The Mary Westall Collection consists of five handwritten letters from Mary to her family in Asheville, North Carolina. The letters detail Mary’s experience as a summer student at Cold Spring Harbor during 1916. The letters discuss her daily class experiences, instructors (including Charles Davenport), classmates, and the grounds and accommodations of Cold Spring Harbor, as well as family matters. The letters offer historical insight into the culture of a young southern woman and her thoughts and experiences among Northeasterners.
The letters have been transcribed by the donor, Catherine O’Shea Wetstein; biographical material related to Mary and her family, as well as a copy of a family photograph, are included in the transcriptions/biographical material folder.