Hall papers, 1923-1997 (bulk 1925-1929): Scope & Contents of the Collection

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Ruth Tenny Hall papers consist of correspondence written to and from Hall, diaries, a scrapbook, writings, memorabilia, biographical information and photographs. The bulk of the material relates to Hall's undergraduate years at Mount Holyoke College, 1925-1929, and documents her social and academic life. In letters to family members Hall discusses her studies, mentioning lectures, faculty, grades and examinations. Her letters include references to racial matters, such as a letter from October 11, 1925 describing a discussion of race problems at the Cosmopolitan Club; a letter from November 1, 1925 describing a performance in blackface; and her September 23, 1928 letter mentioning her "little colored sister." She also describes her social activities, including references to clubs and sporting teams she belonged to such as field hockey. Hall describes events on campus including Junior Show, Mountain Day, and Junior Prom, as well as the numerous outings she and her "gang" of eleven friends went on including movies. Other campus issues mentioned are hazing, policies concerning smoking in the fall of 1925 (Hall was a member of the Representative Council of the Mount Holyoke College Community and was assigned to the committee looking at the smoking problem), and an influenza epidemic in 1928. Among the friends frequently mentioned are her roommate for three years Rhoda "Pat" Gilpatric Ketchum, Lorraine Keck, and Sarah "Sally" Steckel Skinner. The scrapbook and memorabilia contain programs for events on campus, as well as Valentine's Day and Christmas cards, dance cards and programs from debates in which she participated. Hall's diaries provide descriptions of events on campus and detail her daily routine, including mention of the weather, homework, grades, outings with friends, and visits from family members and her future husband, Frederick R. Hall. Letters to him document their early relationship and courtship as well as preparations for their 1932 wedding. Letters written to Hall from her father Charles Tenny, a Baptist missionary in Japan, describe the 1923 earthquake which occurred in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan and caused an estimated 130,000 deaths. Correspondents include Frederick R. Hall; Charles Tenny; Rhoda Gilpatric Ketchum, Mount Holyoke College Class of 1929; and Helene Pope Whitman, Mount Holyoke College Class of 1904.