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- An Undated Letter written on Sunday, from Mary Alice to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
- An Undated Letter written on Monday, from Mary Alice to brother Charles
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on May 29, 1894, from Mary Alice to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked May 30, 1894 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Dec 4, 1894, from Mary Alice to brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked Dec 5, 1894 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- Two Letters written on May 24, 1895, from Mary Alice and Seraph Bemis to their parents
- envelope Addressed to Rev. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked May 25, 1895 7am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- page 1 A second letter is enclosed. Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- Two Letters written on May 30-31, 1895, from parents to Mary Alice Bliss
- envelope Addressed to Miss Mary A. Bliss at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked May 31, 1895 5pm in Leonard Bridge, Conn.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- page 1 A second letter is enclosed. Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- Two Letters written on Jun 17, 1895 [?], from Mary Alice and Seraph Bemis to Charles Bliss
- envelope Addressed to Rev. D. J. Bliss in New York City. Postmarked Oct 18, 1895 5pm in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- page 1 A second letter is enclosed. Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Sep 20, 1895, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Miss Mary Alice Bliss. Postmarked Sep 20, 1895 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Nov 4, 1895, from Seraph to her brother [Charles?]
- envelope Postmarked Nov 4, 1895 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Nov 18, 1895, from mother and Mary Alice to Seraph
- envelope Postmarked Nov 18, 1895 in Leonard Bridge, Conn. Addressed to Miss Seraph A. Bliss at Mount Holyoke College.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- page 1 A second letter is enclosed. Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Feb 21, 1896, from Seraph to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jun 2, 1896, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Jun 2, 1896 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jun 4, 1896, from Seraph to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jan 26, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jan 19, 1897, from Aunt Elisa to Charles
- envelope Addressed to Mr. Charles B. Bliss in New York City. Postmarked Jan 23, 1897 12noon in Warren, Mass.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jan 29, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Miss M. Alice Bliss. Postmarked Jan 29, 1897 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Feb 3, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked Feb 3, 1897 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Feb 12, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. Rev. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked Feb 13, 1897 10am in South Hadley. Penciled note on envelope: "Fixed teeth / braid black / corn starch / over sleeves [?]"
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 2, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Mar 3, 1897 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 4, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Mar 5, 1897 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 15, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked Mar 16, 1897 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Oct 4, 1897, from Seraph to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Oct 26, 1897, from Seraph to her brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked Oct 26, 1897 in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Nov 2, 1897, from Seraph to her brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked Nov 3, 1897 7am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Feb 14, 1898, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked Feb 15, 1898 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Oct 20, 1898, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Feb 21, 1898 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Dec 15, 1898, from Seraph to her parents
- page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Feb 12, 1899, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Feb 13, 1899 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Oct 16, 1899, from Seraph to her brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked Oct 16, 1899 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Oct 23, 1899, from Seraph to her brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked Oct 24, 1899 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jan 31, 1900, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Miss M. Alice Bliss. Postmarked Feb 1, 1900 10am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 9, 1900, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Mar 10, 1900 7am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 20, 1900, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Postmarked Mar 20, 1900 5pm in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 26, 1900, from Seraph to her parents
- envelope Addressed to Mrs. D. J. Bliss. Postmarked Mar 27, 1900 12midnight in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Mar 30, 1900, from Charles to his parents
- envelope Postmarked Apr, 1900 in Chevy Chase MD. Addressed to Miss Seraph A. Bliss.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Apr 7, 1900, from Mount Holyoke professor Marcia Keith to Seraph
- envelope Postmarked Apr 9, 1900 9am in Braintree Mass. Addressed to Miss S. A. Bliss.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on May 2, 1900, from Seraph to her brother Charles
- envelope Postmarked May 3, 1900 7am in South Hadley.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.
- A Letter written on Jun 13, 1900, from Charles to his sister Seraph
- envelope Postmarked Jun 13, 1900 7am in Chevy Chase MD. Return address from Elmer Gates Laboratory of Psychology and Psychurgy, Chevy Chase MD. Addressed to Miss Seraph A. Bliss at Mount Holyoke.
- page 1 Full contents of letter, though only first page is scanned.