Welch papers
Scope and Contents
The Elizabeth Mary Bell Welch Papers consists of a journal (with typescript excerpts); weekly journal of sermons; notebook of drawings; pastoral pencil sketch; and memorabilia. The material in the collection primarily dates from her middle and senior years (1846-1847) as a student at the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Her journal entries begin in the second term of her middle year and include her thoughts on religion, academic studies, health, domestic activities, regulations, and special events. One event that Welch makes particular note of is the July 4th excursion to the Mount Holyoke Range. Welch's entries mention not only her friends, but her teachers, including: Principal Mary Lyon, Associate Principal Miss Mary C. Whitman, and Mrs. Hannah Kingsbury Porter. She also addresses those in the community who awaited conversion and the illness and subsequent deaths of several members of the Seminary. The journal of sermons is a compilation of quotations dating from March 1846. The preachers include three who spoke at Mount Holyoke: Joseph Dayton Condit, Ebenezer Burgess, and J. Williams. The sermons incorporate the religious sentiments of the Second Great Awakening, the evangelical revival of the nineteenth century. The sermons concentrate on a Christian's obligations to God and missionary work. Of particular interest is a drawing of the Seminary Building and reference within one sermon (Mar. 29, 1846) to the Ahmadnagar mission in India.
Dates
- 1846-1848
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted.
Biographical Note
Elizabeth Mary Bell was born in Cornwall, Connecticut on March 30, 1829. She was the daughter of Julius Bell and Elizabeth Carlins Bell. She graduated from the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1847. Upon leaving Mount Holyoke, she married John Hopestill Welch. She had five children. She died in Hartford, Connecticut in 1876 at the age of forty-seven.
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet (1 half Hollinger box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Welch, Elizabeth Mary Bell, 1829-1876; student. Mount Holyoke Female Seminary graduate, 1847. Papers consist of a commonplace book of sermons, a journal, drawings, and memorabilia documenting primarily her daily academic and social activities and her religious life while a student at Mount Holyoke.
Arrangement
Arranged in 3 series: Series 1. Journals. Series 2. Drawings. Series 3. Memorabilia.
- College students -- United States -- Religious life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Death Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Diseases Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fourth of July -- 1846 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fourth of July -- Massachusetts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College Manuscript Collections Subject Source: Local sources
- Mount Holyoke Female Seminary -- Curricula Subject Source: Local sources
- Mount Holyoke Female Seminary -- Student life -- 1846-1847 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke Female Seminary -- Students Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Second Great Awakening -- Massachusetts -- Sources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women college students -- United States -- Religious life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young adults -- United States -- Religious life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- commonplace books Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- diaries Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Welch papers, 1846-1848.
- 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
