Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers, 1916-1985

10 boxes (6 linear ft.)

Collection number: RG 42

Abstract:

Professor of English. Contains biographical material, correspondence, publications, lecture and research notes, and oversize materials.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

The papers are open for research according to the regulations of the Smith College Archives without any additional restrictions.

Restrictions on use:

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the documents must be requested from the Smith College Archives. Smith College owns copyright to any published material relating to college events and activities. Provenance and copyright ownership of other materials is unknown and researchers are responsible for determining any question of copyright.

Smith College Archives
Northampton, MA

Biographical Note

Katherine Gee Hornbeak was Professor of English at Smith College from 1930 to 1962. She was born in Tehuacana, Texas on January 24, 1897 to Samuel L. Hornbeck and Martha Gee, one of three sisters. Her twin sister, Louise, became a professor of history and taught in Oklahoma and her sister Harriett Lee ("Hattie) (b. Aug. 1892) was a schoolteacher who taught in Panama, the Philippines and in Texas. Her father was an educator and was eventually President of Trinity University (Texas). She graduated from Trinity University in 1916 and received a master's degree from Columbia University in 1922. After her Columbia degree she taught in high schools in Cleburne, Texas and Cleveland Heights, Ohio and at the North Texas State Normal College, Denton, Texas.

Professsor Hornbeak entered Yale University where she specialized in 18th century literature and social history, in particular, the works of Samuel Richardson and Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu. Her dissertation research took her to Great Britain financed in part by a Sterling Research Fellowship. After the completion of the Ph.D. at Yale in 1930 she came to Smith College where she moved through academic ranks until she was made full professor in 1955. Professor Hornbeak was known as an exacting teacher, but one who was fair and full of praise for her students.

Among her publications are the books The Complete Letter Writer in English, 1568-1800 (1934) and Richardson's Familiar Letters and the Domestic Conduct Books (1939). Both texts were published as part of the series Smith College Studies in Modern Languages.

Professor Hornbeak retired in May 1962 and entered Smith College in the fall of that year as a special student in order to study the Greek language, a study that continued for a number of years. Her studies brought her the Julia Harwood Caverno Prize in May 1964, a prize usually awarded to a member of the junior or senior class for excellent in Greek language and literature. She gained such proficiency that she was called upon to teach Greek as a lecturer at Smith College in 1965/1966.

The retreat owned by Smith College, Juniper Lodge, Silver Lake, New Hampshire was often her summer residence during her early years at Smith and for many years she served as the chair of its executive committee. Professor Hornbeck died on February 24, 1985.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers contain items related to Professor Hornbeak's affiliation with Smith College and her own education. There is extensive correspondence from her sisters Harriett Lee Hornbeak ("Hattie") and Louise Hornbeak. In addition there is correspondence with Ruth Hillyer Hill, Katherine Strayer and Anne Francis (Smith College, M.A., 1942; Headmistress of the Pontypool Girls' County School, Penygarn, Wales, 1945-1960s) and from various students and friends.

Professor Hornbeak's research and lecture notes reflect a teacher's use and reuse of notes throughout her teaching career. A file may contain notes for a particular course in a given year, but it is more apt to contain notes from a succession of years (sometimes dated to show succession). Folders labels suggest a date for a course as noted by Hornbeak but materials included may reflect a range of dates. Also there are situations where a particular file will include papers related to more than one course number. Duplication between files does occur and notes on a particular topic may appear in more than one file. For the most part files are as Professor Hornbeak left them and reflect these many apparent date and course conflicts.

The Hornbeak papers are divided into four series:

Series I: General materials (1930s-1985)
Series II: Correspondence (1916-1985)
Series III: Publications
Series IV: Lecture and research notes
Series V: Oversize materials

Information on Use

Terms of Access and Use

Restrictions on access:

The papers are open for research according to the regulations of the Smith College Archives without any additional restrictions.

Restrictions on use:

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection: Katherine Gee Hornbeak, Box #, Smith College Archives.

History of the Collection

The Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers were donated over a period of time to the Smith College Archives from a variety of sources.

