Lang papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS 0779

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Malvina Stanton Lang Papers consist of course records, account books, a commonplace book, writings, recollections, memorabilia, biographical information, and a portrait. Most items in the collection date from her time as a student at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (1846-1849) and the years before her marriage in 1856. Three notebooks in the collection contain essays and notes reflecting her study of botany, Joseph Butler's "Analogy of Religion" and John Milton's "Paradise Lost" in 1848-1849. Two account books contain a record of her expenses from 1845-1851, mainly for food, postage, and mending supplies. Her recollections about Mount Holyoke's founder Mary Lyon are in a letter she wrote in 1906 to Louise F. Cowles, a former teacher. Her commonplace book dates from circa 1849-circa 1892 and contains poetry from authors such as John Greenleaf Whittier, Rudyard Kipling, and Oliver Wendell Holmes as well as newspaper clippings on "The Coverdale Bible." Writings consist of two poems by Lang probably from the 1840s. Memorabilia dates from 1849-1905 and consist of her certification to teach English in New Hampshire and her diploma from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, as well as her induction into the Woman's Board of Missions. Biographical information includes a biographical note and three obituaries, all from 1919. The portrait of Lang is an watercolor miniature painted on ivory by "L. Unger" (Leopold Paul Unger) of Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1852.

Material from this collection is available in an online digital format.

Dates

Creation: ca. 1840s-1919
Creation: Majority of material found within 1846 - 1852

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Note

Malvina Stanton was born in 1826 in Dover, New Hampshire. She entered Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1846 and graduated in 1849. She taught in Manchester, New Hampshire and Allentown, Pennsylvania before marrying C.S. Gale in 1856. He died the following year. In 1859 she married the treasurer of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, Thomas Lang, and they had a son. From the time of her second marriage to her death she resided in Malden, Massachusetts. She died August 11, 1919 at the age of ninety-three.

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (1 full Hollinger box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Lang, Malvina Stanton, 1826-1919; student. Mount Holyoke Female Seminary graduate, 1849. Papers contain course records, account books, a commonplace book, writings, recollections, memorabilia, and biographical information; primarily documenting her academic work and finances as a Mount Holyoke student.

Arrangement

Arranged in 8 series: Series 1. Course Records. Series 2. Account Books. Series 3. Commonplace Book. Series 4. Writings. Series 5. Recollections. Series 6. Memorabilia. Series 7. Biographical Information. Series 8. Portrait.