Arranged chronologically.

This series, containing letters from Runnette's childhood through retirement, documents her relationships with friends, family, colleagues, students, and students' parents. Letters concerning British children educated at Tower School during World War II can be found in the correspondence of the early 1940s. Additionally, friends of Runnette living in England wrote of their experiences of war and their relief after it had ended. Affectionate letters of congratulations and wishes upon Runnette's retirement are contained that evidence the impact her teaching had on former students and their parents. A letter from Mary E. Woolley, dated April 24, 1934, mentions a visit by Woolley to Tower School. The majority of letters are dated from the 1940s and 1950s.

Arranged chronologically.

Runnette's diaries span the years 1924 to 1979 with the bulk of diaries created in the 1960s and 1970s. Some diaries overlap in dates and give slightly different perceptions of the same days. Notes found in the diaries have been left as found though some of the diaries written in loose-leaf binders have been removed from the metal bindings for preservation purposes. While many of the entries contain little more than a recount of weather, daily activities, and health, many detail her thoughts on people and events in her life as well as education.

Arranged in 7 sub-series by record type: 1. Administrative Records. 2. Correspondence. 3. Notes. 4. Teaching and Evaluation MAterials. 5. Publications. 6. Memorabilia. 7. Clippings.

Access restricted to student records.

The series contains records related to the administration of Tower School from 1917 to 1956. Administrative records include the history and bylaws of the school, information regarding its trustees, financial and enrollment information and information regarding fundraising for the "new building" built when the school was moved from Salem to Marblehead in 1941. Correspondence primarily relates to the school interactions with area businesses and correspondence to the trustees. Also contained are administrative announcements, alumni news, and letters regarding Runnette's retirement dinner. Three folders of Director's Notes show Runnette's ideas about how to manage and inspire teachers, how to educate students, how to run effective meetings, and how to maintain her own enthusiasm in the face of difficulties. These display the transformation of ideas about education into teaching practice. Teaching and evaluation materials include guidelines by which students were to be evaluated and blank evaluation forms, a 1958 summer reading list, and excerpts from school plays. Reports on two specific students, one being a transcript from another school, are also included. The product of students' labor is captured in several editions of "The Turret" and loose student compositions. Additional issues of "The Turret" are held in the Mount Holyoke College Library periodical collection. Further publications include applications and brochures for Tower School that advertise its educational philosophy and offer scenes from the school.Financial and enrollment information includes budget reports as well as one chart comparing Tower School with other area schools in the areas of grades offered, tuition, and "extras."

Arranged by record type.

This series contains family correspondence, memorabilia and genealogical information, clippings, and a family Bible containing further genealogical information. Notes found within the Bible have been left in place. More extensive information on the Runnette lineage is contained in the form of a report from Mabel Mann Runnette written in 1952. A eulogy for Elizabeth Kerr Runnette delivered on August 21, 1920 at Sandstone Camp, Green Lake Wisconsin, is also contained, paying tribute to her character and mourning her death to appendicitis at age 29. Many clippings refer to a slogan contest won by Virginia Anderson Runnette in 1926, and two refer to Fredric Ramsey Jr. (Runnette's nephew) and his career as a jazz scholar. Family correspondence spans 1849 - 1984 and contains letter to many different family members.

Arranged chronologically.

This series contains biographical information about Helen Virginia Runnette, including clippings from Boston area newspapers and obituaries.

Arranged by record type.

Artwork contained in the Runnette Papers consists of charcoal sketches, pencil sketches, a sketchbook, bookplates, other drawings, and some art produced presumably in conjunction with courses taken at the New School of Design in Boston. Artwork housed in folio includes a painting of Runnette's father that bears the inscription "for Charlie."

Arranged by record type.

Memorabilia in the Helen Virginia Runnette papers consist primarily of travel itineraries. Much of the memorabilia in the collection refers to family members or Tower School and is arranged accordingly. Many items were also returned to the donor. Memorabilia housed in folio includes a scrapbook of letters written to Runnette from Tower School students upon her retirement.

Arranged by subject.

This series contains approximately eighty photographs of family members, friends, Tower School activities, and places visited on vacations. Included are photographs of Runnette's friend Miriam Luscomb visiting Mount Holyoke College. Many photographs of Runnette and her sisters capture their childhood Pittsburgh. Individuals depicted include Helen Virginia Runnette, sister Elizabeth Kerr Runnette, sister Ethel Anderson Runnette, father Joseph H. Runnette, mother Virginia Anderson Runnette, grandmother Elizabeth Virginia Elliot Anderson, aand aunt Mary Zeller Anderson. Photographs housed in folio include individual images of Helen Virginia Runnette, her mother, and her father.