The Susie Lawson Letters

[Envelope]

History

These letters were written in the fall of 1897 to Susie while she was at college. She writes to several alums and her brothers and sister most frequently.

The Images

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

A Letter Written on Nov 25, 1896 by Robert Lawson, and sent Oct 11, 1897 by brother George Nelson
envelope Postmarked Oct 11, 1897 in Middle Haddam, Conn. Transit marked Oct 11, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College, with corner card for G. N. Lawson, M.D., Middle Haddam, Conn.
page 1 The letter inside is addressed to cousin Newton, and from Robert Lawson. Why George (Newton) sent it on to Susie a year later is a mystery. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 14, 1897, from alumna Gertrude Mekeel
envelope Postmarked Sep 17, 1897 4pm in Yorktown Heights, NY. Transit marked Sep 17, 1897 8pm in NY and Sep 18, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 17, 1897, from alumna Laura Smith
envelope Postmarked Sep 17, 1897 9pm in Montpelier, Vt. Transit marked Sep 18, 1897 7:30am in Holyoke, Mass., and Sep 18, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie Minerva Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 19, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked in Conn. Transit marked Sep 1897 9am in Stafford Springs, Conn. Sep 20, 1897 2:30pm in Holyoke, Mass. and and Sep 20, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 25, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Sep 27, 1897 in Union, Conn. Transit marked [Sep 27], 1897 9am in Stafford Springs, Conn. and Sep 27, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 26, 1897, from alumna Gertrude Mekeel
envelope Postmarked Sep 28, 1897 8am in Yorktown Heights, NY. Transit marked somewhere at 11am and Sep 28, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 26, 1897, from brother George's wife Ida McLean Lawson
page 1 No envelope exists. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 3, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Oct 4, 1897 in Union, Conn. Transit marked Oct 4, 1897 9am in Stafford Springs, Conn. and Oct 4, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 6, 1897, from brother Harvey
envelope Postmarked Oct 6, 1897 6:30pm in New Haven, Conn. Transit marked Oct 7, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter.

A Letter Written on Oct 7, 1897, from alumna Mary Alice Bliss
envelope Postmarked Oct 11, 1897 in Leonard Bridge, Conn. Transit marked Oct 11, 1897 6pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 10, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Oct 10, 1897 in Union, Conn. Transit marked Oct 11, 1897 9am in Stafford Springs, Conn. and Oct 11, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 10, 1897, from brother George's wife Ida McLean Lawson
envelope Postmarked Sep 27, 1897 in Middle Haddam, Conn. Transit marked Sep 27, 1897 in Springfield, Mass. and Sep 28, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College. [I don't know why the letter is dated after the postmark. The handwriting and stationery appear to match the envelope.]
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 10, 1897, from alumna Gertrude Mekeel
envelope Postmarked Oct 11, 1897 9:30pm in NY. Transit marked Oct 12, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Inscription on the reverse: "cat Max." Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Receipt Written on Oct 12, 1897, from Florence Purington
receipt "South Hadley, Mass., Oct. 12 1897 / Received of Mr. Geo. N. Lawson One Hundred Twenty-five Dollars in part payment for Board and Tuition at the Mount Holyoke College the present school year, for Miss Susie Lawson. Florence Purington For Treasurer. $125.00 One dollar for breakage."

A Letter Written on Oct 17, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Oct in Conn. Transit marked Oct 17, 1897 9am in Stafford Springs, Conn. and Oct 18, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 24, 1897, from alumna Gertrude Mekeel
envelope Postmarked Oct 26, 1897 7am in Carmel, NY. Transit marked Oct 2-, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Oct 26, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Oct --, 1897 Woodstock Valley, Conn. Transit marked Nov 1, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Inscription on the reverse: "Nov. 1. 1897." Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Postcard Written on Oct 27, 1897, from brother Harvey
front Postmarked Oct 28, 1897 in New Haven, Conn. and transit marked Oct [?], 1897 in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
back "New Haven, Oct 27, '97 / Dear Sister, Your letter on my table reminds me that I should write to you. I am glad you got home all right. Dedie & I went to the Mt. Holyoke reception but we did not have an opportunity to speak with Mrs. Mead. I spoke for 6 minutes at the Board meeting Friday morning. The next Sunday I spent at Brooklyn, N.Y. where I preached twice in Mr. Wilson's church. Monday I attended the N.Y. minister's meeting and spoke for 8 minutes. I came home with Mr. Roberts from China, having had a very nice time. Last Sunday I spent at Branford 10 miles east where I gave a missionary address in the morning and my illustrated lecture in the evening. Nov. 14th I am to be at Torrington, Ct. George and Ida visited us last week when he came to the medical meeting. We have a guest now, Lilian Barnum, Dedie's friend from Litchfield, Pa. We have been to Savin Rock with her today. It has been a lovely fall day. Mrs. Baldwin is much better than when you were here and [she] sits up some. I am almost as [busy with] my studies as when I was a [freshman.] From your loving brother Harvey."