Additional Information

Contact Information

Smith College Archives

Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: (413) 585-2970
Fax: (413) 585-2886

Email: nyoung@smith.edu
URL: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/archives

Language

English

Contents List

Series I - General

Biographical materials	1985, n.d.	Box 1: folder 1

Address books, Christmas card lists, etc.	1940s-1970s	Box 1: folder 2

Financial papers	1930s-1960s, 1985	Box 1: folder 3

Call slips from a British library	n.d.	Box 1: folder 4

Photographs, some of Hornbeak, others not identified	n.d.	Box 1: folder 5

Photograph album - snapshots of Colorado (?)	n.d.	Box 1: folder 6

Photograph album - snapshots of New Hampshire and New England	n.d.	Box 1: folder 7

Retirement items	1962	Box 1: folder 8

Certificate from Trinity University (Texas) "upon the fiftieth anniversary of [K.G.H.'s] graduation"	May 30, 1966	Box 1: folder 8a

KGH's Greek studies-Student papers and related documents	1963-1965	Box 1: folder 8b

Greek 11 Examinations and papers	1966	Box 1: folder 8c

Greek studies-Drafts of articles on	1964-1966	Box 1: folder 8d

Family documents	n.d.	Box 1: folder 9

Hornbeak's written examination for Yale University's English 123-Shakespeare for Professor C. B. Tinker	January 1928	Box 1: folder 9a

Yale University Commencement program and related material	June 1930	Box 1: folder 9b

Miscellaneous materials	n.d.	Box 1: folder 10

European travel pamphlets		Box 1: folder 11

Series II - Correspondence

Correspondence from Katherine G. Hornbeak	1945-1946; 1955-1979, n.d.	Box 2: folder 1

Correspondence from Katherine G. Hornbeak to Ruth Hillyer Hill

June 1929-Sep 1929		Box 2: folder 2

Oct 1929-Dec 1929		Box 2: folder 3

Jan 1930-Aug 1930		Box 2: folder 4

Correspondence from Ruth Hillyer Hill	July 1929-Dec 1929	Box 2: folder 5a

Correspondence from Ruth Hillyer Hill	1931-1932, 1980	Box 2: folder 5b

Correspondence from Katherine Strayer	1931	Box 2: folder 6

Correspondence from Priscilla Presbrey	1928	Box 2: folder 7

Correspondence from Priscilla Presbrey	1929-1932, n.d.	Box 2: folder 8

Christmas letters from Katherine G. Hornbeak	1949-1958	Box 2: folder 9

Correspondence from Lois Ames	1966-1967	Box 2: folder 10

Correspondence from Samuel L. Hornbeak ("Father")	1945-1947	Box 2: folder 10a

Correspondence from "Pattie"	1948-1950	Box 2: folder 10b

Correspondence from Harriett Lee Hornbeak (Hattie) to Lona and Ruth Spruiell with occasional correspondence to Mrs. W. P. Withers (Carrie) from Harriett Hornbeak	1955-1957	Box 2: folder 11

Correspondence from Harriett Lee Hornbeak ("Hattie") to Katherine Hornbeak ("Tassie")

n.d.		Box 2: folder 12

1962		Box 2: folder 13

1968		Box 2: folder 14

Feb 1969-Apr 1969		Box 3: folder 15

Aug 1969-Dec 1969		Box 3: folder 16

Jan 1970-May 1970		Box 3: folder 17

June 1970-Dec 1970		Box 3: folder 18

Jan 1971-Aug 1971		Box 3: folder 19

Sep 1971-Dec 1971		Box 3: folder 20

Jan 1972-May 1972		Box 3: folder 21

June 1972-Dec 1972		Box 3: folder 22

Jan 1973-June 1973		Box 4: folder 23

July 1973-Dec 1973		Box 4: folder 24

1974		Box 4: folder 25

Correspondence from Louise Hornbeak ("Lub") to Katherine G. Hornbeak ("Tod")	1935-1985	Box 4: folder 26

Correspondence from Katherine G. Hornbeak to Anne Francis	1941	Box 4: folder 27

Correspondence from Anne Francis to Katherine G. Hornbeak	1941	Box 4: folder 28

Correspondence from Anne Francis to Katherine G. Hornbeak	1945-1981	Box 4: folder 29

