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 21 - 40]

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Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, December 25, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, December 25, 1914
Description:
Davis sends a postcard to her father, telling him of her Christmas, and of the success of the Christmas party thrown by the YWCA.
Date:
1914-12-25
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, March 28, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis sends a postcard written in French to her father.
Date:
1915-03-28
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, January 09, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis tells her father of the plight of the people in Geneva, and tells him that she plans to use her Christmas money to buy food and supplies for people in need. She also spends time praising her sister, Lois.
Date:
1915-01-09
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Pen, October 27, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Pen, 1914
Description:
Davis discusses the War, and the differing views of fault held by different countries, stating that eyewitness views are preferable to those sent by governments to other governments. She also writes about starting her classes at the university.
Date:
1914-10-27
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Marriage announcement sent to Jean Scobie Davis
Title:
Marriage announcement sent to Jean Scobie Davis
Description:
Marriage announcement from Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, announcing the marriage of his daughter Olga to Henri Revilliod, December 1920.
Date:
(approximate)1920
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, July 05, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis writes of her time exploring Chicago with her friend Beth.
Date:
1913-07-05
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, July 10, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
Davis writes about her time spent in Chicago and of visiting with friends.
Date:
1913-07-10
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to friends, titled "Notes from the President's report - Association obretienue de la Suisse Romande, 1914."
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to friends, titled "Notes from the President's report - Association obretienue de la Suisse Romande, 1914."
Description:
Davis's thoughts and observations on the President's Report from the Conference of Neuchatel Reports of the French-speaking group at Zurich. Most of the document is in French.
Date:
1914
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, December 13, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, December 13, 1914
Description:
Davis seeks advice from her father regarding whether or not she should cut down on volunteer work she is doing with the Young Women's Christian Association in order to conduct research and begin writing on historical topics. She also writes of upcoming vacation plans, and of the general feeling of morose within Geneva. She also writes of the volunteer work that she and her mother have been doing at the YWCA, and expresses concern over her mother's health.
Date:
1914-12-13
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, March 17, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis writes a letter to her father, telling him of her upcoming travel plans, and of the work she is planning to do with the Young Christian Women's association in Paris.
Date:
1915-03-17
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, February 21, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, February 21, 1915
Description:
Davis writes to her father, discussing more thoughts about the War before telling him that she has decided against the life of a historian for the time being in favor of a life of serving others. She also expresses concern over what she perceives as a lack of moral values among the foreign students, and the lackadaisical attitude that the people of Geneva have toward their present conditions. She criticizes the government and universities as being run by corrupt politicians, and blames the legality of "vice" for the demoralization of many of the students. She emphasizes her desire to put social works before her academic work.
Date:
1915-02-21
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
An sujet des relations entre l'Association chretienne d'Etudiants de la Suisse, et les agentes de la Federation universelle d'Etudients, en Suisse.
Title:
An sujet des relations entre l'Association chretienne d'Etudiants de la Suisse, et les agentes de la Federation universelle d'Etudients, en Suisse.
Description:
"On the subject of relations between the Christian Students Association of Switzerland and the agents of the Universal Student Federation in Switzerland." Also contains excerpts from a letter between a Miss Clark and a Mlle. Locher.
Date:
1914
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, June 30, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, 1913
Description:
Davis writes of her friendship with Katharine, and of her own aspirations of becoming a writer. She writes of the romantic dealings of her friends, and of the differences in social standings that she has been experiencing while on her vacation.
Date:
1913-06-30
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, May 14, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1915
Description:
Davis writes to her mother, telling her of her disagreeable host, and of time spent with friends. She reflects on the public and political reactions to the sinking of the Lusitania. She also writes of visiting an immigrant settlement nearby, and of seeing art exhibitions.
Date:
1915-05-14
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, December 03, 1914
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, December 03, 1914
Description:
Davis writes of attending a lecture/play, and gives her opinion on French classics. She also comments on what she perceives as differences between American and European women, especially when it comes to making decisions. She remarks on the drama that has cropped up between two student groups regarding Christmas parties that they would like to throw for foreign and poor children. She also shares her thoughts on prejudices that exist against the Russian people, saying that fear comes from lack of understanding and sympathy towards individuals. Davis also writes of the lack of truth in German reports and newspapers, commenting on the blatant lies that some papers spread regarding German occupation and dominance in many regions across Europe.
Date:
1914-12-03
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, May 23, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis writes to her father about the last few days of her stay in Paris. She reflects on the people she has met and spent time with, and of how much she has learned during her stay in Europe.
Date:
1915-05-23
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, June 23, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her mother, 1913
Description:
This letter details Davis' return to Undercliff, Pa., from Sewickley, and then her continuing travels to Wooster, Ohio. She writes of her disappointment at missing tours of several factories due to food poisoning, and of visiting with her hosts.
Date:
1913-06-23
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, June 16, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, 1913
Description:
Davis writes of her time visiting family in Oakmont, Pa. She offers details of daily life, and of familial relationships.
Date:
1913-06-16
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, June 24, 1913
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to Katharine Huntington, 1913
Description:
Davis writes of visiting Betty Wardrop, and of admiring her strength and poise through a year of illness. She also writes of Pittsburgh society, and of attending a weekend party.
Date:
1913-06-24
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, March 26, 1915
Title:
Letter from Jean Scobie Davis to her father, 1915
Description:
Davis writes of her improved health and strength, of the time she has been spending going to meetings for the Young Women's Christian association, and of her upcoming travel plans to Paris.
Date:
1915-03-26
Collection:
Jean Scobie Davis Papers

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