NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Atwood, Beth A Homestead, R. I. Sept 1, 1939. Dear Miss Blackwell, We are coming here next Thursday Sept 5th as Helen has to be Jack in School on Thursday. We all love enjoyed the summer and I feel rested for the winter. Earnest and Robert are coming tonight for the week-end- His friend Mr King came last Saturday we had a beach picnic for him which he seem to enjoy. Sunday he and Alice walked around the island and at the mat 6.10, the three men went home. Since Monday we have had a Northeast rain storm, steady down pour, no doubt it was good for the gardens. Today it is beautiful & clear. I hope you are feeling pretty well. Will come over to see you when I get home. With love Beth Atwood P.S. From the morning paper it looks very much like war in Europe. Too bad things cannot be settle with out causing sorrow and hardship to the Mothers and children in the World. 101 Roseter St. Sept 28, 1939 Dear Miss Blackwell, Thank you for your letter and check for the forks. Ernest went back to work after his two weeks vacation. He is still talking about the Fair and last week we had a pleasant time calling Easter lily blooming in our back yard. It is beautiful. Alice and I been cleaning house but only doing a little at a time so as not to get too tired. With best regards to Mrs. Boyer and with love Beth Atwood in old friends. I had a letter from Louise yesterday and she said during the terrific heat in California she would leave every morning for Santa Monica Beach and spend the day there. She came back to Pasadena late in the evening and she could sleep. Wednesday afternoon I went to my Ladies Aid Meeting at our church. We have an 101 Rosseter St. Jan 12, 1940 Dear Miss Blackwell, I thank you for your letter and the one from Ethel Whidden telling about her Mother's illness. I am glad she is able to sit up and hope she will continue to improve. I Tuesday I had one of my back teeth out. Dr Newell our dentist could not take it out after given me two doses of novacain and almost killing me. Than he sent me to Dr Parker in the Colonial Building who gave me gas and took it out. I have since stayed in bed with sent the letter on Fr. Mrs. Belden. Last Friday I went to see Evelyn [Barrnos?] she looked much thinner and frail but she is always cheerful and interested in all her friends. I had a nice visit with her. an ice bag to my face which relieved the swelling and I'm to report tomorrow for treatment. I am feeling much better and the rest in bed did me good. Next time I come over to see you will get the pie plate. Please thank Mrs Thyme for her nice Christmas card. I hope you are feeling pretty well and your eyes not any worse. With love. Beth Atwood 101 Rosseter St Feb 1, 1940 Dear Miss Blackwell, We were very sorry to hear of Mrs Jones sudden death. She was a very charming woman with a pleasing personality. We shall always remember the pleasant times we had together at the Vineyard. Will you please send me Ethel Whidden Address as I would like to write to her. I had a letter from Goldie today saying Doris Mayhew went to New Jersey to the funeral. I am enclosing this article of yours which was in the Boston Herald. We thought it was very good. With love Beth Atwood 101 Rosseter St. Feb 23, 1940 Dear Miss Blackwell, Your letter with check came this morning. Thank you very much. I was sorry to hear you were ill with a grippe cold and I hope you soon will be feeling better. Concerning the School luncheon Henrietta says it would not affect her as it comes under the nutrition class for under nourished children in the schools. They have special dietitions for those children. It is for the children in the elementary grades instead of High Schools. Henrietta works in the Junior High. I was very much surprised when Louise left Pasadena to go to Florida as I thought she liked California too well to leave it. She has a friend in St Petersburg who wrote to her & wanted Louise to come. I think that is the only reason she went. Now she is in St Petersburg. You will be surprised to hear Ernest retired from the Tel. Co Feb 9th. They gave him three weeks vacation with full pay and three months furlough with pay. Beginning June 1st he starts on his pension. The men at the Brighton office decorated his desk with flowers & presented him with smokes & tobacco. Before June 1st the engineers of the Tel Co. are planning to give him a reception in honor of his 45 year's service with the Co. When Ernest was calling on me at Pope's Hill, Mr. Blackwell would say how "many jobs did you claim today Ernest" (in a joking way). How proud your father would be to know Ernest spent 45 years with the Tel. Co. I planned to come over to see you last week but the storm prevented me. We are all well, I hope you will soon be feeling like yourself again. With much love Beth Atwood. 