Frederica de Laguna papers

The Frederica de Laguna papers house the personal papers of Frederica de Laguna, Bryn Mawr class of 1927 and founder of the Bryn Mawr anthropology department. The collection, which ranges from 1922-1975, holds photographs, newspaper clippings, miscellaneous anthropology clippings, travel postcards, letters, and various other materials.

The collection is divided into 13 series: “Series I: Family Photographs, undated;” “Series II: College Years Photographs, 1922-1926;” “Series III: Miscellaneous Photographs, 1920s to 1970s;” “Series IV: Photograph Albums, 1920s to 1930s;” “Series V: Framed Photographs and Bryn Mawr College Plaque, undated;” “Series VI: Miscellaneous Photographs and Objects, undated;” “Series VII: Wartime Clippings, World War II;” “Series VIII: Miscellaneous Clippings, undated;” “Series IX: Voyage to Greenland Papers, 1920;” “Series X: Plates for The Archaeology of Cook Inlet, 1975;” “Series XI: Faculty Book Collection, various;” “Series XII: Book Plates for Under Mount St. Elias, 1972;” “Series XIII: Negatives from Under Mount St. Elias, 1972.”

“Series I: Family Photographs, undated” contains photographs of de Laguna’s immediate family and their ancestors. “Series II: College Years Photographs, 1922-1926” contains pictures of Bryn Mawr College during de Laguna’s undergraduate years, including pictures of May Day, Grand May Day. It also contains pictures of de Laguna’s summers in Greensboro, Vermont. “Series III: Miscellaneous Photographs, 1920s to 1970s” holds various photos, including photographic portraits; a 1980 image of de Laguna with Constance Applebee; images from the 1967 and 1985 reunions; photographs of Wyndham Alumnae house, Rockefeller Basement, and Faculty Row. It also holds de Laguna’s business cards from the United States Naval Reserve. “Series IV: Photograph Albums, 1920s to 1930s” contains photos from New York State, France, and Bryn Mawr College, with unknown subjects. Additionally, it contains photos of the Lechmere-Qertel Family, 1933-1935, and photos of Frederica de Laguna with unknown subjects, undated. “Series V: Framed Photographs and Bryn Mawr College Plaque, undated” contains a number of framed photographs and a plaque. “Series VI: Miscellaneous Photographs and Objects, undated” houses various photographs and objects, including postcards and letters, travel photographs; photographs of Grace de Laguna and dick Oertel, 1903-1963; miscellaneous undated photographs, subjects unknown. “Series VII: Wartime Clippings, World War II” contains clippings about women in the military during World War II. “Series VIII: Miscellaneous Clippings, undated” contains miscellaneous undated anthropology clippings, miscellaneous anthropology materials, and miscellaneous wartime clippings. “Series IX: Voyage to Greenland Papers, 1920s” includes typescripts for her book Voyage to Greenland. “Series X: Plates for The Archaeology of Cook Inlet” contains plates for the 1975 edition of The Archaeology of Cook Inlet, de Laguna’s book on Cook Inlet, Alaska. “Series XI: Faculty Book Collection, various” consists of a large carton of books by other Bryn Mawr faculty members. “Series XII: Book Plates for Under Mount St. Elias, 1972” consists of bookplate illustrations and negatives from Under Mount St. Elias, de Laguna’s book on the history and culture of the Yakutat Tlingit.

De Laguna was an anthropologist who studied Arctic cultures. She both initiated and shaped Bryn Mawr College’s anthropology department for many years. This collection provides a view into her professional career as an anthropologist, her college life at Bryn Mawr, time in the Navy, and family relationships. As a whole, the collection would be of interest to anyone curious about de Laguna, her studies in the Arctic, or Bryn Mawr College.