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Fritts papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0540

Scope and Contents

The Ruth Myrtle Sonn Fritts Papers contain a diary, letters, notebook of expenses and other notes from her years at Mount Holyoke, biographical material, memorabilia, and photographs. The diary is equivalent to a daily planner that notes Fritts' daily activities and notes special campus events, such as Mountain Day, and family occasions during her four years at Mount Holyoke College (1914-1918). The letters from Fritts' former teacher, Russell Weisman, a member of the Harvard Ambulance Corps, describe his entrance into the military, his "Joining Uncle Sam." The ensuing letters describe Weisman's movements around Europe and his "baptism by fire" on the front line while stationed in France. Weisman further describes the destruction of World War I not only on the physical landscape, but the morale of the troops and he further describes the treatment of American soldiers, especially from gas intoxification, through the Harvard Ambulance Corps. Weisman writes of about the armistice due to German surrender primarily as a result of troop starvation.

Dates

  • Creation: 1914-1988, bulk 1914-1919
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1914-1988, 1914-1919

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted

Biographical Note

Ruth Myrtle Sonn was born on November 30, 1897, in Jersey City, New Jersey. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1918 and worked for two years teaching French, German, and Music. On May 7, 1921, she married Harold E. Fritts. In 1946, she received her master's degree from New York State College for Teachers. She worked at Chatham Public School in Chatham, New York. Ruth Sonn Fritts died on March 13, 1988, in Golden, Colorado.

Extent

1 boxes (1918 Sonn)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Fritts, Ruth Myrtle Sonn, 1897-1988; Teacher. Mount Holyoke College graduate, 1918. Papers consist of diary, correspondence, notebook of expenses, biographical information, memorabilia, and photographs; primarily containing correspondence from Russell Weisman, a former Mount Holyoke teacher, regarding his work in the Harvard Ambulance Corps in Europe during World War I and descriptions of her academic and social life at Mount Holyoke.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into five series.

Title
Fritts papers, 1914-1988 (bulk 1914-1919)
Subtitle
Finding Aid
Status
Edited Full Draft
Date
© 2003
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Repository Details

Part of the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
50 College Street
8 Dwight Hall
South Hadley MA 01075-6425 USA
413-538-3079