Gertrude Ruth Lukins Didcoct, a teacher, librarian and Mount Holyoke College graduate, was born on April 2, 1882 in Streator, Illinois to William Lukins and Dora Ramsey Lukins. She attended Streator Township High School, then went to Mount Holyoke College from 1901-1906, graduating with a B.A. in biology and mathematics (she remained affiliated with the Class of 1905). She married John Joseph Didcoct, a professor of secondary education at George Peabody College for Teachers, on August 22, 1911 and had two children. She was a high school teacher of mathematics at Streator Township High School from 1906-1911 and a librarian at George Peabody College from 1929 until about 1944. She died in Washington, D.C. on April 9, 1979 at the age of ninety-seven.

The Gertrude L. Didcoct Papers contain correspondence, memorabilia, biographical information and photographs. Most of the collection consists of letters that she wrote twice each week to her brother and mother while she was a student at Mount Holyoke College, 1901-1905. She discusses dormitory life, her friends, classes and professors, and College president Mary Emma Woolley. She frequently mentions difficulties with her studies. She also discusses Sunday services; visiting lecturers; parties and preparing food with a chafing dish; College regulations; clothing and shopping; visits to nearby towns in Massachusetts as well as Boston and New York City; minstrel shows with students in black face; her expenses; sports books that she is reading; her domestic work; and College traditions such as Junior Lunch, Junior Prom, Mountain Day and Faculty Show. The collection contains several letters to Didcoct as well, dating from 1890-1900 and written by relatives and friends. Three of these letters are from a cousin who describes his activities while training in Georgia with members of Company C of the Illinois Volunteer Calvary in the summer of 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Memorabilia consists of invitations, programs, brochures, announcements and a class of 1905 letter, 1895-1905, n.d. Biographical information consists of two biographical notes concerning Didcoct, ca.1911 and ca.1927, an obituary for her husband, 1927, and her obituary, 1979. Photographs date from ca.1901-1905 and include one of a dormitory room interior at Mount Holyoke and two of students at parties.

This collection is organized into four series:

• Correspondence (1890-1905, n.d.)
• Memorabilia (1895-1905, n.d.)
• Biographical Information (ca.1911, 1927, 1979)
• Photographs (ca.1901-1905)

The correspondence, memorabilia, biographical information and photographs are arranged chronologically.

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Gertrude L. Didcoct Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA

Processed by Danielle M. Ryan, 2005.