Letters, 1850-1899

History

The earliest letters are still folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper, but now they have stamps on them.

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 Mar 8, 1850: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Mar 9[, 1850] in Allentown, Pa. Addressed to Miss Abby Ford in Morristown, NJ (care of Mr Edwin Ford).; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 18, 1850: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked May 21[, 1850] in Boston. Addressed to Miss Susan Sparrow in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 19, 1850: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. A hidden fold is dated June 19, 1850.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 26, 1850: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Sep 27 [1850] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 24, 1850: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Dec 26 [1850] in Wethersfield, Ct. Addressed to Miss Jane Ayrault at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 22, 1851: envelope Postmarked Feb 24 [1851] in Swanzey NH. Addressed to Mr. Joseph Chandler Barrett in Boston, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 9, 1851: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Apr 11 [1851] in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr. Asa W. Allen in Elsworth Ohio.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 24, 1851: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jun 25 in Millers Place NY. Addressed to Miss Mary A. Marshall.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 6, 1851: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Dec 8 in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written around Dec 17, 1851: envelope Postmarked Dec 17 [1851] in Kingston NY. Addressed to Miss Aurelia Davis at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 23, 1851: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Mary H. Jayne, Long Island.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 4, 1852: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jan 6 in Newark NJ. Addressed to Miss Mary A. Marshall in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 11, 1852: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Bertha Troeger, Bethlehem Seminary, Northampton County, Penn. Postmarked Feb 12 [1852] in South Hadley.; page 1 A typed section of the correspondence. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.; page 2 A handwritten section of the correspondence. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 27, 1852 [estimated]: envelope Dated on the envelope May 28. Addressed to Miss Frances L. Kent at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 16-22, 1852: envelope Postmarked Oct 22 [1852] in Newark NJ. Addressed to Miss Mary C. Ward at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 16, 1852: envelope Postmarked Nov 17, [1852] in South Hadley.; Full contents of the form letter that accompanied the personal letter.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 12, 1853: envelope Postmarked Aug 1 [sic] in South Hadley. (Letter was written on Aug 12) Addressed to Miss Anne P. Brown of Brooklyn, Ct, c/o James Brown Esq.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 24, 1854: page 1 No envelope exists. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 3, 1854: envelope Postmarked Mar 3 [1854] in Ipswich, Mass. Addressed to Miss Anna M. Bronson, Warsaw, NY. Inscription on the cover: "If Miss B. has left W. will her friends forward -"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 26, 1854: page 1 No envelope exists. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 4, 1854: envelope Postmarked Sep 4 and Sep 5 in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 1, 1854: envelope Postmarked Nov 11 [1854] in Bethany, Pa. Addressed to Miss Ruth A. Cartright at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 13, 1854: envelope Postmarked Nov 14 [1854] in Palmyra NY. Addressed to Mrs H. E. Throop in Corning NY, care of C. C. B. Walker.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 9, 1855: page 1 Envelope missing. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 26, 1855: envelope Marked July 21 in Blanchard ME. Addressed to Lizzie B. Croswell at Mount Holyoke.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 18, 1855: envelope Marked Sep 18 in Williamstown, Mass. Addressed to Miss Lizzie Ford, Morristown, NJ.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 13, 1856: page 1 Envelope missing. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 1, 1857: page 1 Envelope missing. Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written in Feb 1858: page 1 Envelope missing. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 26, 1860: envelope Postmarked Mar 27 [1860] in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Julia T. Hyde in Sturbridge, Mass. Corner card for Miss Luvan A. Charles at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 7, 1860: envelope Postmarked Jun 8 [1860] in Gallipolis, OH. Addressed to Miss Mary A. Reeves in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 18, 1860: envelope Postmarked Jul 19 [1860] in Gallipolis, OH. Addressed to Miss M. A. Reeves in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written around Jul 28 [1860?]: envelope Postmarked Jul 28 in Chester, Mass. Addressed to Miss Louise E. Treadwell in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 4, 1861: envelope Postmarked in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
Two Letters Written in Feb-Apr, 1862: envelope Postmarked Apr 10 [1862] in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Sarah G. Clark in Conway, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.; page 1 A second letter, written several months earlier to Sarah's mother, was enclosed in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 14, 1862: envelope Postmarked Mar 15 [1862] in Winthrop, ME. Addressed to Miss Juliet M Stanley in South Hadley. Pencil inscription by dealer: "Sampson Oil Cloth factory / Towle Academy 1862-7"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 18, 1862: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Jul 9, 1863: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 6, [1864?]: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 12, 1865: envelope Postmarked Mar 13, 1865 in South Hadley. [The dealer inscribed "1863" below the postmark, but the postmark is actually 1865.] Addressed to Miss Abbie W Taylor in Hinsdale, Mass., care of Asher Knight [her grandfather].; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 22, 1865: envelope Postmarked Nov 23, 1865 in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr. Charles W. Smead in Greenfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 4, 1866: envelope Postmarked in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr. Charles W. Smead in Greenfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written in Feb 1867: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 15, 1867: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Sep 11, 1867: envelope Postmarked Sep 12 [1867] in Augusta Me. Addressed to Stephen S Lancaster at Amherst College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 27, 1867: envelope Postmarked Dec 1867 in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Mary E Goodrich.