The Williston Hall Fire, 1917-1918

History

This group of correspondence to Abby Turner 1896, a physiology professor at the college, reflects alumnae reaction to the fire, and also includes a first-hand report from Turner.

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 Dec 23, 1917, from Jason Paige at Massachusetts Agricultural College: envelope Addressed to Miss Abby H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College from the Mass. Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass. Postmarked Dec 24 [1917] in Amherst, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 24, 1917, from W. T. Porter: envelope Addressed to Prof. A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 24 [1917] 12pm in Boston, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Postcard Written around Dec 24, 1917, from Faith and Freda Harris: front "All that Life Holds Dear. / May Christmas bring to you so much / Of all that life holds dear. / That every wish may be fulfilled / And every joy be near." #1450B; back Divided back, postmarked Dec 24, 1917 12noon in Skowhegan, Maine. Addressed to Miss Abby H. Turner in South Hadley. "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, although all of us are sad because of the fate of Williston. Faith and Freda Harris."
A Letter Written on Dec 25, 1917, from Mary Jane Walters: envelope Addressed to Miss A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 26, 1917 6pm in Washington DC.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 26, 1917, from W. T. Porter: envelope Addressed to Miss A. H. Turner at Mount Holyoke College. Postmarked Dec 26 [1917] 9pm in Boston, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 8, 1918, from Helen Voorhees: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 21, 1918, by Abby Turner: page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 25, 1918, from "niece" Emma (probably a Mount Holyoke alum): page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.
A Letter written on Jan 28, 1918, from "niece" Emma (probably a Mount Holyoke alum): page 1 No envelope survives. Full contents of letter, though only the first page of the letter is scanned.