Marie P. Litzinger Papers

The Marie P. Litzinger papers house the college correspondence and photographs of Marie Litzinger, Bryn Mawr class of 1920 (M.A. 1924) and mathematician. The collection, which ranges from 1916 to 1924, consists primarily of Litzinger’s letters to her parents and sisters during her years as an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr (1916-1920), as well as her year studying in Rome after college (from July 1923 to June 1924). These letters evidence the personal life and professional life of a student in the early 20th century, and shed light on faculty-student relationships.

The collection is divided into six series: Series I: Freshman year, 1916-1917; Series II: Sophomore year, 1917-1918; Series III: Junior year, 1918-1919; Series IV: Senior year, 1919-1920; Series V: Rome and Europe, 1923-1924; and Series VI: Photographs, 1916-1920.

The letters from the first four series of the collection generally communicate college life at Bryn Mawr, exchange of advice, and provide a way for family to stay relevant in her life away from home. Most of the letters are two pages and express concerns about personal wellbeing, relationships between friends and professors, as well as advice and news on her professional development. While Litzinger continuously shared her excitement about her time at Bryn Mawr, her letters home also served as an outlet to receive emotional support from her family; many of her letters begin and end with continued appreciation of receiving letters from home. Included among the letters are various other documents such as Litzinger’s employment contracts with educational institutions for young women as well as evidence of her academic accolades (including receiving the European fellowship that provided for her study abroad in Rome and her yearly scholastic scholarships). Series VI: Photographs, 1916-1920 consists of a small number of photographs of Litzinger and her friends at Bryn Mawr, including several taken when they were in costumes for the May Day celebration.

Marie Litzinger was a long-time professor of mathematics at Mount Holyoke College, eventually becoming Chairman of the Department. This collection highlights her undergraduate and graduate studies in mathematics. The collection would be of use for those interested in women pursuing academic careers in the early 20th century, women in mathematics, and Marie Litzinger.