Adams, A. Elizabeth,
Adams papers,
1914-1962
Manuscript Collection: MS 0720
1
box
Agency History/Biographical note:
Amy Elizabeth Adams was born on March 28, 1892 in Delaware, New
Jersey. She attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey and
arrived at Mount Holyoke College in September of 1909. After a leave
of absence in 1910-1911, she earned her B.A. in 1914, majoring in
zoology. From 1914-1915, she worked as a laboratory assistant in the
Zoology Department at Mount Holyoke College. She earned her M.A. at
Columbia University (1919) and her Ph.D. at Yale University (1926).
She returned to Mount Holyoke where she taught zoology, 1919-1957.
She served as the acting head of the Zoology Deptartment in
1920-1921, 1929, and 1937, and the acting dean of Mount Holyoke
College for the first semester of 1926-1927. Adams retired in 1957.
She died February 15, 1962 at the age of sixty-nine in South Hadley,
Massachusetts.
Scope and Content:
The A. Elizabeth Adams Papers consist of letters by and to Adams, her
writings, Mount Holyoke College presidential succession documents,
biographical information, and photographs. The correspondence
consists of two letters by Adams, probably to Mount Holyoke
colleagues Dorothy Richardson and Dorothy Cogswell, and a letter to
Adams from Ann Haven Morgan, her close friend and teacher in the
Mount Holyoke College Zoology Department. The collection also
includes Adams's publications in zoology while she was a professor at
Mount Holyoke College, as well as biographical notes and a
bibliography of her writings. Of particular note in the collection
are the presidential succession documents which include
correspondence between Adams and individuals with links to Mount
Holyoke College regarding the appointment of Roswell G. Ham. Ham was
the first male president of Mount Holyoke, succeeding Mary E. Woolley
in 1937. Also of particular note is an open letter written by Adams
to the Trustees of Mount Holyoke College asking why a man was chosen
to succeed Woolley against the wishes of the majority at the college.
Included in the collection are opinions and results of polls taken
regarding this presidential issue. The collection includes
biographical information chiefly containing newspaper articles about
Adams's professional activities and material regarding her life and
death. The photographs in the collection consist of photographs and
snapshots of Adams with friends and students both at home and in the
laboratories. Some photographs that were collected or taken by
Dorothy Blair, Adams's former Mount Holyoke College roommate are part
of the collection.
Cite as: A. Elizabeth Adams Papers, Mount Holyoke College
Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley,
Mass.
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
Series List:
- Correspondence
, 1926, 1957
, 1 folder
- Writings
, 1924-1961
, 5 folders
- Mount Holyoke College Presidential
Succession Documents
, 1935-1937
, 2 folders
folders
- Biographical Information
, 1922-1962
, 1 folder
- Photographs
, 1914-ca.1957
, 1 folder
|
