The Ruth Merrick Letters

History

These letters were written by Ruth Merrick 1922. Back in 1998, when I was new to eBay, I missed being able to win the bulk of Ruth's letters, but over the years a few have trickled in from various stamp dealers. Her letters to her mother (Mary George (Seavey) Merrick) and brothers, are full of humor and stories of campus life. Ruth's brothers Charles Llewellyn Merrick and (James) Harold Merrick were at Amherst College and she had frequent contact with them; another brother, Stuart Hallowell Merrick, was at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. Two younger brothers, Richard Odell Merrick and Theodore Parker Merrick, were still living in Wilbraham, Mass. and are mentioned less frequently. I haven't deciphered why her father, Charles Stuart Merrick, is never mentioned; according to genealogical resources online, he didn't die until 1934. Ruth's roommates Margaret Farrington (freshman year, in 22-23 Pearsons) and Ruth "Holy" Holsten (sophomore year, in 6 Byron Smith; junior year, in 47 Pearsons; and senior year, in 20 Pearsons) are mentioned frequently. Other close friends are hometown friend Helen Porter and Gladys Morse. Ruth mentions the 1918 Spanish influenza quarantine at Mount Holyoke in several of the letters.

The Images

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

A Letter Written on Apr 15, 1916, from Ruth to her mother: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 18, 1917, from Ruth to her brother Charles: envelope Postmarked Feb 19, 1917 9am in East Northfield, Mass. Addressed to Mrs. Charles Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Postal Card Written on May 24, 1917, from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked May 25, 1917 9am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass. (PO Box 16). The tail of the message is finished on the front of the card, but inscribed with the rest on the back.; back "Thurs. 9. P.M. Dear Mother:- Am glad the notes were of help to you. Wish I could have sent note. about coming up. If you come up next Sunday you could only come in the afternoon and any way it's the Sun. before exams and is the only time I ever study on Sunday. But if you can't come the next Sunday come then. Betty and I are both anxious to have you come the next Sunday June 3 since it's baccalaureate and you could stay with us all day and we could go around with you for I could get permiss. fr. Mr. Dickerson O.K. None of Bettys [sic] folks can come and she wishes so you could come then since she knows you can't come Tuesday. You will have to come if the rest do because I couldn't see you all if the mater of the family wasn't along. Auntie would be all right too. I wish you both would come. I hope you'll wear your new suit & all look as "sweet" as possible cause I'm pretty well known so everyone will know who you are. You can leave W- at 7 A.M. and get back by 9:30 Gwen [?] says. Now be sure to let me know when, who, and how many are coming so I can get permission I am studying hard. Nothing like exams to inspire one. Don't forget to come, Love, Ruth. You can bring B's grad pres with you."
A Letter Written on Nov 7, 1918, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Nov 8, 1918 10am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 1, 1918, from Ruth to her brother Harold at Amherst College: envelope Postmarked Dec 2, 1918 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr. J. Harold Merrick at Amherst College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 12, 1919, from Ruth to her brother Harold at Amherst College: envelope Postmarked Jan 13, 1919 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr. J. Harold Merrick at Amherst College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 19, 1919, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Jan 20, 1919 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Postal Card Written around Feb 24, 1919, from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Feb 24, 1919 5:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "10:30. Dear Mother:- Got here O.K - sent case Dictionary and all. Forgot to mail H's letter but did the pkg. Will mail the letter from here. Tell Charlie Margaret was quite pleased with his contribution to our mansion. We are having some kind of weather up here - windy & slushy. I guess I got off without forgetting anything. Don't forget you're going to hear Galli Curci Mar. 21 will you? Love, Ruth."
A Postal Card Written on Mar 5, 1919, from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Mar 5, 1919 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "Mar 5. Dear Mother:- I will send a geom. [?] today that has solid in it. When you send my box will you send the tooth brush that is on the table in my room? Mine here split in two. Had a letter from Elsie Ayard [?] and she sent her love to you and auntie. Havn't [sic] heard a word from Harold & he didn't come over to hear Mme Breshkovsky. I sent his pencil over with the candy yesterday. Hope all the sick ones are better. Take good care of yourself. Love, Ruth."