101 Rossiter St. Dorchester, Mass March 8, 1940. Dear Miss Blackwell, I was glad to receive your letter. Ernest does not know exactly how much his pension will be untill the first of June. He thinks it may be between twenty-five & thirty dollars a week. Every Tuesday afternoon he goes into the Public Library to a lecture on Music appreciation which he finds very interesting. Last evening Ernest and I went to Woburn to the old Shaker Glen House where the directors and their wives of the Social Union had a dinner and a social time afterwards. We both enjoyed it very much. Mr McLean who was with us two years ago passed away last Friday and we went to his funeral Sunday at Revere. He had bronchial penumonia and went very suddenly. I am glad your cold is so much better. I hope to come over to see you soon. With love Beth Atwood. 101 Rosseter St. Dorchester, April 8, 1940 Dear Miss Blackwell, I thank you for sending me Mrs. Rogers interesting letter, we all enjoyed learning the news of the Vineyard. It was nice Mrs Rogers could spend Easter with Mrs Huntington & family. Henrietta & I are over our colds and I'm feeling all right again. School vacation begins next Monday. Ernest, Henrietta, & Alice are going on a trip to Washington. Helen & I were there in 1934 when Louise stayed there. This will be Henrietta's vacation as she is going to work this summer at a Girl Scout Camp. I hope Mrs Howard Blackwell is home from the hospital and feeling much better. With love to you Beth Atwood 101 Rosseter St. Dorchester Sept 27 1940 Dear Miss Blackwell, This afternoon I had a nice visit with Evelyn Barrows. She seemed to be stronger and just as cheerful as ever. Bob & Alice called for Helen at School and on their way back they stopped for me. Evelyn asked them to come in. She was pleased to see them and to hear about Helen's school. She showed us a picture of Sammy Whidden and little Christine Blackwell Jones. She is a sweet little girl. I was surprise to see Evelyn knitting she is working on a helmet for the British soldiers. Everyone in her household is knitting except the cat & she expects the cat will take it up soon. Ernest, Alice, Helen, & Bob went to see the Legion parade they enjoyed it very much. The girls did not get home till ten oclock at night. I did not go as I thought standing so long would not be good for me so Henrietta & I had a nice quiet time at home. Remember me to Mrs. Boyer. With love Beth Atwood 101 Rosseter Street Dorchester, Mass December 27, 1941 Dear Miss Blackwell, I thank you for your very pretty and appropriate Christmas card. The quotations are so lovely and encouraging for the New Year. We all had a very nice Christmas and were well remembered by Santa. Alice & I had a very pretty Christmas card from Antoinette which her Mother sent, saying Antoinette was happy but was not well enough to be home with her yet. Mrs. Robinson said she wished she could have her with her. Horace drives his Mother out to see Antoinette & that makes it nice for all of them. It seems strange to be home but it is nice to have a weeks vacation. The last day at school we served chicken shortcake & the children certainly enjoyed it. We had a large Christmas tree in the center of the lunch room & two small trees on each side of the counter. And wreaths up all around so the place looked very pretty. After school we gave the trees to children that weren't going to have much for Christmas & they were pleased to get the trees. Tonight we all are invited out to supper in Atlantic, one of our club girls wanted us all to come & we thought it was too much but she insisted we all should come & so we are going. It will be nice to see the different lights as we go along this evening. I hope you had a very pleasant Christmas and I wish you a very Happy and blessed New Year. Lovingly Henrietta Homestead, Providence Island R.I. Aug 2, 1942 Dear Miss Blackwell, Thank you for sending us the Vineyard Gazettes we enjoyed reading them and seeing old familiar names. Today is a regular Vineyard day clear & cool. We've had so many foggy days it is nice to have good weather. The blue-berries & black-berries are ripe and Helen is away picking them and I've been making jelly. The Community bean supper was held out doors one day last week we all went. After supper they raffled off blankets, one of our neighbors won a lovely nice blanket last year Helen won a blanket. Alice is away working at Camp there are 80 girls there. She has an extra helper a young girl from N.Y. assisting her. I've been going in bathing when the weather is warm and feel better for it. Evenings we sit on our porch & listen to the radio. I hope you have had a comfortable summer. Regards to Mrs. Sumpter and Mrs Lord. With love Beth Atwood 101 Rosseter St. Dorchester 21 Mass. May 1st 1945 Dear Miss Blackwell, We were sorry to hear of Antoinette passing away. It must be a great relief to Mrs. Robinson to know Antoinette will not have to suffer any more. The girls will always remember the good times they had with Antoinette at the Vineyard. Henrietta is feeling a great deal better she plans to go to work next week. Tomorrow will be her last visit to Dr Duckering. My teeth have been troubling me so I decided to have them out. I have made an appointment for Thursday morning & Robert will take me in the car & will bring me home. Henrietta will call you up & let you know how I am. I hope you are well, with best regards to the family. With love Beth Atwood. 