Mary Lyon
![[Mary Lyon]](http://www.mtholyoke.com/pcsite/pcs/images2/MaryLyon07f.jpeg)
History
Mary Lyon (1797-1849) was the founder of Mount Holyoke College. A day after her 36th birthday, she ventured out on her own to create the school she considered her life's mission. A pen portrait of Mary Lyon by Sarah Cushing Boynton, class of 1848:
"Rather under the medium height, with a strong, muscular frame, a florid complexion, with blazing, light-blue Saxon eyes, kindly, severe, or pathetic, as occasion warranted, but with now and then a sparkle of irrepressible merriment; hair of palest auburn, the sunny waves just sparsely threaded with gray, and so riotous in habit as to be never quite as smooth as fashion decreed, strands of it waving and jigging about her temples in an entirely unwished for manner. She always wore a demure little lace cap, strings flying as she hurried about, with a generous coil of her beautiful hair gleaming through its thin meshes behind."
Mary Lyon was born in Buckland, Massachusetts, and her home is a tourist attraction today.
The Images
All cards are available with both front and back scans, and comments about what is written on the front or back, either by the user or by the publisher, are included below.
- Tablet on Site of Mary Lyon's Birthplace
- front "Tablet on Site of Mary Lyon's Birthplace" Buckland Mass."
- back Divided back. Stamp box. Unused.
- Tablet on Site of Mary Lyon's Birthplace
- front Untitled real photo of the tablet on the site of Mary Lyon's birthplace. A. L. Ward photo.
- back Divided back, postally unused but inscribed "Mary Lyon. founder of Holyoke & Wheaton Seminaries Putts Hill near Shelburn Falls. from Miss Emery/1911"
- Tablet on Site of Mary Lyon's Birthplace
- front Untitled real photo of the tablet on the site of Mary Lyon's birthplace. A. L. Ward photo.
- back Divided back, postally unused but inscribed "Mary Lyon. founder of Holyoke & Wheaton Seminaries Putts Hill near Shelburn Falls"
- Mary Lyon, Founder of Mt. Holyoke College
- front "Mary Lyon, Founder of Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass." Art is signed L. R. Jewett, April 1905, in the bottom left corner.
- back Divided back, stamp box, postmarked Jun 9, 1914 12:30pm in South Hadley. #F3273. Published by A. S. Kinney, So. Hadley, Mass. Made in Germany. "Dear Mother :- I thought your collection lacked photographs, so am sending one of a good and great - if not handsome - woman. Love Allie"
- Mary Lyon
- front "Mary Lyon"
- back Divided back. "Mary Lyon - 1797-1849 Founder of Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1837 South Hadley, Massachusetts" Published by Mount Holyoke College Book Store, South Hadley, Mass, but also marked by the The Albertype Co, Brooklyn, N. Y. Unused.
- Mary Lyon
- front "Mary Lyon"
- back Divided back. Published by The Albertype Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. Unused.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House, Buckland, Massachusetts" Inscription: "This is a lovely spot. Life comfortable and pleasant and weather perfect! Love to you R."
- back Undivided back, postmarked Oct 19, 1950 2:30pm in Buckland, Mass.
- Mary Lyon Cottage
- front "Mary Lyon Cottage Buckland, Mass" A little hard to read, with that light writing against a light background!
- back Undivided back, unused. A Defender card.
- Mary Lyon Cottage
- front "Mary Lyon Cottage Buckland, Mass" A little hard to read, with that light writing against a light background!
- back Undivided back, unused, but had been pasted in an album once. AZO.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass" Love that backward "N" in "Buckland"!
- back Undivided back, unused. AZO.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass"
- back Undivided back, postally unused, but has two addresses listed on it. A Defender card.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass" Love that backward "N" in "Buckland"!
- back Undivided back, unused. A Defender card.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass" Love that backward "N" in "Buckland"!
- back Undivided back, unused. AZO.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass"
- back Undivided back, postally unused, but has glue marks from an album. AZO.
