mshm033 Fritts papers, 1914-1988 (bulk 1914-1919) Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections

South Hadley, MA

Finding aid generated in MARC format from database, then encoded using Perl scripts and XSL stylesheet. 2003-05-20 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mshm033 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Fritts papers, 1914-1988 (bulk 1914-1919) Finding Aid MS 0540 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Fritts, Ruth Sonn (Ruth Myrtle), 1897-1988. Fritts papers 1914-1988 1914-1919 MS 0540 LD 7096.6 1918 Sonn 1 box (2.5 linear in.) Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections

South Hadley, MA

Fritts, Ruth Myrtle Sonn, 1897-1988; Teacher. Mount Holyoke College graduate, 1918. Papers consist of diary, correspondence, notebook of expenses, biographical information, memorabilia, and photographs; primarily containing correspondence from Russell Weisman, a former Mount Holyoke teacher, regarding his work in the Harvard Ambulance Corps in Europe during World War I and descriptions of her academic and social life at Mount Holyoke. English. Biographical Note

Ruth Myrtle Sonn was born on November 30, 1897, in Jersey City, New Jersey. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1918 and worked for two years teaching French, German, and Music. On May 7, 1921, she married Harold E. Fritts. In 1946, she received her master's degree from New York State College for Teachers. She worked at Chatham Public School in Chatham, New York. Ruth Sonn Fritts died on March 13, 1988, in Golden, Colorado.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Ruth Myrtle Sonn Fritts Papers contain a diary, letters, notebook of expenses and other notes from her years at Mount Holyoke, biographical material, memorabilia, and photographs. The diary is equivalent to a daily planner that notes Fritts' daily activities and notes special campus events, such as Mountain Day, and family occasions during her four years at Mount Holyoke College (1914-1918). The letters from Fritts' former teacher, Russell Weisman, a member of the Harvard Ambulance Corps, describe his entrance into the military, his "Joining Uncle Sam." The ensuing letters describe Weisman's movements around Europe and his "baptism by fire" on the front line while stationed in France. Weisman further describes the destruction of World War I not only on the physical landscape, but the morale of the troops and he further describes the treatment of American soldiers, especially from gas intoxification, through the Harvard Ambulance Corps. Weisman writes of about the armistice due to German surrender primarily as a result of troop starvation.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into five series.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

Unrestricted

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Ruth Sonn Fritts Papers, Mount Holyoke College, Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley, Massachusetts

Search Terms Fritts, Ruth Sonn, 1897-1988. Weisman, Russell, 1890-1949. Harvard Ambulance Corps. Mount Holyoke College - Students. Weisman, Russell, 1890-1949. Sonn, Ruth M., Class of 1918. College students - Massachusetts - Biography. Soldiers - United States - Correspondence. Women - United States - Social conditions. Women college students - Massachusetts - Biography. World War, 1914-1918 - Personal narratives, American. World War, 1914-1918 - Belgium. World War, 1914-1918 - France. World War, 1914-1918 - Medical care - Sources. Belgium. France. Mount Holyoke College - Student expenses - 1916-1918. Mount Holyoke College - Student life - 1914-1918. Diaries. Notebooks. Letters.