A Letter Written on Oct 30, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Oct 30, 1897 3pm in Southbridge, Mass. Transit marked Oct 29, 1897 7am in Putnam, Conn. and Oct 29, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Postcard Written on Nov 1, 1897, from brother Harvey
front Postmarked in New Haven, Conn. and transit marked Nov 1[?], 1897 in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
back "92 Park St. New Haven, Ct, Nov. 1. Dear Sister,- Your card came this morning. Philosophy is a good thing to take, but by no means essential. I should take it if I could conveniently arrange to do so, but do not overburden yourself by too many studies. I pity you in your perplexity, but our poor little brains can't hold every thing. I am doing as much work as I have time for in the University, but if I am too busy, I just let something drop. Mrs. Litcher & Rose called Sat. and said Mary was not so well and had been obliged to close school for a week. I think she had not better teach any more, but just devote herself to getting well. Dedie expects to go to New London this week to the Women's Board meeting. I spoke at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday and shall be at Torrington on the 14th. Yours as ever Harvey."

A Postcard Written on Nov 1, 1897, from brother George Nelson
front Postmarked Nov 1, 1897 in Middle Haddam, Conn. and transit marked Nov 2, 1897 8am in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
back "Dear Sister:- If I were in your place I think I should take Philosophy. I have regretted that I did not have such a course in the history of philosophy as that seems to be. However, choose for yourself. I have been reading up lockjaw today. I have a case. I have telegraphed for tetanus antitoxin and hope to receive and use it tonight. Yours with love, G.N L. / M.H. Nov. 1. 1897."

A Letter Written on Nov 1, 1897, from alumna Laura Smith
envelope Postmarked Nov 3, 1897 1pm in Montpelier, Vt. Transit marked Nov 4, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie Minerva Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 4, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Nov 5, 1897 in Woodstock Valley, Conn. Transit marked 1897 7am in Putnam, Conn. and Nov 5, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
page 1 A second letter was enclosed. This one was written on Nov 3 by Amanda Carlsson. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 11, 1897, from Lucy Minerva Booth
envelope Postmarked Nov 13, 1897 2pm in Brimfield, Mass. Transit marked Nov 13, 1897 8pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 11, 1897, from brother George's wife Ida McLean Lawson
envelope Postmarked Nov 11, 1897 in Middle Haddam, Conn. Transit marked Nov 11, 1897 6:30pm in Springfield, Mass. and Nov 12, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 12, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Nov 1897 in Union, Conn. Transit marked Nov 1897 8am in Stafford Springs, Conn. and Nov 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 14, 1897, from alumna Gertrude Mekeel
envelope Postmarked Nov 15, 1897 8am in Carmel, NY. Transit marked Nov 15, 1897 11am in NY, and Nov 16, 1897 9am in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 16, 1897, from sister Mary
envelope Postmarked Nov 17, 1897 in Woodstock Valley, Conn. Transit marked Nov 17, 1897 7am in Putnam, Conn. and Nov 17, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 21, 1897, from brother George Nelson
envelope Postmarked Nov 22, 1897 in Middle Haddam, Conn. Transit marked Nov 22, 1897 5pm in South Hadley on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Postcard Written on Nov 23, 1897, from brother Harvey
front Postmarked Nov 23, 1897 12:30pm in New Haven, Conn. and transit marked Nov -- 1897 in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Susie M. Lawson at Mount Holyoke College.
back "New Haven, Nov 23, '97 / [Dear] Susie, - I gave away my extra copy of Mott's book to the Y.M.C.A. here. But I can lend you mine for awhile if you wish. Please let me know. Do you go home this week? I hope you will, to see how Mary is. I wish I could spend Thursday there. They have just sent us some apples and vegetables, so I guess we won't starve on Thanksgiving day. I have been reading in the papers about the missing Mt. Holyoke girl. It seems very strange. Has anything been found out about her yet? It seems like winter this morning for the ground has a light covering of snow. When Evangeline looked out and saw it she said "Oh-!" Last Sat. was an exciting day here on account of the great Yale-Princeton football game, in which Yale won a glorious and unexpected victory. Yours as ever Harvey"