Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Williams, Helen Carhart
- Abstract:
- Collection of letters written to Helen Carhart Williams from her childhood until middle age. The letters describe the writers' lives as they attended high school and college, began their careers, and in many cases got married and moved out of state.
- Extent:
- 5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Helen Carhart Williams papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists almost exclusively of incoming correspondence to Helen Carhart Williams from the time of her childhood until middle age. The letters were written by both male and female friends and describe their lives and activities as they attended high school and college, began their careers (several of the women were teachers), and in many cases got married and moved out of state (to Texas and Arizona, among others). Many of the letters contain congratulations to Helen on the occasions of her marriage and the births of her children. The letters also describe the activities of the Delta Iota Chi sorority.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Helen Carhart Williams, also called "Bob" or "Bobbie," was born around 1878 and grew up in White Plains, New York. Her family moved to Burbank, California, sometime between 1887 and 1891. Helen was an active member of the Delta Iota Chi sorority and married Bertram E. Williams (b.1876) in 1899. The couple lived in the Los Angeles area and had at least five children, including Tom, Beatrice, Lawrence, Austin, and Marion.
- Acquisition information:
- Provenance unknown. In library as of 2011.
- Processing information:
-
Finding aid prepared by Katrina Denman. Collection cataloged by Dixie M. Dillon in 2011. In 2025, Mari Khasmanyan updated the collection's linear feet and finding aid.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Betrothal
Domestic relations -- California
Domestic relations -- New York (State)
Female friendship
Friendship in youth
Greek letter societies
Spanish-American War, 1898
Women -- California
Women college students -- United States
Women teachers
Youth -- Social life and customs
Letters (correspondence)--19th century
Letters (correspondence)--20th century - Names:
- Stanford University -- Students
University of California, Berkeley -- Students
Williams, Helen Carhart - Places:
- Avalon (Calif.)
Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.)
California -- History -- 1850-1950
New Mexico -- Description and travel
Texas -- Description and travel.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
- Terms of access:
-
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Helen Carhart Williams papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191