Selsam papers
Scope and Contents
The Georgia Kauffman Selsam Papers include correspondence, memorabilia, biographical information and photographs. Most of the material pertains to Kauffman's life at Mount Holyoke College from 1920-1924, especially her first semester of college in 1920. In her letters to family members she describes her everyday life at the College including food, clothing, sports, religious life, musical events, parties, balls, and her studies. She discusses events such as Mountain Day, trying out for the field hockey team, and the Junior Show. She also describes activities in her dormitory, Judson Hall, and her friends. The correspondence also includes a letter dated September 13, 1920, from Mildred Leona Batchelder, Mount Holyoke College Class of 1922 and "big sister to Selsam; a letter from Elizabeth S. Merriam, Mount Holyoke Class of 1921, dated September 19, 1920; and a letter dated December 23, 1920 from Miss Ruth S. Rafferty, Alumnae Secretary and resident of Judson Hall. Photographs include pictures of Judson Hall, her friends and family, costume parties, plays, Mountain Day, May Day, the fire damage to Rockefeller Hall, and Mount Holyoke College graduation 1924. Her memorabilia include a wedding notice, a calling card, and a Christmas card. Biographical information consists of a note, ca. 1926, and a death notice, 1997.
Dates
- ca. 1919-1997
- Majority of material found within 1920 - 1924
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted
Biographical Note
Georgia Elizabeth Kauffman was born on October 6, 1902, in Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Her father, Allen R. Kauffman, was a telephone operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad. She attended Mifflintown High School from 1915 to 1919 and the Dickinson Seminary in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, from 1919-1920, before enrolling in Mount Holyoke College in 1920. At Mount Holyoke, she majored in English Literature with a minor in English. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1924, she taught French and English at the High School in Brattleboro, Vermont from 1924-1926. On June 11, 1926 she married Clayton L. Piggott, a printer, and in 1928 she had a daughter Margaret Hilton. She began teaching again at a nursery school in Brattleboro in 1930. In 1932 she moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and became the director at the Seller School; she remained there until 1935. In 1934 she divorced Piggott, and on September 12, 1935, she married John Paul Selsam, an assistant professor of history at the State College of Pennsylvania. Their daughter Eleanor Katharine graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1948. After her husband died in 1950, Selsam remained active in the affairs of the State College of Pennsylvania, acting as an assistant to the Music Department and chaperoning a choir tour of Europe. She died on October 16, 1997 in Newton, Pennsylvania at the age of ninety-five.
Extent
1 boxes (1924 Kauffman)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Selsam, Georgia Elizabeth Kauffman, 1902-1997; student and secondary school teacher. Mount Holyoke College graduate, 1924. Papers contain correspondence, memorabilia, biographical information, and photographs primarily documenting her daily activities while at Mount Holyoke and special events.
Arrangement
Arranged in 4 series: Series 1. Correspondence. Series 2. Memorabilia. Series 3. Biographical Information. Series 4. Photographs.
- Clothing and dress Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- College students -- Massachusetts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Food Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- May Day -- Massachusetts -- South Hadley Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Buildings Subject Source: Local sources
- Mount Holyoke College -- Fires, 1922 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Plays, pageants, etc. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Religious life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Songs and music Subject Source: Local sources
- Mount Holyoke College -- Sports Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Student life -- 1920 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Students Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Students -- Social life and customs Subject Source: Local sources
- Mount Holyoke College -- Traditions Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College Manuscript Collections Subject Source: Local sources
- Mountain Day -- 1920 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mountain Day -- Massachusetts -- South Hadley Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Music Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Physical education for women -- History -- Sources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women college students -- Massachusetts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Selsam papers, ca. 1919-1997 (bulk 1920-1924)
- 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
