Maypoles, English Themes, and a Successful Theatrical

In the first two weeks of May 1905, Fanny Barber rush towards graduation continues to be punctuated by studying, shopping, parties, and lots of rehearsals for a play in which she performs on May 12 in front of 200 guests. The play is a mystery for now, but I've now made contact with the very generous University Archivist of Elmira College, Nathaniel Bell, who supplied a picture of Fanny Barber in her graduation regalia and assures me there are records of theatrical performances. There's also a photo album donated by Fanny Barber: New Reasons to go to Elmira.

But to continue her May, she takes part in activities that seem reminiscent of college graduates, especially those at women's colleges. Though hopefully all didn't flunk Psychology!

Mon. May 1, 1905

Studied & rehearsed all day & night. Wrote to Emily Gilbert

Thursday, May 2

Letter from A² & wrote to her. Nothing doing. Flunked in Psychology

Wea. Warmer. Wed. May 3, 1905

Finished Rodestock. Wrote to Helen asking them for our play. Sewed. Class spread in Senior parlor. Rehearsed all evening. Taught English Class, gave ‘em L’Allegro & Il Pleseroro to paraphrase. Sylvia recited beautifully. Worked hard on history. Girls fixed up Dr. Harcultois’ rooms for return from wedding trip.

Wea. Hot. Thursday [May] 4

Letter from Vin giving his plans for our trip. Vocal lesson. B & I went to get my picture taken in my new silk dress & then on down-town where I got white shoes & a new skirt, blue mohair. Sat out on campus with Sylvia and we rowed in the boat. Read Pedagogy. Prom Comm. Meeting.

Wea. Rainy. Fri. May 5, 1905

Dray day post-poned. Caroline Bates came. A crowd of us went to St. James’ Hall to see London Assurances given by Senior Class ERA. Danced in chapel after dinner.

Wea. Fine; Rained in Evening. Saturday [May] 6

Went to Clark’s glen on geology expedition. Fanny[?] Carr. Maud Hilton & I walked home. Rehearsed. Wore white dress & cap & gown to May Day. Blanche Fraley was Queen. Orchestra played, two kind of dances. Braids the May Pole dance. Danced in chapel all evening. Bertha was up for a minute.

Wea. Very Fine. Sun. May 7, 1905

Went to church with Rug. & came home long way. Slept all afternoon.  Wrote theme in evening for English 6.

Spent sometime out on campus after dinner

Monday [May] 8

Halls sent me pretty lingerie waist. Went down-town. Rode up with Pauline Bates. Wore best white to guest table au soir where were Ginnie Vivian Owen, Sophie Spring, Eff. Lucy, Sylvia and Pauline. We rehearsed in KE after dinner.

Tue, May 9, 1905

Went to station with Pauline. The Dean gave a tea in the chapel. “Headings at Four” by Miss Owen. Music by freshman orchestra, very good. Wore blue silk & had a grand time with Bertha, Genie, etc. Chapel beautiful in apple blossoms and roses by the basket.

Rehearsed all evening of course.

Wea. Fine. Wednesday [May] 10

Letter from A². Wrote to Hubert asking him to the Prom. No geology. Wrote theme for English and tried to get my history. Took a nap. Bertha came up for a few minutes before dinner. Wore my new blue mohair skirt & white shoes & stockings to dinner. Rehearsed all evening

Thur. May 11, 1905

Letter from Edith saying she can’t come. Went downtown 7 to Miss Clarks to get mohair skirt fitted again & to engage some work. Met Helen Kal?? & Fred Sears. We did soda stunts together. Rehearsed all evening.

Friday [May] 12

Worked a.m. Helped decorate chapel, heard Genie her part afternoon. Chapel decorated with white bunting, faluis(?) & blossoms. Stage built out. Beorly=Hope, Baldo=Genie, Prince=Sylvia, Mr. Larry=Jane, etc. Very successful. I was Baron Douglas. 200 guests. Talked in Sylvia’s room with Genie, etc till 2 a.m. Mabel Lewis is visiting Effie.

Wea. Fine. Sat. May 13, 1905

Geology exp. up Easthill Quarry. Tidied my room. Went to quills with “Bats”, Sophie & W???? and we sewed.

  

Biological Society in evening and spread at Frances Nisbets. 

Sunday [May] 14

In the house all day writing letters and studying Geology for exam.

