Miriam Van Waters Papers. Reformatory for Women at Framingham, 1876-1970. Subseries 3. Student correspondence, 1936-1971, n.d. Correspondence: E, 1932-1957. A-71, folder 295. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

No doubt you must know that Elsie committed suicide. It all upset me when I received a letter from her sister telling me the news. Elsie and I were like sisters while we were in Framingham. She was a lovely girl and it is really hard to believe her dead. Her sister and I write back and forth now. She sent me a lovely picture of Elsie, taken about three weeks before her death. That picture means a lot to me.

I'm piecing a quilt in my spare moments. I put one together last week that I had blocks enough for.

[Oct. 14, 1937]

I guess I can't think of any more news so had better close for tonite.

Remember me to all my friends. Tell Dr. Van Waters I'll write her soon.

I hope you'll write again very soon as I'm always glad to hear from you.

With love Sarah Emerson.

Shelburne Falls. Mass. Jan. 12, 1940.

My dear Mrs. Van Waters:-

I regret that I didn't get to see you the afternoon you were in Greenfield. My Mother would have taken you me down but she had to take one of my sisters to the dentist to have some teeth extracted.

Mrs. Duplissey called me and told me she had a nice talk with you about me and all the nice things you said about me.

I want to thank you for the present you sent me for Christmas. I received it allright and had intended to thank you before this. I certainly appreciate your being so good to me.

I think Mrs. Duplissey told you that I was recently married. To be exact Jan. 4. 1940 in Conway. Mass. It seems quite grand to have a home of my own again and be taking care

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of Beverly. She is a big girl now. I only have her with me, the three boys are still with my folks. She gets some state help to take care of them and she is still their guardian ever since I was with you.

My husband and the children get along good together, which is a big help and comfort to me.

I live near the school here so my three boys and my little brother come to dinner with Beverly and I which we all enjoy.

My husband is employed by the Boston & Maine Railroad. He has been working in Northampton Mondays through Thursdays but they are going to be in East Northfield for a while now. So Beverly and I are alone the first part of the week.

We have a three room apartment. It was rather dirty and Ive worked hard the past two weeks to get it cleaned up. The landlord is very nice. He wants us to spent the rent money to fix

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up the tenement. He just purchased the place. they live upstairs and are very nice people.

My husband and I bought some things for our home before we were married and while I was working too. We got a nice radio, kitchen set, table and chairs. Last weekend he bought a new bed, spring and inner spring mattress and a linoleum for my kitchen. He has been painting my kitchen today.

I had a very nice Christmas and lots of presents. Mr & Mrs. Totman, the people where I had worked for about three and a half years gave me a set of dishes, service for eight. We were very pleased. they sure hated to see me leave.

I had quite a few pieces of furniture and linens that I had always kept since I was married before.

Hope your family are all fine.

As it is getting late and I'm tired think I'll get to bed.

I assure you and all who think

of me that I'm very happy and we intend to stay so always.

Give my best regards to all that I know there. I still say I'm coming to see you all sometime.

Tell Dr Van Waters I'll write her too sometime in the near future but I know you'll let her read this letter so she will hear from me now, too.

With love Sarah Emerson Maynard or Mrs. Lester Maynard Shelburne Falls R2D #2. Mass.