Box 1

Scope and Contents The first folder of the Natalie Gookin papers consists of letters written almost every day between Natalie Gookin and her family, most notably her mother and father and aunt, during her freshman year at Bryn Mawr College in 1916. These letters are arranged chronologically according to the date that they were written. Her homesickness is most evident in her letters to her mother, as she always sends lots of love and wishes that she were back home. Most of her letters describe student life at...

Scope and Contents The second folder in the Natalie Gookin papers consists of letters written during the month of November, 1916 from Natalie Gookin to her parents and aunt, as well as a few from Frederick Gookin to his wife. These letters are arranged chronologically and are from her freshman year at Bryn Mawr College. Most of her letters are accounts of her feelings and encounters with her fellow classmate and idol Helen Harris. “Hel” Harris is mentioned in every letter in some way. In addition, Natalie’s...

Scope and Contents The third folder in the Natalie Gookin papers holds letters from December, 1916, Natalie’s freshman year at Bryn Mawr College, written by her to her parents and aunt. They are arranged chronologically. In this collection of letters, Natalie details her highlights of December: her wonderful trip to New York with the Blodgett’s, a dinner with her professor Mrs. Carver, reacting to a Vita article in the college newspaper about what she had said, and of course the Sophomore-Freshmen dance where...

Scope and Contents In the fourth folder of the Natalie Gookin papers consists mainly of letters written by Bryn Mawr freshman Natalie Gookin to her parents and aunt during the month of January 1917. They are arranged chronologically, according to the date they were written. The first month of 1917 is a busy one for Natalie as she finishes up her first semester exams and continues to raise money for her class endowment fund. Her letters detail the activities of her everyday life and her thoughts on them as...

Scope and Contents The fifth folder in the Natalie Gookin papers consists of letters written from Natalie at Bryn Mawr College to her aunt, mother, father, and cat snip during the month of February, 1917 in her freshman year. These letters are arranged chronologically according to the date that they were written. Her February is marked by the end of first semester exams and visiting friends in New York which leads into the change of her new semester’s courses and professors, busy teas, and the freshman show....

Scope and Contents In the sixth folder of the Natalie Gookin papers, Natalie writes home daily to her aunt, mother, and father during her freshman year at Bryn Mawr College in March of 1917. These letters are arranged chronologically according to the date that they were written. Much of this folder consists of letters detailing Natalie’s everyday activities and academic achievements within the community of Bryn Mawr. She spends a large amount of time describing her design for a yellow sweater she crocheted for...

Scope and Contents The seventh folder of the Natalie Gookin papers follows the everyday correspondence between Bryn Mawr freshman Natalie Gookin and her aunt, mother, and father during April 1917. These letters are arranged chronologically according to the date by which they were written. There is a break in early April where no letters were written because Natalie was at home in Chicago for Easter. The advent of spring is a common theme during Natalie’s April letters as she mentions frequently how beautiful...