Correspondence from and related to Cuthbert Becher Pigot	1947	Box 4: folder 29a

Correspondence from C. B. Tinker and Remarks on C.B. Tinker and the 18th Century at a dinner Jan 18, 1947	1944-1949	Box 4: folder 29b

Correspondence from Jane Shaw	1947-1948	Box 4: folder 29c

Correspondence from Dorothy Robinson	1952	Box 4: folder 29d

Correspondence from Jean Hecht	1955	Box 4: folder 29e

Correspondence from W. Douglas Simpson	1955	Box 4: folder 29f

Correspondence from Arthur Raistrick	1955-1956	Box 4: folder 29g

Correspondence with the Duke of Northumberland	1955-1956	Box 4: folder 29h

Correspondence from Diana Gould White	1966-1973	Box 4: folder 30

Correspondence from Virginia Corwin Brautigam and Herman A. Brautigam	1975-1978	Box 4: folder 31

Correspondence from and related to Marjorie Hanson	1976	Box 4: folder 32

Correspondence from Betty Baum	1977-1980	Box 4: folder 33

Correspondence from various individuals (usually only one item from each individual), some identified only by first name, Christmas greetings

1928-1964		Box 4: folder 34

1965-1970		Box 5: folder 35

1972-1984		Box 5: folder 36

n.d.		Box 5: folder 37

Correspondence from Trinity University (Texas) officials	1916-1922	Box 5: folder 38

Correspondence from North Texas State Normal College, Denton, Texas officials	1922-1924	Box 5: folder 39

Correspondence from Cleburne Public Schools, Cleburne, Texas official	1922	Box 5: folder 40

Correspondence from Cleveland Heights Schools, Ohio official	1926-1929	Box 5: folder 41

Correspondence from Yale University officials	1927-1979	Box 5: folder 42

Series III - Publications

Publications	1949-1966	Box 5

Series IV - Lecture and research notes

English honors examinations-Notes, etc.		Box 6: folder 1

Lecture notes for English 11-Notes, etc.		Box 6: folder 2

English 19-Notes, etc.		Box 6: folder 3

English 19-Examinations and notes		Box 6: folder 4

Lecture notes for English 21 and syllabi		Box 6: folder 5

Examinations and notes for English 21		Box 6: folder 6

Lecture notes on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress		Box 6: folder 7

Bunyan memorabilia (post cards, booklets, etc.)	1960s-1970s	Box 6: folder 8

Lecture notes on Congreve's The Way of the World		Box 6: folder 9

Lecture notes on Milton		Box 6: folder 10

Lecture notes on Milton's Paradise Lost		Box 6: folder 11

Lecture notes on Fielding's Joseph Andrews		Box 6: folder 12

Notes on Fielding and Fielding's Tom Jones		Box 6: folder 13

Lecture notes on Pope's Rape of the Lock		Box 6: folder 14

Notes on the [Royal] Game of Ombre		Box 6: folder 15

Notes on Pope		Box 6: folder 16

Notes on Pope's Essay on Man to Gen. Lit. 291 in Sage Hall	March 13, 1957	Box 6: folder 17

Pope and Swift as satirists		Box 6: folder 18

Notes on Swift [1]		Box 6: folder 19

Notes on Swift [2] (satire)		Box 6: folder 20

Lecture notes on Richardson		Box 6: folder 21

Notes on Keats		Box 6: folder 22

Notes on Shakespeare's Comedies-English 21		Box 6: folder 23

Notes, etc. for English 29		Box 6: folder 24

Notes on Medieval drama		Box 6: folder 25

Lecture notes for English 40b-18th Century	1954	Box 6: folder 26

Notes for English 58-Boswell and Johnson	1946	Box 6: folder 27

Notes for English 58-18th Century	1949	Box 6: folder 28

Notes for English 58-18th Century	1945-1950	Box 6: folder 29

Lecture notes for English 58a-18th Century	1950/1951	Box 6: folder 30

Lecture notes for English 58a-18th Century	1951/1952	Box 6: folder 31

Lecture notes for English 58a	1958	Box 6: folder 32

Lecture notes for English 310	Spring Semester 1949	Box 6: folder 33

K.G.H.'s letter and questionnaire to English 310 students	June 9, 1950	Box 6: folder 34

