The Jeannette Clarke Letters, 1929-1933

[Envelope]

History

These letters were written to Jeannette Clarke by her very loving, very effusive mother while Jeannette was a student at the College. Jeannette's mother, Theckla ("Tillie") Klem Clarke, was the librarian at The Tee-Kay Book Shoppe in Binghamton, NY, according to the stationery she used. The earliest letters imply Tillie took over a previous establishment called The Book Exchange, became owner of the shop and renamed the business after herself. The shop appeared to be operating solely as a lending library, not a bookstore, and patrons paid 3¢ a day to borrow a book. Tillie enjoyed going to the movies, and shared her favorite films with her daughter in her letters. These letters were written during the Depression years, and there was occasional mention of unemployment, the volatility of the stock market, and money concerns. Jeannette's father Lyman Clarke is a minor figure in the letters; he wrote a few of the letters, and is mentioned a few times by Jeannette's mother, but mostly he remains in the background. In his 1929 letter, he mentions that work is scarce and he is raising chickens to bring in money.

A few of the letters Jeannette wrote to her mother survive, and are interwoven into this collection. After Jeannette graduates from college in 1931, the letters stop, because Jeannette is living with her mother in Binghamton. There is one letter written to Jeannette in 1933, and addressed to Mount Holyoke; it is likely Jeannette was attending her two-year reunion.

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 around Feb 12, 1929
envelope Postmarked Feb 12, 1929 1pm in Binghamton, NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke College (Box 101), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St., Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Feb 17, 1929
envelope Postmarked Feb 17, 1929 10pm in Binghamton, NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke College (Box 101), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St., Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 7, 1929, to Jeannette from her father
envelope Postmarked Nov 8, 1929 in Binghamton, NY. Addressed to Miss Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke College, with return address for L. D. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY on rear flap.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Nov 24, 1929, from Jeannette to her mother
envelope Postmarked Nov 25[?], 1929 10am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Theckla F. Clarke, 226 Press Annex, Binghamton, NY, with return address of Box 105 Mount Holyoke College on rear flap.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Mar 13, 1930
envelope Postmarked Mar 13, 1930 4:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Binghamton Optical Company crossed out and return address changed to 226 Press Building, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Mar 18, 1930
envelope Postmarked Mar 18, 1930 12:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 1, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 1, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 4, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 4, 1930 4:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 9, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 9, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 14, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 14, 1930 6pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 22, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 22, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 24, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 24, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 29, 1930
envelope Postmarked Apr 29, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 1, 1930
envelope Postmarked May 1, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 6, 1930
envelope Postmarked May 6, 1930 7pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 12, 1930
envelope Postmarked May 12, 1930 6:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 20, 1930
envelope Postmarked May 20, 1930 10:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 24, 1930
envelope Postmarked May 24, 1930 1pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY (partially preprinted).
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on May 29, 1930
envelope Postmarked May 29, 1930 10:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY (partially preprinted).
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jun 7, 1930
envelope Postmarked Jun 7, 1930 6:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 105), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY (partially preprinted).
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 16, 1930
envelope Postmarked Sep 16, 1930 4:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke ("Meade"), with return address for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY on the reverse.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 17, 1930
envelope Postmarked Sep 17, 1930 5:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke ("Meade"), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 226 Press Annex, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Sep 23, 1930
envelope Postmarked Sep 23, 1930 7:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 103), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Dec 1, 1930
envelope Postmarked Dec 1, 1930 7:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 103), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Card Mailed on Dec 13, 1930, from Jeannette to her mother
envelope Postmarked Dec 23, 1930 8:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Mrs. Theckla K. Clarke, 226 Press Annex, Binghamton, NY.
card Inscription on the reverse: "To my darling Muddikins, Jeannette"

A Letter Written on Jan 26, 1931
envelope Postmarked Jan 26, 1931 9:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 103), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jan 29, 1931
envelope Postmarked Jan 29, 1931 1:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 103), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on a Thurs morning in Feb 1931, to Jeannette from her father
envelope Postmarked Feb 1931 in Briarcliffe Manor, NY. Addressed to Miss Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke, with corner card for Briarcliff Lodge, Briarcliff Manor, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter.

A Letter Written on Mar 2, 1931
envelope Postmarked Mar 2, 1931 10:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 103), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Mar 5, 1931
envelope Postmarked Mar 5, 1931 10:00pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jean Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Box 103), with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Apr 9, 1931
No envelope survives. page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jun 11, 1931
envelope Postmarked Jun 12, 1931 7:30pm in Binghamton NY. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke, c/o Mr. Karl Gleason, 402 Mountain Ave, RFD #3, Ridgewood, NY, with corner card for Mrs. T. K. Clarke, 78 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Letter Written on Jun 8, 1933
envelope Postmarked Jun 8, 1933 7:30pm in Binghamton NY. Transit marked Jun 14, 1933 5:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss L. Jeannette Clarke at Mount Holyoke (Class of "1931"), and forwarded to 78 Front St, Binghamton NY, with corner card for T. K. Clarke, 226 Press Annex, Binghamton, NY.
page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.

A Photograph, perhaps of Jeannette
A studio portrait of a young woman

Letters dated 1935-1938