The Abigail Moore Burgess Papers consist of correspondence, a journal, manuscript essays, poems, and stories written by Mount Holyoke Female Seminary students and collected for Burgess, and biographical information. The papers chiefly contain letters written by Burgess to family and friends, including Mary Lyon and Hannah Porter. The letters relate to Burgess' years as a teacher at the Seminary and her subsequent work as a missionary in Ahmadnagar, India, 1847-1849, alongside her husband, Reverend Ebenezer Burgess. Burgess' letters describe her activities and health while in India as well as the Indian people and conflicts in the Punjab region. The journal is a short, yet detailed account of her voyage to India dedicated to her family and Hannah Porter. The volume of manuscript essays and poems includes writings, known as Seminary Literature, by students between 1838-1849. Also includes biographical information containing published letters in response to her death and is supplemented by biographical notes that extend to 1945.

Arranged in 3 series. Series 1. Correspondences. Series 2. Writings. Series 3. Biographical Information