Lecture notes for English 310	1950-1951	Box 6: folder 35

Reading period lists, English 310	1947-1955	Box 6: folder 36

Examinations, English 310	1940s-1950s	Box 6: folder 37

Bibliographies on the Social Background of the 18th Century	1940s	Box 6: folder 38

Notes on Mandeville and Shaftesbury		Box 6: folder 39

Satire-Definitions of terms-Survey of 17th and 18th century dictionaries		Box 6: folder 40

Satire-General Notes		Box 6: folder 41

Satire lecture notes, English 310a	1939-1943	Box 6: folder 42

Satire lecture notes, English 310a (1)	1946-1951	Box 6: folder 43

Satire lecture notes, English 310a (2)	1946-1951	Box 6: folder 44

Satire lecture notes, English 310a	1953-1958	Box 6: folder 45

Satire lecture notes, English 310a	1959-1961	Box 6: folder 46

Satire lecture notes and syllabi	1962	Box 6: folder 47

Student cards-English 310a	1962 (?)	Box 6: folder 48

Lecture notes for English 310a		Box 6: folder 49

Examinations, English 310a (some for English 310)	1930s-1950s	Box 6: folder 50

Examinations, English 310a	1960s	Box 6: folder 51

Suggestions for term papers, English 310a and English 310b		Box 6: folder 52

Notes on Petronius		Box 6: folder 53

Notes on Erasmus and Rabelais		Box 6: folder 54

Notes on Lucian		Box 6: folder 55

Johnson as literary critic-English 310a and 310b		Box 6: folder 56

Johnson as literary critic-English 310b-Student assignment		Box 6: folder 57

Johnsonon (various topics)		Box 7: folder 58

Lecture notes on Huxley, Waugh and Orwell		Box 7: folder 59

Reserve book list for English 310a and Roman satire materials, Latin 34b	1953-1958	Box 7: folder 60

Wit and burlesque notes		Box 7: folder 61

"Splitting the infinitive" notes		Box 7: folder 62

Notes on Don Quixote		Box 7: folder 63

Don Quixote illustrations, including Horst Lemke's		Box 7: folder 64

Notes on Sentimentalism and Richardson		Box 7: folder 65

Notes on Sentimental comedy 18th Century		Box 7: folder 66

Syllabi for English 310b	1960	Box 7: folder 67

Reading period and library reserve reading lists for English 310b		Box 7: folder 68

Examinations, English 310b	1930s-1960s	Box 7: folder 69

Memo book for English 310b	1958	Box 7: folder 70

Lecture notes for English 310b-Boswell and Johnson	1934	Box 7: folder 71

Outline and lecture notes for English 310b	1940s-1960s	Box 7: folder 72

Lecture notes for English 310b	1957-1961	Box 7: folder 73

Lecture notes and/or syllabi, English 310b	1957	Box 7: folder 74

Miscellaneous notes for English 310b		Box 7: folder 75

Map study, English 310b-18th Century London		Box 7: folder 76

18th Century London-Maps (Glass slides)		Box 7: folder 77

Notes on friendship and women		Box 7: folder 78

Notes on Addison and Steele		Box 7: folder 79

Notes on Defoe		Box 7: folder 80

Notes on Dryden		Box 7: folder 81

Notes on Macpherson's Ossian		Box 7: folder 82

Notes on Gray		Box 7: folder 83

Notes on Gentleman's Magazine		Box 7: folder 84

Notes on Goldsmith		Box 7: folder 85

Notes on James Thomson [1]		Box 7: folder 86

Notes on James Thomson [2]		Box 7: folder 87

Notes on Mary Astell		Box 7: folder 88

Notes on Rambler and Idler-17th and 18th Century journalism-English 310b	1950s	Box 7: folder 89

