Dorothy Foster Papers

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Dorothy Foster (1883-1968) was a graduate of Bryn Mawr College class of 1904. She was senior class president in 1904, secretary to the Philosophy Club from 1903-1904, and a member of the English Club from 1903-1904. After Bryn Mawr, Foster earned a degree in English Literature from Radcliffe College in 1908 and did further graduate work at Harvard University from 1913-1914, and later became a professor at Mount Holyoke College. This collection contains letters Foster wrote to her mother during her junior and senior years at Bryn Mawr College. The letters cover a variety of subjects, including visiting speakers and their lectures, formal dinners, teas, club meetings, exams, hosting prospective students, the formation of the English club, Self-Government meetings, personal forays into early science courses at Bryn Mawr, and trips into Philadelphia.

Collection Guide for the Dorothy Foster papers
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83 items [showing 41 - 60]

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Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, May 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, May 1903
Description:
This letter is written a week before the exams. Dorothy dreads the hard work ahead. She describes one of the last lectures she went to.
Date:
1903-05
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, December 15, 1902
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1902
Description:
Dorothy is writing to her mother in anticipation of the upcoming Christmas vacation, discussing her plans for home visit and listing things she would appreciate receiving as Christmas presents. She describes going to two theater events.
Date:
1902-12-15
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, May 19, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Dorothy describes several lectures she went to and her last Lab. She visited the Freshmen Supper and reminisces of her own freshman year. She reports that she was accepted to a highly selective English club for next year.
Date:
1903-05-19
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, May 9, 1904
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1904
Description:
Dorothy continues to worry about the upcoming commencement. Junior Senior supper took place.
Date:
1904-05-09
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, March 8, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Dorothy Foster writes to her mother about the joys and sorrows of having her friend over for a visit. She is discussing possibly getting a new suit during Easter break at home.
Date:
1903-03-08
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, December 6, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Most of this letter deals with W.B. Yeats's visit and lecture. Dorothy has passed her French orals. She is beginning to think about Christmas presents.
Date:
1903-12-06
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, January 8, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Letter from Dorothy to her mother describing her return to campus. While she was away, there was a flood in her room and she found mice in her closet.
Date:
1903-01-08
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, April 24, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
In this letter Dorothy inquires about her mother's health and reports of another mouse she captured for science observations. She went to tea in the Physics Lab and had some friends visit the campus.
Date:
1903-04-24
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, October 16, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Dorothy is very busy with work and extracurricular activities. She hosted her first event as her class president, the Freshmen reception. She also went to Philadelphia to see an exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, to gather some talking points for the upcoming dinner with the Dean. She shares that she really enjoys swimming now.
Date:
1903-10-16
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, January 17, 1904
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1904
Description:
First part of the letter, written on Friday, discusses happenings back at home and a new dress, a sketch of which is also provided. The rest of the letter, written on Sunday, describes the College reception where Dorothy was ushering and her interactions with guests. She admits that she has spent almost all her money on laundry, books, and other bills and asks her mother to send more.
Date:
1904-01-17
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, February 22, 1904
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1904
Description:
Dorothy writes to thank her mother and the family for their Valentine gifts. She describes parties and teas she went to and gave, and discusses some clothes she needs to get before the Dean's luncheon. She will be retaking her German oral exam soon, and she enjoys her history class. Dr. Clark asked her to send her sketches for an exhibition, but she refuses, claiming they are not good enough.
Date:
1904-02-22
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, February 12, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Dorothy describes the beginning of the spring semester which is going well so far. She received her marks for the Biology exam. She was awarded $125 by the Salem society, which she is very happy about and which she plans to use to finance her education this year and the next. She also describes her plans to go to town on Saturday.
Date:
1903-02-12
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, February 18, 1904
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1904
Description:
In her letter to her mother Dorothy is happy to report that the Philosophy professor is back. They had a meeting of the English Club with a recent alumna as a guest. They are busy with the Class Book, garden party invitations, a play, and planning for the Tree day.
Date:
1904-02-18
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, February 7, 1904
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1904
Description:
In this letter Dorothy describes in great detail a melodrama she and a friend saw in Philadelphia and Mr. Wendell's visit.
Date:
1904-02-07
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, October 13, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
In this letter Dorothy writes that the Dean has unreasonably prohibited Freshmen Play, which was a long-standing tradition, and notices, in general, that the current Freshmen are much tamer and quieter than they were. The students decided that cousins will no longer be allowed to stay in the dormitory.
Date:
(questionable)1903-10-13
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, January 24, 1904
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1904
Description:
Dorothy's exams are coming up and she is very busy, even though she is just recovering from a cold. She is planning a trip to Washington with college friends around Easter time. The English Club is getting ready to receive Mr. Barret Wendell in February.
Date:
1904-01-24
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, November 30, 1902
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1902
Description:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother describing her visit to her friend Jeannette Hemphill's family in Haverford for Thanksgiving dinner and other events of the Thanksgiving break. She tells her mother about the Philosophical Club meeting.
Date:
1902-11-30
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, March 23, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
In this letter Dorothy writes about another meeting of the Philosophical Club and a new English Club she is thinking about joining. She took part in a swimming contest and went to Philadelphia for some research at the library. She is trying to decide if it will be possible and not too extravagant to get a new suit during her visit home for Easter break.
Date:
1903-03-23
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, March 29, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Dorothy writes to her mother about capturing a mouse which she kept "for science, hunting for spring flowers, and her money worries about buying new shoes, books, and a ticket home.
Date:
1903-03-29
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, February 24, 1903
Title:
Letter from Dorothy Foster to her mother, 1903
Description:
Dorothy writes to her mother about a cold she had and a drama they had for the students who were away. She discusses some financial matters and thanks her father for the $10 she can now use to pay the laundry bill. She would very much like to order a class ring but she feels like she cannot afford $15 with so little money in the bank.
Date:
1903-02-24
Collection:
Dorothy Foster Papers

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