Julia Harned Pardee letters

The Julia Harned Pardee letters house the personal correspondence of Julia Harned (later Pardee), Bryn Mawr College class of 1939. The bulk of these letters, often addressed to her mother or father, are from her first year at Bryn Mawr (October 1935- May 1936). One letter from her sophomore year and one undated letter whose contents suggest it is likely from February 1938 are also included. This collection provides a personal view into the concerns, interests, and hobbies of a first year student at Bryn Mawr during the late 1930s.

The collection is composed of fifteen letters. These letters are all arranged by date, from newest to oldest, with the exception of the first letter which is the oldest.

In these letters, Pardee describes her coursework, professors, choosing a major, the College’s 50th anniversary celebration, and auditioning for school plays. She also writes about college traditions, including Lantern Night, the Freshman Show, and May Day. She often laments about her school fees, such as the price of textbooks, new tennis equipment, and laundry services. She also details her many trips to Philadelphia to catch theater productions such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Three Musketeers. One letter of particular interest describes a trip she and her peers took to Philadelphia to meet Governor Alf Landon on his campaign trail during the 1936 presidential election. An additional letter from September 1940 is addressed to Myrtle Niccolls, Bryn Mawr Class of 1939, where Pardee reflects upon her summer, tutoring French and volunteering for the British Refugee Committee. She also looks forward to her courses at Yale University School of Drama.

Pardee’s correspondence provides an overview of undergraduate life during the 1930s, and her letters would be of general interest to those curious about on-campus activities, classes, and the social experience of a Bryn Mawr student during this time. Her interest in theater both on and off campus and her detailed descriptions of these theatrical events make these letters especially valuable to those studying professional and student theater productions in the 1930s.