A. Elizabeth Adams papers
Scope and Contents
The A. Elizabeth Adams Papers consist of letters by and to Adams, her writings, Mount Holyoke College presidential succession documents, biographical information, and photographs. The correspondence consists of two letters by Adams, probably to Mount Holyoke colleagues Dorothy Richardson and Dorothy Cogswell, and a letter to Adams from Ann Haven Morgan, her close friend and teacher in the Mount Holyoke College Zoology Department. The collection also includes Adams's publications in zoology while she was a professor at Mount Holyoke College, as well as biographical notes and a bibliography of her writings. Of particular note in the collection are the presidential succession documents which include correspondence between Adams and individuals with links to Mount Holyoke College regarding the appointment of Roswell G. Ham. Ham was the first male president of Mount Holyoke, succeeding Mary E. Woolley in 1937. Also of particular note is an open letter written by Adams to the Trustees of Mount Holyoke College asking why a man was chosen to succeed Woolley against the wishes of the majority at the college. Included in the collection are opinions and results of polls taken regarding this presidential issue. The collection includes biographical information chiefly containing newspaper articles about Adams's professional activities and material regarding her life and death. The photographs in the collection consist of photographs and snapshots of Adams with friends and students both at home and in the laboratories. Some photographs that were collected or taken by Dorothy Blair, Adams's former Mount Holyoke College roommate are part of the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1914-1962
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted
Biographical Note
Amy Elizabeth Adams was born on March 28, 1892 in Delaware, New Jersey. She attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey and arrived at Mount Holyoke College in September of 1909. After a leave of absence in 1910-1911, she earned her B.A. in 1914, majoring in zoology. From 1914-1915, she worked as a laboratory assistant in the Zoology Department at Mount Holyoke College. She earned her M.A. at Columbia University (1919) and her Ph.D. at Yale University (1926). She returned to Mount Holyoke where she taught zoology, 1919-1957. She served as the acting head of the Zoology Deptartment in 1920-1921, 1929, and 1937, and the acting dean of Mount Holyoke College for the first semester of 1926-1927. Adams retired in 1957. She died February 15, 1962 at the age of sixty-nine in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Extent
1 boxes (1915)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Adams, A. Elizabeth, 1892-1962; teacher, zoologist, dean. Mount Holyoke College graduate, 1914. Papers contain correspondence, writings, Mount Holyoke College presidential succession documents, biographical information, and photographs; primarily relates to her time as a faculty member at Mount Holyoke College.
Arrangement
Arranged in 5 series. Series 1. Correspondence. Series 2. Writings. Series 3. Mount Holyoke College Presidential Succession Documents. Series 4. Biographical Information. Series 5. Photographs.
Genre / Form
Topical
- College presidents -- United States
- Male college presidents -- United States
- Mount Holyoke College -- History
- Mount Holyoke College -- Presidents
- Mount Holyoke College Manuscript Collections
- Women college presidents -- United States
- Women college teachers -- Massachusetts
- Women zoologists -- United States
- Women's colleges -- United States -- Administration -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Zoologists -- United States
- Title
- A. Elizabeth Adams papers, 1914-1962.
- 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
50 College Street
8 Dwight Hall
South Hadley MA 01075-6425 USA
413-538-3079
archives@mtholyoke.edu