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 29, 1868: envelope Postmarked Apr 30 [1868] in Augusta Me. Addressed to Stephen Symonds Lancaster at Amherst College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 22, 1869: envelope Postmarked Apr 24, 1869 in Newport RI. Addressed to Miss Mertie A. Anderson at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned. Three small squares of fabric were enclosed with the letter.
A Letter Written on Dec 31, 1870: envelope Postmarked Jan 1 [1871] in Blooming Grove, NY. Addressed to Miss Sophie C. Giddings at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 3, 1873: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Feb 26, [1873?]: envelope Postmarked Dec 27 [1873?] in North Pomfret, Vt. Addressed to Miss Persis D. Hewitt at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 10, 1874: envelope Postmarked Feb 12 [1874] in South Hadley. A dealer later added a pencil notation of 1876 to the envelope, but the letter inside clearly disputes that.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 21, 1874: envelope Addressed to Miss Martha Cristy at the Seminary. Postmarked Sep 23 [1874] in Council Bluffs, Iowa.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 30, 1875: envelope Postmarked May 1 [1875] in Northborough, Mass. Addressed to Miss Mary E. Wilcox at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 12, 1875: envelope Postmarked May 12, 1875 in North Abington, Mass. Addressed to Miss Lizzie F. Platts at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 18, 1875: envelope Postmarked Jun 18, 1875 in North Abington, Mass. Addressed to Miss Lizzie F. Platts at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 26, 1875: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 8, 1875: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 17, 1876: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 28, 1877: envelope Addressed to Miss Martha Cristy at the Seminary. No postmark; postally used stamps were pasted on the envelope to give the appearance of a letter that had gone through the mail, but it did not.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 18, 1881: envelope Postmarked Jan 20[?], [1881] in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Bessie Brooks.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 23, [1882]: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A List Written on Apr 12, 1883: envelope Postmarked Apr 12, [1883] in Braintree, Mass. Transit marked Apr 12, 1883 11am in Boston on reverse flap. Addressed to Miss Marcia A. Keith in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of list.
A Letter Written on Jul 7, 1884: envelope Postmarked Jul 1884 in Burville, Conn. Addressed to Miss Alice P. Bronson in New Haven, Conn., care of Dr Henry Bronson.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 14, 1885: envelope Postmarked May 14, 1885 in Chaplin, Conn. Addressed to Annie M. Griggs at Mt. Hol. Sem.; page 1 Full contents of letter
A Letter Written on Nov 2, 1885: envelope "From Grandma Blaisdell / E. P. Blaisdell"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 11, 1886: No envelope survives. page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 27, 1886: envelope Postmarked Dec 28 1886 in South Hadley. Addressed to Sarah H. Melvin.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 6, 1887: envelope Postmarked Sep 1887 in South Hadley. Corner card from Mount Holyoke Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 4, 1889: No envelope survives. page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 12, 1889: envelope Postmark damaged. Addressed to Mrs. Ralph Emerson, Rockford, IL. A note on the envelope says "Niece Addie ans -"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 12, 1890: envelope Postmarked in South Hadley. Transit marked Oct 13, 1890 4pm in Holyoke, Mass. and Oct 13, 1890 7pm in Conway, Mass. on the reverse. Addressed to Miss Harriet P. Hallock, "Hill View" in Conway, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 3, 1890: envelope Postmark Dec in South Hadley. Transit marked Dec 4 and 5, 1890 in Springfield, Mass. on the reverse. Addressed to Master Franklin Balch, Topsfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 10, 1892: No envelope survives. page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 19, 1892: envelope Postmarked Oct 27, 1892 7am in South Hadley.; page 1 Written on Mount Holyoke stationery. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 1, 1893: envelope Postmarked Feb 1, 1893 1pm in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 20, 1893: page 1 Written on Mount Holyoke stationery. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 6, 1896: envelope Postmarked Feb 7, 1896 7am in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 23, 1897: envelope Postmarked Feb 24, 1897 7am in South Hadley.; page 1 Written on Mount Holyoke stationery. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 20, 1897: page 1 Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Mar 20, 1899: page 1 Written on Department of Labor/Washington stationery. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Mailed on Mar 29, 1899: envelope Postmarked Mar 29, 1899 in Boston, Mass. Transit marked Mar 29, 1899 in Granville Center, Mass. on reverse flap. Addressed to Mrs Marshall V. Stowe in Granville Centre, Mass., with corner card for Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society, J. H. Tewksbury, Agent, Congregational House, Boston, The Pilgrim Press.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 23, 1899: envelope On stationery from the Registrar's office at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 23, 1899 in Worcester, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter.