Gray papers, 1941-2001 (bulk 1941-1945): Scope & Contents of the Collection

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Grace W. Gray papers consist of correspondence, course records, writings, memorabilia, biographical information, and a photograph. The materials in this collection relate chiefly to Gray's years as a student at Mount Holyoke College, 1941-1945. In letters to her family she discusses her studies (particularly in zoology) classmates, social activities, faculty, visiting lecturers, horseback riding, parties, dances, food, her jobs on campus, and College traditions such as Mountain Day, Faculty Show, Founder's Day, freshman hazing, and Junior Show. She mentions College President Roswell Gray Ham and professors Elizabeth M. Boyd, Leonora Branch, Ann Haven Morgan, Christianna Smith, Kathryn F. Stein and others. She also refers to motion pictures that she has seen and to political issues, such as the campaign for U.S. president in 1944. Many letters reflect the impact of World War II on the College. She mentions air raid drills, rationing, blackouts, blood drives, members of the U.S. Naval Reserve Women's Reserve (WAVES) training on campus, farm work and a war stamp drive. Course records are for zoology and English classes and a physical education class. Materials include notebooks, an annotated laboratory manual, a project, papers (including one about canoeing), examinations, and microscope slides that she prepared for histology courses. Writings in this collection consists of published articles by Gray dating from 1954-1975 which chiefly concern her scientific research on the effect of various drugs on intestinal muscle. Memorabilia, 1941-1945, consists of correspondence from College administrators to her parents concerning her course work, correspondence about her awards, and a receipt for her enrollment fee. Biographical information consists of two clippings about her from 1945 and an obituary dated 2001. The photograph is her Mount Holyoke senior portrait taken in 1945.