- The Mary Lyon House and Annex
- front "The Mary Lyon House and Annex, Buckland, Mass"
- back Divided back, unused.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass"
- back Undivided back, unused. AZO.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland"
- back Undivided back, unused. A Defender card.
- Mary Lyon House
- front "Mary Lyon House Buckland, Mass."
- back Undivided back, unused. AZO.
- Mary Lyon
- front A glossy enlargement of the Mary Lyon stamp.
- Church Attended by Mary Lyon when a Young Girl
- front "Church Attended by Mary Lyon when a Young Girl, Buckland, Mass."
- back Undivided back, postmarked Aug 7, 1944 3pm in Charlemont, MA. "Dear Mary:- Here we are enjoying the cool breezes. Hope you have survived the heat wave. I wonder if you have gone to your farm yet. I saw a porcupine one eve in the orchard, my first view of one. Ward is here & going to take us to the Falls today if pleasant. With love Belle. Mon. A. M."
- Mary Lyon Church
- front "Mary Lyon Church, Buckland, Mass."
- back Divided back, stamp box, unused. Published by Fairbanks Card Company, 14 High Street, Brookline, Mass.
- Buckland Village from Hill toward Birthplace of Mary Lyon
- front "Buckland Village from Hill toward Birthplace of Mary Lyon"
- back Divided back, postmarked Aug 18, 19418am in Buckland Mass. "Aug 16, 1941. Dear Sue: It is beautiful country here. We have driven along the Mohawk Trail as far as The Summit House, and the other day we went up Sugar Loaf Mt. in S. Deerfield - a beautiful view. Peg Cragin is to have Alice Hammond's classes. With love. Helen."
- Birth place of Mary Lyon Founder of Mt. Holyoke.
- front Untitled, but a handwritten inscription added: "Birth place of Mary Lyon Founder of Mt. Holyoke."
- back Divided back, postmarked Mar 9, 1908 12midnight in South Hadley. "I did not know whether to send this to Essex or not but finally decided not to. It seems good to be back here and I know more people than I supposed I would. Went to some good plays in N.Y. but not to the one you spoke about, wish I might have. A.C.M. Monday A.M."
- "Lions" Enjoying Life at Mary Lyon House
- front "'Lions' Enjoying Life at Mary Lyon House, Buckland, Mass."
- back Divided back, postmarked Jun 1, 1943 2pm in Buckland. "Hi, We're having wonderful weather for our short vacation. Can't wait to get home to get weighed and sigh at how much I've gained. Love Alice"
- "Lions" Enjoying Life at Mary Lyon House
- front "'Lions' Enjoying Life at Mary Lyon House, Buckland, Mass." Inked label "Our Home" and an arrow points to the leftmost visible window.
- back Divided back, postmarked Jul 18, 1944 2pm in Buckland. "Dear Anne I suppose you & Sue have been keeping house for Daddy while Mother was at Lake Sunapee. How is the Camp? The Pool at Greenfield is very popular these hot days which I have spent mostly on the lawn. Grandmother A."
- Mary Lyon House
- front Untitled real photo view of the Mary Lyon House.
- back Divided back, stamp box (AZO), postally unused but inscribed: "Mary Lyon House built in 1818 / 3 years to build it - bricks - nails and frame work made on land - / Mary Lyon founder of Smith College -" [sic]
- Birthplace of Mary Lyon
- front "Birthplace of Mary Lyon Buckland, Mass."
- back Divided back, stamp box (CYKO), unused. Photo by F. Edgar Brown, Brimfield, Mass.
- The Mary Lyon House
- front "The Mary Lyon House, Buckland, Mass."
- back Divided back, unused.
- Mary Lyon Starting Wheaton Seminary
- front A group of young women in a carriage, perhaps for a parade, with a sign that reads "Mary Lyon Starting Wheaton Seminary"
- back Divided back, unused. Velox stamp box (1907 -1917).