Studies in the Psychology of Sex

mnsss219 Louise Stevens Bryant Papers, 1885-1963 Finding Aid Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

2007

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. Revised 2007. 2007-01-04 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Louise Stevens Bryant Papers, 1885-1963 Finding Aid MS 24 2007

Collection Overview Bryant, Louise Stevens, 1885-1956 Louise Stevens Bryant Papers1885-1963 MS 24 14 boxes; 14 volumes (7 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Public health specialist; Editor; Publicist. Papers contain Bryant's diaries, notebooks, and professional reports concerning public health and social work issues; subject files; and correspondence from Havelock Ellis and others generated from Bryant's work arranging the U.S. publication of Ellis's Studies in the Psychology of Sex. Thre is also a typescript biography of Bryant written by her companion, Lura Beam, and excerpts from their correspondence. Biographical Note

Louise Stevens Bryants' publicity photo for Girl Scouts, 1919-23

Public health specialist, editor, and publicist Louise Stevens Bryant (1885-1956) received a B.S. from Smith College in 1908 and a PhD in Medical Science from the University of Pennsylvania. She promoted dispensary development and edited a pioneer medical study and publicity program in the field of human fertility. She was associated at various times with the Russell Sage Foundation, the Girl Scouts of America, the Pennsylvania School for Social Service and Health, and the War Industries Board. She was the American representative of Havelock Ellis and wrote books and many articles on applied psychology and maternal health. She was the editor and publicist of the United Hospital Fund and National Committee on Maternal Health, New York City, from 1923 to 1937, and publicist for the American Association of University Women from 1938 to 1952. Her other interests included art, poetry, and animals. In 1909, she married Arthur Bryant, whom she divorced in 1912. Her longtime companion was Lura Beam.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Louise Stevens Bryant Papers consist of personal and professional material. They include a typescript of Bequest from a Life (privately printed), a biography of Bryant written by her companion, Lura Beam, and excerpts from correspondence to Beam from Bryant. The collection also contains Bryant's diaries, notebooks, and professional reports concerning public health and social work issues; subject files; and correspondence, including letters from Havelock Ellis and others generated from Bryant's work negotiating the U.S. publication of Ellis's Studies in the Psychology of Sex." There is related material about Louise Stevens Bryant in the Smith College Archives. The Lura Beam Papers are housed in the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into four series:

I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS II. PERSONAL ACTIVITIES III. CORRESPONDENCE IV. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OVERSIZE MATERIALS BOOKS ON SHELF Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.

Copyright ownership of Louise Stevens Bryant's writings is unknown. Lura Beam's estate retains copyright for her biography, Bequest from a Life. Copyright to materials authored by others may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

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

Louise Stevens Bryant Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

History of the Collection

Lura Beam donated the Louise Stevens Bryant Papers to the Sophia Smith Collection in 1962. The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions.

Finding aid revised by Jenn Smar and Burd Schlessinger, 2006

Search Terms Birth control--United States--History--Sources Children--Health and hygiene--United States--History--20th century--Sources Eugenics--United States--History--Sources Female friendship--United States--History--20th century--Sources Maternal health services--United States--History--Sources Public health--History--Sources Social work administration--History--Sources Women in the professions--United States--History--20th century--Sources Beam, Lura Ella, 1887- Bryant, Louise Stevens, 1885-1956 Ellis, Havelock, 1859-1939 Beam, Lura Ella, 1887- SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS 1 1 Contents 1 2 Marriage certificate and divorce papers, 1908-12 1 3 Photographs, 1867-1956 1 4 Smith College: photograph, booklet, and invitation, 1908 1 4a University of Pennsylvania: correspondence and booklets, 1912-14 1 5 Memorial gifts and keepsakes, 1930-56 1 6 Miriam Stevens (mother), 1908-36 1 7 Illness: medical reports, charts, and insurance policy, 1917-26 1 8 Louise Stevens Bryant Fellowship, 1963-64 1 9 Passport and related material, 1931-37 1 10 Childhood: poem and correspondence, 1889-92 1 11 Social Security: card and award, 1939-52 1 12 Obituary, 1956 1 13 Funeral materials, 1936-63 1 14 Memorials: receipts and programs, 1956-60 1 15 Last Will & Testament, 1925-53 1 16 Animal pictures, 1919-55 1 17 Family history: notes and family tree, 1957 1 18 Correspondence with Lura Beam, 1922-38 Bequest from a Life by Lura Beam 1 19 Typescript, n.d. 1a 20 Reviews and correspondence, 1960-64 1a 21 Permissions, 1962 1a 22 Williams & Wilkins Co., and Waverly Press, 1962-66 1a 23 Distribution, 1963-66 1a Manuscripts and proofs, 1960-63 Personal memorabilia