Egg rolling, German Essay, "Dressed as a Man" and Feeling "Much Abused by the World" Fanny Barber, Elmira College, April 1905

Fanny Barber, senior at Elmira College, continues with her studies, celebrates Easter, and has one bout of the blues in the last week of April 1905. But she bounces back ending the month with some a party where she dresses as a man; a tourist excursion by Mark Twain's house that ends with "very good eats" and continues on with the German Essay, which seems to be one of her major tasks to finish. Spring has come to the campus with Easter and one of her friends brings her a hyacinth as a present, maybe like the one on this card

Image from New York Public Library

 :

Wea. Thunderstorm. Fri. April 21, 1905

I tried to work more on it [the German essay]. Went to church to hear the crucifixion with Sylvia. Sat in ??’s pew Another letter from Vin.

Saturday [April] 22 Fine

Worked on German essay all Morning. Went down to Bertha’s. And She & Nina & Mrs Heugins & I went to church. Bertha walked up with us. Sophomores entertained us with egg hunting & rolling, writing poems about Easter, and dancing.

Very Fine. Sun. April 23, 1905

Went to Trinity. Sat with Gussie and went home to dinner with her. We talked with Julia. Then walked around by Limonettis and saw Ursula & then she came up here. Wrote home & to Maryam (?)

Monday April 24

Had my breakfast sent up & cut Geology & History. Was very very blue, and felt much abused by the world.

Tues. April 25, 1905

Better. Taught Baby German & [tui]tions quite firm. Class method & rehearsal. Played set of tennis with Souse Sophis. Read pedagogy. Played and won a duce set from Helen Ralbfux. Bathed and dressed for dinner. Helen, Beth Anne Davidson, & I went to Mrs. O’Leary’s after dinner.

Wednesday [April ] 26

Bertha & I played a little tennis but it began to rain. Sylvia & I went over to the Academy & observed 1 hour. Then went to the Armory to get my stuff, to get our shoes polished & to the S. M. lib & to Matt Rockwood’s home. Bertha came up in eve, brought me a lavender hyacinth with lavender tissue paper around the pot. She wore her big white hat.

Thursday April 27

Took a vocal lesson. Went over to Academy P.M. and 2 hrs. observing . Came back to rehearsal and to Miss Clarks to have the old blue striped skirt shortened. Walked around campus with Betty Coby

Friday [ April ] 28

Cleaned my room a.m. Went to Frenche’s at 2 p.m. to meet Berthe who didn’t come till three. Mistake of the maids. We & Susan Rucas & Ernestine took Sullivan St Car to end of line, then walked up last last hill past Mark Twain’s house & back of the hill. Got arbaties by road side. Went to Ernestines for supper. Came up at 7:30. Got a bath and dressed in time for KE meeting. Sophie entertained with picture galleries. Very clever. Luci were up & B. Brown. Bertha spent night with me, but we didn’t talk very late.

Sat. April 29 1905

Went to Geology Lab, instead of walk on account of weather. Helped with favors for German. Went again to Frank’s tonight with Bertha & we went with the Rusi to Rene Rockwell’s reception. Quite pretty, vivacious, etc. Went down to Bertha & up here. Dressed as  as a man for the German & took Mabel Clark. Maurice Gilbert was up & B. Brown in a dress suit. Quite successful.

Sunday {April} 30

Went to Trinity with Sylvia, Baby S. & Eff. M & I sat in bak of chuch. Went over to Park Church S.S. & her Moss showed me there. Went home with them to diner. Saw Mrs. Mantee? Who says K is to be married in Mendel Hall. Host accounts. Wrote home. B & I walked, out Hoffman St. and visiting a lot and stayed to supper & they took me to Elec. Car. Had awfully good eats.

The Grand Spring Party and the German Essay: More from Great Great Aunt Fanny's college diary

The dresses got their show at a party that Fanny hosted in April and soon after the end of the vacation seemed to be looming as she started back to working while still hunting for a teaching position:

Thur. April 13, 1905

Had a vocal lesson. Letter from Vin & wrote to him. My waist came from Art Exchange and I began work on it. Bertha came up just before dinner, & I showed her my new clothes. B. Cooley & I mailed Vin’s letter at station. Went to a party at Martin’s where were seniors [?] & faculty only & sewed more on my waist. Slept with Maud.

