50 Park st. Montclair N.J.
May 8th 1921My dear Miss Palmer:-
I am sorry to have put you to the trouble of sending me a second request, when I should have answered the first.
I thought I could catch our Class-Letter "on the fly," somewhere, and get from it, a Resumé of the War-work done by members of the class. And I hoped thereby, to get out of writing any personal auto-biography! - But since it's the personal things that you want, I hurry this on to you! Owing to our moving this last week, your letter only reached me last night. Also, for the same reason, I could not lay my hands on the snap-shots you desired, because of the general confusion of all our belongings.
Out of our class of 36 members in 1871, - 25 are now living. We have kept up our Round Robin in the class, with scarcely an interregnum, these fifty years. When the Budget passed me in the fall, it contained personal word from every one of the 25 members. Owing to a very efficient secretary we are almost 100 percent givers to the Endowments.
My mother, Lydia B. Dodd, now 94, graduated in the Class of '48. She happened to be president of the class, but she says that, in those days, it was an honorary sort of position, (informal) with no special duties that held-over after graduation. But within the last 20 years she has twice tried to round up the few classmates left. - the Class had no organization[.]
My mother was married, and said for Smyrna on a sailing vessel in 1848. She taught a village school to earn the money to go to Holyoke with; and after returning to this country, (a widow with three children in 1865) she taught school again for several years, in the same village.
Her recollections of Mary Lyon are vivid. She was one of the patron saints of our household in Turkey.
I am the only one of the children who
staid in this countrydid not go back to Turkey. But two of my three sons have upheld the family-traditions, - going as missionaries to the Philippines and to China.When the "Missy Herald" comes these days, my mother cannot wait for any one else to read it to her, any more than she could wait for the morning-news from the Front during the War. She had always finished the paper before any one else was ready for it. The great-grandsons say that you 'have to get up early to get ahead of Grandma Dodd' -
She still keeps up correspondence with son & daughter in Turkey, and with grandsons in China && Persia. She voted for
Harding? the President? with enthusiasm. She believes that the political salvation of the nations, depends largely on a good understanding and hearty co-operation "between the U.S. & Gt. Britain"; - and that 'World Peace & moral salvation for the nations can only come thro' the Power of God & his Christ.' And for this she prays in "Thy Kingdom Come." -
I have just mailed to you a large picture of the 3 generations of Holyoke women. (taken about 1902) I suppose it can be much reduced in size. I enclose also some snap-shots that are marked on the back. [no longer with the letter] Among them all, you may find one that will serve your purpose.
(It's a pity that my granddaughter (also an Edith Carter) who has her application in for Holyoke 1923., could not have been a couple of years older so as to be a fourth generationer!- )
I have written much, not knowing just what you may want of it, to fit into your article. But please don't give the Carters any more space therein, than your other victims, please.
Excuse me if I send this much corrected scrawl, instead of putting it into decent shape. A telephone is being installed on one side of the room and packing boxes opened, in the other! -
Sincerely yours
Hettie Dodd Carter