Jean Scobie Davis Papers

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Jean Scobie Davis (1892-1985) was a graduate of Bryn Mawr College class of 1914. After graduating, Davis traveled with her family to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, with the intention of studying French in preparation for taking graduate courses in Paris. The outbreak of World War I altered her plans and she instead studied economics and international law at the University of Geneva during the winter of 1914-1915. In March 1915, Davis left Switzerland for Paris and after a brief stay returned to the United States in July. Davis went on to teach economics and sociology at Agnes Scott College, Vassar College, Pierce College, Wells College, and the American Women’s College in Beirut. While working at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia, Davis developed an interest in prison reform, particularly in women’s prisons and reformatories for teenagers. She served on the Board of Visitors of the New York State Reformatory for Women at Bedford Hills, New York, for thirty-six years. This collection features letters written by Jean Scobie Davis to her parents and friends during her junior and senior years at Bryn Mawr College through her time in Geneva and Paris.

Collection Guide for the Jean Scobie Davis Papers
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52 items [showing 1 - 20]

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Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, April 27, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis writes to her father, again telling him that she has changed her mind about staying in Europe for the summer, and plans to travel home with the family instead. She writes of her plans to try to use letters from her college and school days to write a book. She also shares her dislike for how dirty Paris is, but that she is enjoying being in a city for so long.
Date:
1915-04-27
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, June 19, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis writes of going into Pittsburgh to visit several landmark locations, including a Carnegie Library, and an international art exhibit. She also writes of visiting with family and friends, and of touring a bottle factory.
Date:
1913-06-19
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, November 19, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, November 19, 1914
Description:
Davis writes a letter to her father, telling him further of her walking tour, and of the time she mistakenly ate mule. She relays reports from Russia regarding the Germans, and talks about her plans to explore more of Geneva.
Date:
1914-11-19
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, April 02, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1915
Description:
Davis writes of spending time with her friend, Helen, touring around Paris, and looking into accommodations for her mother when she arrives in Paris.
Date:
1915-04-02
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, November 12, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, November 12, 1914
Description:
Davis sends a postcard to her father, telling him of a walking tour that she took with one of her friends.
Date:
1914-11-12
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, September 08, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, September 08, 1914
Description:
Davis writes from Geneva about the growing tensions in Europe due to the newly started Great War. She writes of how Germany is keeping information from its people, and of how the war is tearing Europe apart. She also writes of taking classes at the Foyer des Etudiants, which was offering free lessons as a way to help students stranded there due to the war. She also writes of spending time with her host family.
Date:
1914-09-08
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, January 29, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis writes of seeing friends and being invited to partake in social events, of her mother's poor health, and of behaviors of foreigners in Geneva that she finds disagreeable. She also notes that many people she has talked to in Europe know much about their ancestry.
Date:
1915-01-29
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Pen.
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Pen.
Description:
Davis mentions working on a novel, and talks about a service/picnic dinner she went on with members of the Christian Association, and mentions an upcoming trip to Paris.
Date:
(approximate)1914
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, July 13, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis informs her mother that she will be delaying her departure from Chicago, while reiterating her disdain for her "friend", Martha.
Date:
1913-07-13
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, March 27, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1915
Description:
Davis writes of her journey to and arrival in Paris. She comments on the presence and appearance of French soldiers, and of how unused to city life she is. She writes in detail about her first few days spent in Paris, including a dinner party at which an ambassador and a former professor at Bryn Mawr were in attendance.
Date:
1915-03-27
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, March 29, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1915
Description:
Davis writes of her time spent in Paris, including visiting a school building that had been temporarily made into a hospital for American doctors helping during the War. She also writes of her accommodations and her hosts, and of her need for new clothing.
Date:
1915-03-29
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, April 4, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis writes a letter to her father, reflecting on her first week in Paris.
Date:
1915-04-04
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, May 18, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1915
Description:
Davis writes to her mother about spending time with friends, and about changing hosts for the remainder of her trip. She also writes about buying souvenirs, and of plans to return to America.
Date:
1915-05-18
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, June 17, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
This letter details Davis's time spent in Undercliff, PA, outside of Pittsburgh, PA. She writes of the rural setting, and of her concern for her Aunt Annie.
Date:
1913-06-17
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, July 10, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, 1913
Description:
Davis writes a short letter, apologizing for not detailing the more pleasant observations she has made during her trips. She briefly talks of Bryn Mawr alum that she has come across during her travels.
Date:
1913-07-10
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Miscellaneous, undated notes by Jean Scobie Davis
Title:
Miscellaneous, undated notes by Jean Scobie Davis
Description:
Miscellaneous notes written on scraps of paper.
Date:
(approximate)1913 - (approximate)1915
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Tanke Bollerd to Jean Scobie Davis, September 09, 1914
Title:
Letter from Tanke Bollerd to Jean Scobie Davis, 1914
Description:
Davis receives a letter from a friend from Berlin, who writes of their opinions on the War.
Date:
1914-09-09
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, July 15, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis writes a short letter to her mother, wrapping up her thoughts about her current hosts before she gets ready to leave.
Date:
1913-07-15
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, June 22, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis writes to her mother of her travels from Undercliff, Pa., to Sewickley, and of her time spent in Sewickley with her family and friends.
Date:
1913-06-22
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, July 12, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis writes of visiting Hull House. She also compares Chicago and New York, and writes of her new host, Martha (an acquaintance from Bryn Mawr College) with some disdain. Also included is a postcard to her mother; a souvenir from her visit to Volland Publishing Company.
Date:
1913-07-12
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers

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