Bertha Szold (Levin) scrapbook
Scope and Contents
The Bertha Szold (Levin) scrapbook contains the two volume scrapbook of Bertha Szold, Bryn Mawr class of 1895. The first scrapbook covers Szold’s freshman and sophomore years, from 1891-1893, while the second scrapbook covers Szold’s junior and senior years, from 1893-1895. The scrapbooks were arranged by Szold’s daughter-in-law, Alexander Lee Levin ’33, and primarily contain typed transcripts of letters written by Szold to her family.
The scrapbooks are housed in two volumes. Volume 1 contains materials from Szold’s freshman and sophomore years. Volume 2 contains materials from Szold’s junior and senior years.
Volume 1 contains typed transcripts of letters to family in Baltimore from October 1891-April 1893. These letters concern classes, commuting to Bryn Mawr from Philadelphia, social life, class play performances, Lantern Night, English lectures by Miss Thomas, attending lectures and plays, professors, Radcliffe (the Harvard Annex), college expenses, and field trips. Additionally, it contains other Bryn Mawr memorabilia, like admission materials; bills for tuition, rooms, and books; newspaper clippings regarding Bryn Mawr and women’s colleges, etc. Volume 2 of the scrapbook contains typed transcripts of letters to family in Baltimore from October 1893-March 1895. These letters are on such topics as: an advising meeting with M. Carey Thomas; academics; social life; suffrage (a lecture on Social Reform in England); the gymnasium; resignation of Dr. Rhoads; college pranks; campus job (Postmistress of Radnor Hall), and oral exams. As with the first volume, this scrapbook also contains various Bryn Mawr memorabilia, including class play programs from 1894-1895; two letters from Mary (Mamie) Gwinn; photos of Bryn Mawr students in gowns; and a commencement program.
These scrapbooks, prepared well after Bertha Szold’s college years by her daughter-in-law, are extremely well-preserved and well-organized. The amount of correspondence they contain is unusual for a scrapbook and provides helpful context for the memorabilia. These scrapbooks would be of use to those interested in the construction of the Bryn Mawr gymnasium, the transition period between James Rhoads and M. Carey Thomas; and the academic and social life of a Bryn Mawr student during the late 1900s.
Dates
- Creation: Volume 1: 1891-1893 Volume 2: 1893-1895
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17)
Biographical / Historical
Bertha Szold was prepared by the Misses Adam’s School in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Bryn Mawr College with the class of 1895, graduating with degrees in Latin and English. She was one of the first Jewish women to attend the college, attending during the presidency of M. Carey Thomas, a noted anti-Semite. After graduation, Szold taught English at St. Timothy’s School in Baltimore until her marriage to Hiram Louis Levin in 1901. Szold had an active home life as the mother of five children. One of her daughters, Eva Milbouer, graduated from Bryn Mawr in 1934, as did Bertha's grand-daughter, Betsy Levin.
She was also heavily involved in various Jewish charities and organizations, including serving as the vice president of the Jewish Children’s Society and as the cofounder and honorary vice president of Hadassah, a women’s Zionist organization. She also worked in Palestine in the area of resettlement, working with refugee children. She was further involved with Hebrew Education (board member); the Central Scholarhsip Bureau (board member); and the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Blindness. Finally, she was part of the Jewish Educational Alliance and published a translation of “History of Jews of Frankfort” and H. Hansen’s “Fair Winds and Fame.” Szold died in 1958.
Extent
2 volumes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Bertha Szold (Levin) was a member of the Bryn Mawr College class of 1895. After graduation, she taught English at St. Timothy's School in Baltimore. She later married Hiram Levin in 1901 and had five children. She was highly involved in Jewish charities and organizations, and was the cofounder of Hadassah, a women's Zionist organization. This collection contain's Szold's two volume scrapbook. The first scrapbook covers Szold’s freshman and sophomore years, from 1891-1893, while the second scrapbook covers Szold’s junior and senior years, from 1893-1895. The scrapbooks were arranged by Szold’s daughter-in-law, Alexander Lee Levin ’33, and primarily contain typed transcripts of letters written by Szold to her family.
Volume 2: Typed transcripts of letters to family in Baltimore, October 1893- March 1895; Topics: advising meeting with M. Carey Thomas, professors ,social life, classes and lectures, suffrage (an lecture on Social Reform in England), the gymnasium, resignation of Dr. Rhoades, college pranks, campus job (Postmistress of Radnor Hall), Oral Exams; Class play programs, 1894-1895, various invitations, official Bryn Mawr College correspondence; Bill for Books, 1894; Reading list for “Rhetoric and 17th Century Authors” from Dean’s Office; 2 letters from Mary Gwinn; Programs from Musical programs at Bryn Mawr 1894; Letter from Jewish Publication Society of America to Bertha Szold, May 1894, regarding a Latin translation; Photos: 2 photos of Bryn Mawr students in gowns, 1894; cap and gown portraits, 1894; 9 photos of campus (including graveyard, gymnasium, chapel); 5 studio portrait photographs; Class of 1895 photo removed to Archives Photo collection; Clipping from newspaper, December 1894 “Life at a Girl’s College”; Commencement invitation, program, white and yellow ribbon; Letter from Bryn Mawr College regarding donations for the formation of Geology Department, Oct 1895; Obituary for Bertha Szold (Levin) from Alumnae Bulletin, Jan. 1958; “Questions issued by Committee on Health Statistics of the Alumnae Association of Bryn Mawr College” questionnaire booklet, June 1895; Pamphlet for book The Szold of Lombard Street By Alexandra Lee Levin ( Bryn Mawr 1933)
- Title
- Bertha Szold (Levin) scrapbook
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Cassidy Gruber Baruth
- Date
- 2017 July 7
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Find It at the Library
Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Bryn Mawr College Library
Bryn Mawr College Library
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr 19010 USA US
610-526-6576
SpecColl@brynmawr.edu
