The Dora Kasson Letters

[Envelope]

History

These letters were written to Dora Kasson by family and friends while she was a student at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. They give a glimpse of Seminary life, and close ties with cousins. The Hills are related to Dora through Dora's father. Dora's father George M. Kasson had a sister Susan Margaret Kasson, who married Rollin B. Hill. Their son Harvey Elbridge Hill was one of Dora's correspondents. Rollin's brother Gilman had a daughter Sophia who I believe is the Seminary student who corresponded with Dora. The Steeles are related through Dora's grandmother. George Kasson's mother Lucy Steele had a brother William Steele who lived in East Bloomfield NY and had a daughter Eliza. I was not able to identify how O. E. Steele or Martha Steele connect to the family tree.

The Images

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

A Letter Written on Jan 7, 1855, to Dora from cousin O. E. Steele
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah Kasson in Bethlehem, Conn. Postmarked Jan 9, 1855 in Canandaigua, NY. Envelope damaged. Inscription on the envelope: "Ans. June 12"
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Feb 1, 1855, to Dora from cousin Eliza Steele
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah Kasson in Bethlehem, Conn. Postmarked Feb 1, 1855 in East Bloomfield, NY. Inscription on the envelope: "Ans. March 20 1855. Eliza Steele."
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Feb 6, 1855, to Dora from Seminary student and cousin Sophia Hill
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah M. Kasson in Bethlehem, Conn. Postmark faint. Inscription on the envelope: "Sophia J. Hill. 1855."
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Dec 11, 1855, to Dora from Seminary student and cousin Sophia Hill
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah Kasson at Mount Holyoke Seminary. Postmarked blurred, stamp missing.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Dec 22, 1855, to Dora from Seminary student and cousin Sophia Hill
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah Kasson at Mount Holyoke Seminary. Postmarked Dec 24 in Waterbury Conn.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Mar 7, 1856, to Dora from friend Carrie
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah M. Kasson at Mount Holyoke Fem. Seminary. Postmarked Mar 8 [1856] in New Milford Ct.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jul 24, 1856, to Dora from Seminary friend and cousin Sophia Hill
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah Kasson at Mount Holyoke Seminary. Postmarked Jul [...] in Middlebury Conn.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Dec 19, 1856, to Dora from cousin Harvey Hill
envelope Addressed to Miss Deborah M. Kasson in South Hadley. Postmarked in Michigan.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jan 9, 1857, to Dora from Seminary friends Annie and Eleanor
envelope Addressed to Miss Dora M. Kasson in Bethlehem, Conn. Postmarked J... 1857 in South Hadley.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jan --, 1857, to Dora from Seminary friend Annie Grassie
No envelope survives. page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 6, 1857, to Dora from Seminary friend Kate Clark
envelope Addressed to Miss Dora Kasson in Bethlehem, Conn. Postmarked Apr 6, 1857 in New Haven Conn. Stamp missing.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 21, 1857, to Dora from Lucia
envelope Addressed to Miss Dora Kasson at MHFS in South Hadley. Postmarked May 2-, 1857 in Auburn NY. Stamp missing.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jul 26, 1857, to Dora from cousin Martha Steele
envelope Addressed to Miss Dora Kasson at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Postmarked Jul 29, 1857 in East Bloomfield NY. Inscription on the envelope: "Martha Steele August 1857 Cousin [August 1857.]"
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jul 28, 1857, to Dora from cousin Eliza Steele
page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Aug 28, 1857, to Dora from friend Clara
envelope Addressed to Miss Dora Kasson in Bethlehem, Conn. Postmarked in Monson Mass. Stamp missing.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jan 12, 1860, to Dora from friend Clara
envelope Addressed to Miss Dora Kasson at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Postmarked Jan 12 [1860] in Norton, Mass.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.