Christmas card showing Harriet Bliss Ford
in Wilder House living room, 1931-1932

Harriet Chalmers Bliss was born in New York City and earned a B.L. from Smith College in 1899. She was an editorial assistant at Century Magazine, 1899-1912, and consulting editor of the Woman's Press Board, the Woman's Journal, 1927-29. She married George Burdett Ford in 1912. Ford was director of women personal in the American Red Cross Overseas, 1917-1920, and was chair of the Smith College Relief Unit, Pans Office. Ford was on the National Board of the YWCA from 1920 to 1930, and was vice president chair of the Publicity Organization. She was a member of the Committee on Cause and Cure of War from 1925 to1930. At Smith College, she was a publicity chair and trustee, 1923-36, and she was a "Trustee in Residence," 1931-36. She was on the Board of Directors of the Smith Alumnae Association and the American Association of University Women. Ford was involved in Northampton, Massachusetts city politics and the National League of Women Voters, 1950s. She was on the Northampton City Charter Committee, 1949, and the City Council, 1940s-50s. She wrote articles, poetry and plays, some of which were published, regarding various causes including women's issues and peace.

The papers include biographical materials, correspondence, memorabilia, photographs, writings, and subject files. The correspondence and subject files relate to her work with Century Magazine and her political and intellectual life during her residence in Northampton, Massachusetts. Included are plays and pageants written and published by Ford for the Young Women's Christian Association (as well as other YWCA publications), and manuscripts of her speeches and writings. There is also an unpublished biography of her husband, George B. Ford. Notable correspondents include Carrie Chapman Catt; Grace Coolidge; Elizabeth Cutter Morrow; William Allen Neilson; Ada Comstock Notestein; Abby Rockefeller; William Rose Bennet; Helena Gilder. and Eleanor Roosevelt.

This collection is organized into five series:

• I. Biographical Materials
• II. Writings
• III. Memorabilia
• IV. Correspondence
• V. Subjects