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Mary Frances Farnham Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-84

Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence of Mary Frances Farnham, papers and letters relating to her death in 1942, and personal receipts. Some of the letters are from the State of Oregon, University of Nebraska, and The Congregational Home Missionary Society; others are from friends such as Elda Walker, Thomas Walker and to John Dobbs and Margaret Hinman. One outgoing letter dated 1924 describes the holiday "Wassail" tradition at Pacific University. The letters were accumulated at different intervals in Mary Farnham's career as Tualatin Academy as principal of the Ladies Department; and later in her role as Dean of Women at Pacific University. The contents of the folder titled "About her," pertains to her death and subsequent letters from loved ones and colleagues after the event.

Dates

  • Creation: 1895-1943

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Pacific University owns the copyright to some, but not all, of the materials housed in its archives. Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of Pacific University is retained by Pacific University and requires its permission for publication. Copyright status for other collection materials varies. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical Note

Mary Frances Farnham was an important member of the Pacific University faculty, who taught English Literature and served as the Dean of Women in the early twentieth century. Born in Maine in 1847, she graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1868. After serving as a teacher in various schools and universities in the United States and South Africa, she returned to study history at Radcliffe College in 1895-96. One year later, she became the principal of the Ladies Department at Tualatin Academy, which was the college prepatory department of Pacific University. She held that position until the closing of the prepatory school in 1915, when she was given a new position as dean of women at Pacific University. In the meantime, she was awarded a doctorate in English literature at Mount Holyoke in 1912. She was a distinguished and beloved lecturer and faculty member. Mary Frances Farnham retired in 1924.

Extent

0.25 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Summary

Mary Frances Farnham was an important member of the Pacific University faculty, who taught English Literature and served as the Dean of Women in the early twentieth century. This collection contains correspondence, papers and letters relating to her death in 1942, and personal receipts.

Accruals

No accuals are expected.

Title
Guide to the Mary Frances Farnham Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Eva Guggemos & Jackie Burgett
Date
2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Sponsored by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission

Repository Details

Part of the Pacific University Archives Repository

Contact:
2043 College Way
Forest Grove OR 97116 United States