A Postal Card Written around Apr 4, 1919, from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Apr 5, 1919 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "8 P.M. Dear Mother:- Got back safely. Havn't [sic] heard a word about my being late as yet. Such is life. When you send my duds will you send a collar I started to embroider, which is in the sitting room closet on the self below the medicine one? Don't let H- forget to bring me his bag. Hope Charlie can fix the tire all right. I met Alfred at Helene's but he soaked me 35. We got to the station at 8:20 so I just made the trolley. We have to make out our schedules. I've decided to take Pscyie. [sic] Margaret says to thank you for the cake She is deeply grateful. Have a big math quiz Sat. A.M. Love, Ruth."
A Letter Written on Apr 6, 1919, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Apr 7, 1919 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 3, 1920, from Ruth to her brother Richard: envelope Postmarked Feb 3, 1920 5:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr. Richard O. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Postal Card Written on Oct 6, 1920[?], from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Oct 7, 192- 3pm in West Haven, Conn. Addressed to Mrs. C. S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "Wed. Coming home Friday in first train I can get after 2 o'clock. Havn't [sic] a time table. Tell Richard to meet me if he can. Yesterday they decided we could have Columbus Day. Hope Maurine and Hal aren't coming. Will tel[l] Theodore Ruth."
A Letter Written on Nov 29, 1920, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Nov 30, 1920 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass. Back flap sealed with pegasus seal and wax.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 5, 1920, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Dec 6, 1920 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass. Back flap sealed with pegasus seal and wax.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Postal Card Written on Jan 4, 1921[?], from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Jan 4 4pm in West Haven, Conn. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "Monday - must hustle over to my beloved (?!) office hours having survived the A.M. classes - Had a marvelous time at Holy's. [sic] She had a bridge party for me in the P.M and took me to see Geo. Arliss in "Old English." Perfectly splendid. Went to see Elma and Mrs C. Sun. A.M. Both have been ill but are fine now. Feeling O.K. myself and have been laying out my young idiots in grand style! More power to me!! Love, Ruth."
A Postal Card Written on Jan 10, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Jan 10, 1921 5:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "Monday, M. / Dear Mother:- Got back O.K. but the gang in Spring[field] and we went to a screamingly funny movie - not in the peanut gallery - unusual fate. Has Hal his keys yet? Elma thinks it queer he hadnt rec'd them when I left for she sent them Sun. Great hunting season in our room. Ruth's hopes for a fur coat are materializing for we've caught 2 mice so far - must go to lab now - tell auntie I wore the waist Sun. & its O.K. / as ever Ruth."
A Letter Written on Mar 6, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Mar 7, 1921 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass. Back flap sealed with pegasus seal and wax. Inscription on rear flap: "1848 Cass and Taylor, - Filmore / 1852 Scott and Pierce - / 1856" (US presidential election candidates); page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 20, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Mar 20, 1921 4:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 8, 1921, from Ruth's classmate Elma Clark to Ruth's mother: envelope Postmarked Oct 8, 1921 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 2, 1921, from Ruth's classmate Elma Clark to Ruth's mother: envelope Postmarked Nov 3, 1921 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 15, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Nov 15, 1921 5:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 20, 1921, from Ruth's brother Stuart to Ruth: envelope Postmarked Nov 21, 1921 10am in Hamilton, NY. Addressed to Miss Ruth Merrick at Mount Holyoke College.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 4, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Dec 5, 1921 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.; page 1 A second letter addressed to Ruth's brother Theodore is included in the same envelope. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 13, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked Dec 14, 1921 12:30pm in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass. Back flap sealed with pegasus seal and wax.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Postal Card Written around Dec 27, 1921, from Ruth to her mother: front Postmarked Dec 27, 1921 7pm in Amsterdam, NY. Addressed to Mrs. C. S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; back "Dear Mother:- Got here safely. Had a fine trip. "Uncle" met us with a sporty taxi and we got up here in no time. We didn't have to change or anything. Will write soon. Ask Stuart what time he comes here he's a time table. All are well here. Grandma Cal seems fine. Love, Ruth."
A Undated Letter, from Ruth to her mother: envelope Postmarked A- 7am in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Charles S. Merrick, Wilbraham, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.