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Putnam papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0710

Scope and Contents

The Lucy Pepper Putnam Papers contain a letter and ten compositions and poems, all written during her year as a student at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, 1845-1846. The letter, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Clarke, primarily discusses her travel to Mount Holyoke Female Seminary from New Hampshire and her reaction to her first three weeks at the school. Besides writing about her homesickness, Putnam describes her room in the Seminary Building, the furnishings, the rules, her domestic work, examinations, her schedule, the food, and Mary Lyon. There are six compositions as well as four poems. Two of the compositions, "A Visit to the Insane Asylum," (which describes an attempt to visit an insane asylum in Concord, New Hampshire) and "Character of Queen Esther," are probably creative pieces. The other compositions are entitled "Great Effects from Small Causes," "Female Education," "Early Rising," and "Uncertainty of Earthly Things." The poems are entitled "One Composition," "The Star of Bethlehem," "My Home," and "My Mother."

Dates

  • Creation: 1845-1846

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted

Biographical Note

Lucy Pepper Putnam, the daughter of Benjamin Putnam, was born in Washington, Vermont on March 22, 1823. She entered Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in September of 1845 from Plaistow, New Hampshire, where she was residing at the time. She remained at Mount Holyoke only through the end of the 1845-1846 session. Putnam died on February 21, 1849 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, at the age of twenty-five.

Extent

1 boxes (x1848)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Putnam, Lucy Pepper, 1823-1849; Student. Attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, 1845-1846. Papers contain a letter, ten compositions and poems. Primarily documenting her travel from her home in New Hampshire to Mount Holyoke and her social life and activities at school.

Arrangement

Arranged in 2 series. Series 1. Correspondence. Series 2. Compositions and Poems.

Title
Putnam papers, 1845-1846.
Status
Edited Full Draft
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
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