Usher papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0646

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Jerusha "Jessie" Usher Papers include 14 letters written by Usher to her family in Higganum, Connecticut between October 20, 1854 and July 17, 1855. These letters primarily concern events at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary and also include notes from her sister Melissa Usher Tyler (Class of 1856). The collection contains one composition entitled "The Bower" written at West Haven Female Seminary dated March, 1858. Also included in the collection are 3 notebooks containing notes on Bible studies and lists of lesson times and other academic lists.

Dates

Creation: 1854-1861

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted

Biographical Note

Jerusha "Jessie" Usher arrived from Higganum, Connecticut to enter Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1854, dropped out in 1855 to teach and earn money and re-entered to graduate in 1857. Usher taught in Newport, Pennsylvania (1855-1856), Oak Hill Seminary in West Haven, Connecticut (1858-1859), Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts (1860-1861), Academy at Kingston, New York (1863-1864), Houghton Seminary in Clinton, New York (1864-1865) and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York (1865-1869). She later became Assistant to the President and Registrar at Wellesley College (1877-1878). Usher died in Higganum, Connecticut in 1906.

Extent

1 boxes (Faculty/Staff)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Usher, Jessie, d. 1906; student. Mount Holyoke Female Seminary graduate, 1857. Mount Holyoke Female Seminary teacher, 1860-1861. Papers consist of fourteen letters to her family, notes from her sister, Melissa Usher Tyler, and three notebooks on Bible studies. Primarily documents her academic and social activities at Mount Holyoke.