Notes on Juvenal and Johnson, English 310b		Box 7: folder 90

Social background of the age of Johnson (notes on)		Box 7: folder 91

Lecture notes on Boswell and Johnson		Box 7: folder 92

Notes on Boswell's Life of Johnson		Box 7: folder 93

Notes on Boswell as biographer		Box 7: folder 94

Notes and lecture notes on Johnson's Dictionary		Box 7: folder 95

Photographs and illustrations of Johnson and Johnsonian sites		Box 7: folder 96

Notes on Rasselas and Candide, English 59 and English 310b	1940s-1950s	Box 7: folder 97

Notes on P. H. Houston's Dr. Johnson (1923)	1930s	Box 7: folder 98

Notes for talk on the literary scene in England, 1761	April 1961	Box 7: folder 99

Notes on Boswell's papers (general)		Box 7: folder 100

Notes on Boswell's papers, v. 1-6		Box 7: folder 101

Notes on Boswell's papers, v. 8-12		Box 7: folder 102

Notes on Boswell's papers, v. 13-15		Box 7: folder 103

Clippings on Boswell's London journal	1950	Box 7: folder 104

Clippings on Boswell's papers	1948-1950	Box 7: folder 105

Clippings on Johnson and Boswell	1930s-1950s	Box 7: folder 106

Satire unit student papers	n.d.	Box 8: folder 107

Satire unit student papers [1]	1956-1957	Box 8: folder 108

Satire unit student papers [2]	1956-1957	Box 8: folder 109

Satire unit student papers	1958	Box 8: folder 110

Satire unit student papers [1]	1959	Box 8: folder 111

Satire unit student papers [2]	1959	Box 8: folder 112

Satire unit student papers [3]	1959	Box 8: folder 113

Irene Levy paper		Box 8: folder 114

Marian Allison McCrillis paper	1943	Box 8: folder 115

Mary-Elizabeth Bruce paper	1953	Box 8: folder 116

Katherine Reese paper	1947	Box 8: folder 117

Notes on Peacock and Bryon		Box 8: folder 118

Notes for English 314-English Novel		Box 8: folder 119

Notes for English 414 a and b	1957-1959	Box 8: folder 120

Notes for English 414 a and b	1960-1961	Box 8: folder 121

Notes on Sir Robert Walpole and for English 414b	1957-1959	Box 8: folder 122

Notes on diaries		Box 8: folder 123

Notes on biography		Box 8: folder 124

Notes on domestic handbooks-Yale University Library	Summer 1931	Box 8: folder 125

Notes on women and domestic relationships		Box 8: folder 126

Samples of and/or for examinations in English literature	1940s-1950s	Box 8: folder 127

Notes on, drafts and letters of recommendation	1950s-1960s	Box 8: folder 128

K.G.H.'s personal files on Smith College's M.A. in English literature

1952-1953/1954		Box 8: folder 129

1954/1955		Box 8: folder 130

[1] 1955/1956		Box 8: folder 131

[2]1956		Box 8: folder 132

K.G.H.'s copy of Newton Arvin's "The Grounds of Literary Judgment"		Box 8: folder 133

Notes on lecture by Elizabeth Drew, "Life and art in the novel"-Sage Hall	Oct. 5, 1959	Box 8: folder 134

Research on the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

Correspondence from and to K.G.H. related to the Montagu letters	1938-1953	Box 8: folder 135

Notes on Montagu letters

[1]		Box 8: folder 136

[2]		Box 8: folder 137

[3]		Box 8: folder 138

Newspaper clippings on Montagu biographies and criticism		Box 8: folder 139

Note cards on various subjects		Box 9

Series V: Oversize

Lithograph of cats, by Jim Sekim		Box 10: folder 1

Reproduction of the "View of the interior of the Rotunda at Ranelgh," by Caneletto from the National Gallery		Box 10: folder 2

Photostat of letter of Lady Elizabeth Montagu	Sept. 4, 1772	Box 10: folder 3

Photostat of will of Lady Elizabeth Montagu	August 27, 1809	Box 10: folder 4

Photostat of documents 18th century		Box 10: folder 5

Reproductions of etchings and paintings of 18th Century England		Box 10: folder 6

"18th Century England"-article in Life	Sept. 13, 1948	Box 10: folder 7

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