May 17, 1921
My dear Miss Palmer,
I am inclosing a brief sketch of my life since 1871, also a photo taken a few years ago. [no longer with the letter]
Am sorry I should have been so late in sending them but ill health and change of our residence have interrupted my plans.
I did not succeed in getting the picture until yesterday.
Very sincerely,
Mary C. T. Bourdon.New and permanent address.
Mrs. Denys B. O. Bourdon,
977 Beacon St.,
Newton Centre,
Mass.The call to service which came to me in 1871 gave immediate fulfillment of our class motto "Non ministrari, sed ministrare." [Not to be ministered unto, but to minister] Before our July Commencement was over a position for the following Sept. in the Hillhouse High School New Haven, Conn. was accepted, and for eight years Ancient History, English and Botany were my "specials."
This delightful experience
with so many boys and girls, (many of whom are still my dear friends)was terminated in '79 when I resigned my position.The following forty-two years of married life with a family of three daughters and three sons, have been full of opportunities for service, for teaching, and for training others for service.
With this busy home life and church and Sunday School interests, I was president of the Boston Alumnae Ass'n for three years.
andAt the close of the second year was chosen president of the General Alumnae Ass'n and service for six years.Greatly honored by both alumnae and trustees of the College I was elected to the Board of Trustees for a term of six years.
From 1901 till 1918, a period of seventeen years, the Alumnae Income Fund, of which I was treasurer, claimed much of my time and care, in addition to my duties twelve years of that time as acting secretary-treasurer for a business firm.
Owing to a severe illness in 1918 and the results of a serious fall a year later, I have been compelled to lead a very quiet, shut-in life the past three years.