Letters, Senior Year, Semester I, 1920 September-1921 November

This folder begins Henrietta’s first semester of senior year. She discusses her courses for this semester, her developing relationship with Jim and Tom, and her thoughts on marriage and children.

Henrietta’s courses reflect her decided major of Psychology, taking Social and Group Psychology, as well as other classes including Greek Sculpture, Italian Renaissance Painting, Gothic Architecture, and Biblical Literature – New Testament Biography.

These letters emphasize Henrietta’s relationships with two young men, Jim and Tom. Jim appears to have no interest in any girl besides Henrietta, so all of his focus is on her. Tom, on the other hand, is quite family-oriented. His mother is hopeful that Tom will become interested in Henrietta, rather in his current girlfriend, whom she views as low-class.

Henrietta often writes to her mother about a number of her friends who have gotten married, engaged, or have already had their first child. Henrietta, however, shows no real interest in getting married yet. She disregards marriage at this time in her life, rather choosing to enjoy her care-free existence. Seeing some of her friends, such as Mart, getting married and having children gives her a moment of reflection, where she states that “It made me more satisfied than ever with my happy, carefree life – surrounded by friends and joyous happy faces… no tired, grouchy husband – wearied with trying to make ends meet! No foul-finding muddling in–laws! No unpaid grocery bills!” She will only marry once the situation in which she currently lives, with her friends at school, is no longer desirable.