Wea. Wet Snow 2 in. of it. Friday April 14 [1905]

Decorated all A.M. & P.M. till 6:30. White shades & yellow bulbs. [????]. all R2 and QM furniture, similar draped on tables, daises for places, daffodils for decoration. Got my low-necked white waists sleeves turned up side down from Miss Clarks. Wore my new light silk & like it. Banquet success. Favors small gold lockets. Sophie Spring spent night with me. Sylvia and Genie in here till 1:30

Wea. Little more snow but not [????] Sat. April 15, 1905

Cleared up chapel & cleaned room. Took nap. Tried to study in Sylvia’s room while she & Genie were working at Beverly of {???stark]. Bertha & Erclls (?) then came up for a few minutes. Put on my white dress. Danced in chapel a few minutes. Went to Biological at the KZ.

Wea: Windy, cold and shine. [April} Sunday 16

Started at 9:53 for church. Mr Frost sang “the Palus” beautifully. Vin’s Howitzer [his yearbook, see link] came and I spent the rest of the day reading that. Letter from mother & I wrote to her.

Wea. Cold  Mon, April 17, 1905

Hard worked all day. Made out ???? program P.M. Wrote to mother. A application for job at Genessee, N.Y. Letter from Hubert’s friend Katherine Baxter saying she wouldn’t come down this vacation. Read Maeterlinck’s Intruder, The Blind & Princess Maleine. Sylvia slept with me.

Wea. Cold. April 18

Read 1^st Act in KE. Bertha and I walked down to Hooke’s and back beforehand, Worked a little on my German essay. Practiced. Studied Hist. & Eng.

 Much warmer. Wed. April 19, 1905.

Saw Dr. MacKensie about the job in Millbrook again. Met with Sylvia & Genie to see about S’s hat. We visited in KE with Dr. Moore. Lovely weather.

 Thursday [April] 20

Tried to work on my German essay.  Took a vocal lesson in Mr. McKnight’s newly furnished rooms. Read Lavender and Old Lace 

Life of a Senior Collegewoman, 111 years ago: Great Great Aunt Fanny's April 9-12,1905 Diary Entries

My Great Great Aunt Fanny Barber -- sister of my Great Grandfather Alvin Barton Barber -- was in here Senior Year at Elmira College in 1905 and started her yearly diary there in January. Several years ago, my cousin Helen Mattenson gave me this diary and I have always meant to transcribe it. In April of 2016, I started posting her entries from April on the same day on my Facebook account and people enjoyed them. I've gotten a little behind and besides some people may have missed entries so I'll start up here in the more controlled format of the blog.  From April 9-20, she appears to be on Easter vacation, with time to shop, visit with friends, have a party and do some studying:

Weather Warmer Sun. April 9, 1905

Went to Baptist Church with Cousin George, Mary, & Bessie & came home with C. Mary in the carriage. Edith and I took a walk, quite short & she went to bed again before dinner. Went up to Cousin Williams after lunch, & found them all half sick with the grippe tho’ about to start. Letters from Bertha and Fisk, telling me of a job in Genesee, N.Y.  so spent that evening typewriting recommendations.

Wea. Rainy Monday, April 10 [1905] Warmer Ther.

Visited 5 classes R.E.H.S, etc. Lunch with Clara Coit. Applied to Mr. Wilcox for a job. Got a letter from Vin asking when I could come down, and answered him. Went for a fitting at Miss Conlons. My dresses are lovely but will be expensive, I guess. Ruth & Mary Taylor came over in the evening.

 

Weather: Gusty, rainy & dark.

Tues, April 11, 1905

Got up late & had a late breakfast. Washed my [???] waist & ironed some. Packed. Letter from Father with check $25.00. My dresses came here and both are pretty, so is the bill. Made up accounts & read Jocelyn on the train. Martha Smith go on at Canandaiguia & and we got on time. Took car home & visited with Sylvia. I must use a fine pen for my diary hereafter. Party dress box pleated & pretty trimming.

Wea. Fine Wednesday [April] 12 [1905] Ther. Cold

Spent an hour this P.M. seeing about a position Dr. Mackenzie has for me at Millwood, N.Y. Went downtown with Sophie, Aug {Pug}, Beby & looked at skirts. Bertha was up & I visited with her an hour this a.m. & she came again P.M. but I was out. We went over to Clark’s after dinner but she wasn’t home.