The Maja Geiges Letters

History

These letters written by Maja Geiges to Abby Howe Turner. Fritz Geiges, a glass painter and historian, had a daughter named Maja, but the writer of these letters is Fritz's wife, not his daughter. The writer of these letters speaks of her daughter Maja, and her husband's glass art. If Wikipedia is correct, the letter writer's maiden name was Maria Theresia Carlsson, and she was about Abby's age. I imagine they met through university connections. Abby appears to have visited Germany before, and is preparing to visit in 1932 to stay with Maja. After 1932, it appears their letters were written in December as holiday greetings and summary of the year's events. In 1935, Maja writes about the death of her husband and her plans to turn their home into a museum of his work.

The Images

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

A Letter Written on Sep 27, 1931: envelope Addressed to Professor Abby H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Stamp torn away.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 1, 1931: envelope Addressed to Professor Abby H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked in Freiburg, Germany. Stamp torn away.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 30, 1931: envelope Addressed to Prof. Miss A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 13, 1931 in Freiburg, Germany. Return address on back flap [68 Talstrasse, Freiburg].; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Postcard Written around Apr 5, 1932: front Zastler Tal (Bad. Schw.); back Postmarked Apr 5, 1932 in Freiburg. Addressed to Miss Abby H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Inscription: "My dearest Miss Turner! I am just invited to my sister in Napoli and I wish to tell you again how I liked your books, spec. that from Cather. It is a strange fine book. We had all Grippe this year, but now it is well again. Maja is getting better so that we may hope she will be quite well again. How are you my dear Miss Turner?? My thoughts are often with you, you can feel them. it will be so nice to rest a short time for me my husband writes on the 2 part. My sister meets me at the ital. front and takes me to several little towns much love to you from ever yours M. Geiges"
A Letter Written on May 23, 1932: envelope Addressed to Prof. Miss A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked May 23 in Naples, Italy. Stamp torn away. Return address on back flap [68 Talstrasse, Freiburg].; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 8, 1933: envelope Addressed to Professor Miss A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College, and forwarded to the Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Mass. Postmarked Aug 8, 1933 in Freiburg, Germany, and Aug 19, 1933 7am in South Hadley. Return address on back flap [68 Talstrasse, Freiburg].; page 1 Written in German. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 15, 1935: envelope Addressed to Prof. Miss Abby Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 14, 1935 in Freiburg, Germany. Envelope is traced in black, which was common practice for a letter reporting a recent death.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Postcard Written on Dec 31, 1935: front St George, patron saint of Freiburg; this is one of Fritz Geiges' art.; back Postmarked in Freiburg. Addressed to Professor A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Inscription: "31.12.35 My dear Friend. May the new year be as good as I of all my heart wishes you. And may you be quite well to be able to work farther on as till now. I thank you so very very much for your great kindness to give me the wonderful George. May agin [sic] an other Year. It is so sweet of you, because it has been an everlasting pleasure the whole year for me & my friends. Thank you dear friend! I hope you have got my letter for Xmas? Ever yours Maja Geiges"
A Letter Written on Dec 17, 1937: envelope Addressed to Prof. Miss Abby Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked in Freiburg, Germany.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 17, 1938: envelope Addressed to Professor Miss Abby Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 17, 1938 in Freiburg, Germany.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.
An Undated Letter, circa 1950: envelope Addressed to Professor Miss Abby Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Stamp and date torn away, but enough of the postmark remains to date this to a style used in 1950-1952. Return address on back flap [68 Talstrasse, Freiburg].; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page of the letter is scanned.