Ordway, Katherine Gretta. Diary, 1912-1913

Vassar College

Entries every day. Ordway details her experiences at Vassar College between January of her junior year and May of her senior year. Her academic involvement in English, German, Economics, Biology, and American History is a central theme of the diary. Ordway mentions attending concerts and dances, and participating in debates (Mar 23 1912, Mar 31 1912, and Feb 1913). Entries in 1913 refer to Ordway's first applications for teaching jobs. Ordway makes note of many Vassar events and traditions, such as Washington's birthday, scholarships, the Vassarion election, changes in Vassar policies, class elections , boat races, the election season political paper she started at Vassar, Vassar's mock presidential voting, the introduction of an honor system for exams, the New Jersey club party, Easter, the senior May Pole and sophomore Trig Ceremonies, the Wake Robin trip to Slabsides, Field Day, and her final papers. Ordway describes her involvement in religious life through meeting missionaries, hearing sermons (usually by her father, or by Vassar's president), attending Lyman Abbot's sermon on college (May 19 1912), and summer Bible and mission classes. Historical events mentioned by Ordway include the sinking of the Maine (Mar 16 1912), the sinking of the Titanic (Apr 16 1912), the death of the "Mikado" of Japan (Aug 1 1912), the Kaiser's visit to Schweiz (Oct 2 1912), a threatened anti-Muslim "outbreak" in Macedonia (Oct 8 1912), the Republican campaign speeches in Collingwood Opera House (Oct 8 1912), the death of Elizabeth Mylod (VC 1913) (Feb 4 1913), and Wilson's assumption of presidential duties (March 4 1913).

Student Diaries

Vassar College. Class of 1913

Women college students--New York (State)--Poughkeepsie

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Vassar College--Students

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Ordway, Katherine Gretta

1912-1913

Diaries

Bound volume; approx 211p; 9.75 x 8 inches; Iron gall ink on aged paper

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