Mary C. Everett: Journal, 1846-1847 | 39.3

Historical Sketch:

            Mary Caswell Everett, the daughter of Joseph Everett and Marry Warren Everett, was born August 6, 1826, in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts. She graduated from West Newton Normal School in the class of January 1848. Everett married Francis Lyman Smith of Newtonville on November 24, 1852. The couple had no children. Everett died on December 11, 1886, and Smith died June 18, 1890.

Scope and Content:

            Collection consists of one journal written by Everett as a require part of the curriculum at West Newton Normal School. Entries begin December 23, 1846 and continue through May 13, 1847. Volume contains 105 page. Everett discussed the weather; school routines lessons and recitations; faculty members and their instruction; health and sickness; school visitors; religion; student teaching; comments by Mr. Peirce on pages 25, 49, 53, and 97; building a gymnasium; the death of William Bushnell, age 13, by drowning; sermon by Mr. Mudge; friends and classmates; a visit by Catherine Beecher recruiting teachers for the West; phrenology; a description of a sleigh ride to Fresh Pond to view the ice cutting, then to “Normalities” from Mr. and Mrs. Mann to visit their home; Laura Bridgman; and closing of singing school. The remaining pages contain quotations autographs from classmates.

Provenance: Gift of Lillian Ordway Twichell [Class of 1889], Maude B Gerritson [Class of 1904], and Louie Ramsdell [Class of 1902], 1939.

Amount: 1 volume.

Container List:

V. 1     December 23, 1846-May 13, 1847