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Call No.: SC 22
Repository: Radcliffe College Archives, Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute
Creator: Mary Coes, 1861-1913
Title: Papers of Mary Coes, 1880-1958 (inclusive), 1880-1913 (bulk)
Quantity: 2 boxes
Abstract: Correspondence, speeches, clippings, photographs, etc., of Mary Coes, Radcliffe College Class of 1887.

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BIOGRAPHY

Mary Coes, college administrator, was born in Worcester, Mass, March 24, 1861, and brought up by her father and stepmother. She attended public school and after studying at home, attended Oread Collegiate Institute where Abby Leach, an early Harvard Annex student, encouraged her to apply for Radcliffe. She prepared for college at the Worcester High School. She earned her AB in 1887 from Radcliffe and went to work in the college office for Arthur Gilman in 1887. She took occasional courses 1887-1897, and received her AM in 1897. MC was appointed Assistant Secretary in 1890, Secretary, 1894, Acting Dean, 1909, and Dean 1910-1913. She was Secretary to the Council, 1903, permanent associate, 1904, and member of Council 1906. She was also President of the Alumnae Association 1905-06, and of the Boston branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, 1898-1900 and of the College Club, Boston. She was a member of many boards including the governing board of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union and of the American Historical Association. A woman of independent means, deriving from rented property in Worcester and real estate investments in Minnesota and Colorado, Mary Coes lived in Greenleaf House, 1910-1913 and on her death left the bulk of her estate to the college.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection consists of biographical data, correspondence, speeches, articles, tributes, certificates, PHOTOGRAPHS, and financial records.

CONTAINER LIST

• Box 1: 1-39
• Box 2: 40-55

INVENTORY

• 1. Personal: biographical material, "The Coesite Dictionary and Almanack, 1909" and addenda, 1958, by Elsie M. Paine and Carolin B. Shaw

• 2. Correspondence: miscellaneous, 1880-1907 scattered

• 3-35: Mary Coes' speeches, reports, and articles
  • 3. "Radcliffe College--Academic and Social", 2 copies, 1894-1895
  • 4. "The College Woman of Today Compared with the College Woman 20 Years Ago", n.d. (1901-1904?)
  • 5. Commencement address and speeches of introduction, 1908
  • 6. "Collegiate Study for Teachers in Boston Schools", (c. 1908-1909)
  • 7. Opening Day, 1909
  • 8. Notes for an address at Bryn Mawr, 1909
  • 9. Alumnae Association, winter meeting, 1909-1910
  • 10. Annual Report, 1909-1910
  • 11. Notes for Commencement, 1910
  • 12. Opening Day, 1910
  • 13. Radcliffe Club of New York, 1910
  • 14. "The Work of the Radcliffe Appointment Bureau", address to Women's Educational and Industrial Union, 1910
  • 15. "On Fellowships", given to the Graduate Club, opening of the year (1911?)
  • 16. Commencement, 1911
  • 17. Radcliffe Club of New York, 1911
  • 18. "On the Comic" (1911?)
  • 19. "On the Comic", notes
  • 20. "The Early Days of Radcliffe", includes information about the Idler Club, 1911
  • 21. "The Early Days of Radcliffe", Alumnae Association, 1912
  • 22. "The Early Days of Radcliffe", Notes and working papers, n.d.
  • 23. Letters re "The Early Days of Radcliffe"
  • 24. Notes for speech to freshmen before mid-years, spring (1912?)
  • 25. Commencement, 1912
  • 26. Registration Day, 1912
  • 27. "The Affiliate College", given to Alumnae Collegiate Association; includes correspondence. 1912
  • 28. "Cultural Education", Given to Alumnae Collegiate Association, 1912
  • 29. Alumnae Association, winter meeting, 1912
  • 30. Radcliffe Club of New York, 1912
  • 31. Now and Then Club, 1913
  • 32. Alumnae Dinner, 1913
  • 33. Radcliffe Club of New York, 1913
  • 34. Address to Lynn Women's Club (on teaching), n.d.
  • 35. "The Value of a College Education for a Girl of Leisure", fragment, n.d.

• 36. Caroline Ticknor's "Radcliffe College (A Women's University but not a Feminine Community)," (commencement, 1910?)

• 37. Tributes. Memorial speeches and articles about MC by William Byerly, Elizabeth Briggs, LeBaron Russell Briggs, Enid F. Pendleton, Grace Macurdy, George Pierce Baker, et.al.

• 38. Certificates: Membership, Archeological Institute of America

• 39. PHOTOGRAPHS of Mary Coes

• 40-55: Financial records
  • 40. Miscellaneous, legal, 1883
  • 41. Bills, 1885, n.d.
  • 42. Letters from brokers, 1885-1887
  • 43. Tax, water rates on Worcester property, 1885-1891
  • 44. Worcester rents, 1885-1891
  • 45. Bills, 1886
  • 46. Bills, 1887
  • 47. Letters from brokers, 1888
  • 48. Bills, 1888
  • 49. Bills, 1889
  • 50. Brokers' letters, 1889
  • 51. Bay State Trust Co receipts, 1889-1891
  • 52. Bills, 1890
  • 53. Brokers' letters, 1890
  • 54. Brokers' letters, 1891
  • 55. Bills, 1891-1892

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