101 Rosseter St, Dorchester 21, Mass June 3, 1945 Dear Miss Blackwell, Thank you for sending the Vineyard Gazettes & Mrs Boyer's letter. I enjoyed reading her letter but was sorry to hear of her fall. I am enclosing a few newspaper clipping of your B.U. honorary degree. I [wa] felt very happy to be there at Symphony Hall to see you honored by a great University. It thrilled me and brought tears to my eyes to hear the great applause all the people gave you. You looked very nice in your cap & gown & beautiful hood. I went to see Dr Parker about having my teeth out, he was away on a vacation but I have an appointment for this Friday. We are going to Providence July 7th. Mr Mayturn & his family are having their vacation two weeks before so we could not go there earlier. We hope the weather will warmer by then. Regards to the family With love Beth Atwood B.U. Bestows Honorary Degrees on Six Bay Staters ALICE STONE BLACKWELL "Humanitarian whose name is synonymous with defense of the underprivileged . . ." SERGE KOUSSEVITZKY "Has brought forth music that 'maketh glad the heart of man'. . ." Boston University presented nine honorary degrees, six of which were bestowed on prominent Massachusetts persons, and awarded 572 undergraduate degrees at the 72nd annual Commencement exercises this morning in Symphony Hall. The Massachusetts honorary degree recipients were Alice Stone Blackwell, woman's suffrage leader; Pres. Hugh P. Baker of Massachusetts State College; Horace A. Carter, president William Carter Company, Needham; Serge Koussevitzky, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Judge Bert E. Holland, a justice of the West Roxbury District Court, and William R. Greeley, Boston architect. Other honorary awards were to Pres. Charles Seymour of Yale University, the principal Commencement speaker; Pres. Joseph H. Edge of Dakota Wesleyan University and Arthur T. Vanderbilt, dean of New York University School of Law. Pres. Daniel L. Marsh presided at the exercises and Ex-Gov. Frank G. Allen, chairman of the trustees, called the gathering to order. B.U. (Continued on Page 10) 572 Degrees Given at B.U., 9 Honorary Awards Made (Photos, page 17) A total of 572 degrees were awarded Boston University graduates and nine honorary degrees were conferred upon distinguished citizens at Boston University's 72nd annual formal Commencement exercises today in Symphony Hall with Dr. Daniel L. Marsh, president of the university, presiding and former Gov. Frank G. Allen, chairman of the board of trustees, opening the ceremonies. HONORARY DEGREES Recipients of honorary degrees were: Charles Seymour, president of Yale University, Doctor of Law degree; Serge[l]Koussevitzky, Doctor of Music; Alice Stone Blackwell, writer and humanitarian, Doctor of Humanities; Horace Albert Carter, a trustee of the University, Doctor of Commercial Science; Hugh Potter Baker, president of Massachusetts State College, Doctor of Science in Education; Joseph Henry Edge, president of Dakota Wesleyan University, Doctor of Science in Education; William Roger Greeley, architect, president of the New England Town Planning Association, Doctor of Fine Arts; Arthur T. B.U. (Continued on Page Six) An Honored Recipient Boston University honors itself as well as Dr. Alice Stone Blackwell when it presents her today with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities. Somehow the degree name fits. Her work has been for humanity, as scholar of the human and dispenser of the humane, for 88 solidly packed years. [*Boston Traveler*] PRESIDENT MARSH AWARDS HONORARY DEGREES AT B. U. - At Boston University's 72nd annual commencement today nine honorary degrees were awarded by President Daniel L. Marsh. Recipients, front row (left to right): Sergei Koussevitsky, doctor of music; Alice Stone Blackwell, doctor of humanities; President Marsh, Charles Seymour, doctor of laws, and Hugh Potter Baker, doctor of science in education. Rear: Joseph Henry Edge, doctor of science in education; William Roger Greeley, doctor of fine arts; Arthur T. Vanderbilt, doctor of civil law; Bert Ellsworth Holland, doctor of laws, and Horace Albert Carter, doctor of commercial science. [*Boston Herald*] 101 Rosseter St. Dorchester 21, Mass. March 19, 1946 Dear Miss Blackwell, You must be wondering why I have not been over to see you. Ernest has been laid up with a diabetic foot and has a great deal of pain most of the time. Yesterday Dr Beering was quite encouraging & said it was coming along better than he thought. By using a crutch & his cane Ernest gets downstairs & sits by the radio and enjoys his programs. I have to put drops between his toes twice a day and it is very painful. The Doctor gave him & me pills to take when the pain is too severe but Ernest has not used them yet. I am rather tired but otherwise feel pretty well. I hope you are well. With best regards to Mrs Smith & Miss Stronach With love Beth Atwood Jan 3, 1948 Dear Miss Blackwell, I thank you for your Christmas poem to me and your delicious tray of sweets. We all enjoyed them. I hope you had a pleasant Christmas & New Year. We were glad to hear Mrs Smith is doing so well. Alice & Mark spent Christmas day with us & the next day we celebrated Helen's birthday. The girls were glad to have a ten days vacation, school opens Monday. Ernest went to the hospital last Wednesday & the doctors found him in very good condition. He does not have to report again till March. I am feeling better, we certainly are having plenty of snow. Little Colonel enjoys running in the snow. I hope you will keep well and have a very Happy New Year. With love Beth Atwood. 101 Rosseter St. Dorchester Feb 11, 1948 Dear Miss Blackwell, Your letter with the enclosed foreign stamps received. Robert & Helen thanks you for sending the stamps. Robert was only three weeks & a day on the jury, he was on the Tobin & Boston Herald case. he heard some very fine lawyers Ex Gov Tobin's brother sued the Boston Herald for $100000 the use the car as he went in town by trolly. Henrietta had eczema on her face & hands she had to stay home from school for two weeks. The doctor gave her an ointment to rub in she went back to work last Monday feeling better. What caused the rash we did not know. Ernest is quite well, & enjoys the radio. The telephone hour, Cavalcade of American & Firestone programs he enjoys the best. These cold days we've been quite jury gave him $1000 but the Boston Herald has appealed to a higher court. I haven't been out for weeks except when I went to see Dr Atwood then Henrietta went with me to keep me from slipping on the icy streets & side walk. Robert does all the shopping before he goes to work, the car is in the garage the doors & ground frozen solid & while Robert was on the jury we could not comfortable & warm, we have a small oil burner in the front room, this room has always been the hardest to heat. I'm feeling about the same & lay down every afternoon with a hot water bottle to my feet, it's a great comfort. Louise had a birth-day last week & she was seventy, how the years fly. I hope you have kept well & warm & trust Mrs Smith has recovered her strength & is feeling much better. Remember me to Miss Stronach. With love Beth Atwood. Homestead R.I. July 13, 1949 Dear Miss Blackwell, I have been thinking of you these hot days and hope you have been able to keep cool & comfortable. It has been unusually hot down here we go in bathing to cool off and even Colonel enjoys the water. Alice & Mark were here over the 4th of July & Alice stayed for the rest of the week. They will come gain in Aug for a week. Our garden is doing pretty well considering the dry weather. Helen bought a long hose which they use to water the garden every evening. The girls go blue berries but the berries are'nt plentiful this year We were all glad that it rained heavy last night, today is hot & muggy. These enclose clipping from the Vineyard Gazette you will be interested to see. Robert is at an antique store in Connecticut this week. Best regards to Mrs Smith & Miss Stronach. With love Beth Atwood. Homestead, Providence S. R. I. Sept 12, 1949. Dear Miss Blackwell, Ernest joins me in sending you our love and best wishes for a Happy Birthday. I hope you are feeling stronger and much better since the cool September weather has come. I shall be thinking of you on your Birthday and trust you will not get too tired. Helen & Robert came Friday to spend the week end with us & next Friday Henrietta will come. Our garden is keeping us supplied with string beans, squash, tomatoes. Henrietta canned several quarts of tomatoes during the summer. Helen & Robert picked wild grapes & I made 16 glasses of jelly. Dr. Ross, her mother who is 95 yrs old went home Sat as Dr. Ross teaches in R. I. College, every one with children have gone home and the place is quiet & peaceful. Earnest, Colonel & I sat out doors this morning in the sun, little Colonel enjoys out doors as much as we do. With much love to Mrs. Smith & Miss (?Phonack) Affectionately Beth Atwood. [*Atwood*] Homestead, R. I. Sept 20, 1949. Dear Miss Blackwell, Henrietta, Alice wrote me about your Birth-day party and how nice you looked, they enjoyed the visit with you very much. When Robert came for the week end he brought me a piece of your birthday cake. It was very nice & I enjoyed it with my cup of tea. In last weeks Vineyard Gazette was the enclose article of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell & the Blackwell family which I will enclose. The weather has been warm & we can sit out doors and enjoy the sun shine We will go home Oct 1st. Am glad You are feeling better. With love to you and the family. Affectionately Beth Atwood Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.