[see also Oversize Material]

2 24 American Museum of National History, 1935 2 25 Books: description by Lura Beam, 1962

[see Books on Shelf]

2 26 Contribution receipts, 1953-56 2 27 Church, 1945-57 2 28 Humorous pieces, 1910-28 2 29 Myths of Plato, 1907 2 30 Paintings and sculpture clippings, 1949-53 2 31 Poetry, 1828-1953 2 32 Clippings, 1945-54 2 33 Prose clippings, 1929-56 2 34 Vacations: photographs and postcards, 1923-60 SERIES II. PERSONAL ACTIVITIES Clippings 3 35 Animals, 1935-56 3 36 Birds, 1936-55 3 37 Buildings, 1938-55 3 38 Children, 1936-55 3 39 Landscapes and flowers, 1938-56 3 40 Men, 1937-56 3 41 Negroes, 1936-56 3 42 Obituaries, 1931-54 3 43 Paintings, photography, and cartoons, 1937-56 3 44 Poetry, 1921-34 3 45 Reptiles and insects, 1948-55 3 46 Sculpture, 1922-56 3 47 War, 1942-56 3 48 Women, 1938-56 Notebooks 4 "Psychology of Social Work, Principles and Techniques of Case Work, and Public Health and Hygiene," 1915-17 4 Education course, 1907 4 Physiology course, 1913-14 Calendar: A Calendar of Good Thoughts to Companion Every Day, n.d. 5 Diaries, 1921-55, n.d. SERIES III. CORRESPONDENCE 6 49 Aronovici, Dr. Carol, 1941-44 6 50 Ayres, Colonel Leonard (Dr. May Ayres, Mrs. Randolph Burgess), 1911-43 6 51 Blank, Dr. Fritz, 1940-45 6 52 Bryant, Arthur, 1904-14 6 53 Bucky, Dr. Gustav, 1941-43 6 54 Bucky, Frida Sarsen, 1941-42 6 55 Carleton, Baldwin, 1939-56 6 56 Carleton, Ernest, 1938-54 6 57 Carleton, Dr. Spencer, 1933-54 Churchill, Alfred Vance 6 58 Building a Collection, 1941-42 6 59 Mid-western, 1944-51 6 60 German songs, 1941-43 6 61 Churchill, Marie, 1953-55 6 62 Cyon, Fran?oise Lafitte, 1935-54 6 63 Dickinson, Dr. Robert L., 1928-50 6 64-67 Ellis, Havelock, 1934-39 6 68 F.A. Davis Co., 1934-35 6 69 Emerson Books, 1935-46 6 70 Ishill, Joseph, 1936-54 6 71 McFarlane, Ward, McFarlane Inc., 1935 6 72 Random House: Bennett Cerf, 1934-39 6 73 Virginia Quarterly Review, 1939-42 6 74 Miscellaneous, 1936-39 8 75 Elwyn, Dr. Adolf, 1936-42 8 76 Fay, Harriet, 1933-42 8 77 Furse, Katherine Dame, 1939-52 8 78 Guy, Gerda, 1945-56 8 79 Hartman, Dr. Carol, 1935-54 8 80 Hirschberg, Dr. Alexandre, 1942-53 8 81 Hillyer, Marion, 1936-38 8 82 Hine, Lewis & Sara, 1930-41 8 83 Hodson, Mrs. Cora, 1939-56 8 84 Kent, Elizabeth & Frederick, 1914-46 8 85 Kerr, Rose, 1921-45 8 86 Kopp, Dr. Marie, 1940 8 87 Lord, Isabel Ely, 1940-54 8 88 Nourse, Charlotte, Constance, and Mary, 1938-59 8 89 Norton, Grace Fallow, n.d. 8 90 Patients - referrals to doctors, 1921-54 8 91 Schaffner, Alice & Arthur, 1937-56 8 92 Simonson, Ethel Bruce, 1923-55 8 93 Miscellaneous, 1914-56 8 94 Re: Betsy Ross (dog), 1938-50 8 95 Letters of condolence, 1956 SERIES IV. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Notes 9 96 "The Precardial Arteries of Squalus Acanthias," 1908-11 9 97 "Dante and a World Empire," 1908 9 98 "Nietzche," n.d. 9 99 Philosophy II paper, n.d. 9 100 "Postural Patterns," 1936-37 9 101 "Special Class for Defectives," 1908 Mabel Ellsworth Todd 9 102 Correspondence, 1920-37 9 103 Published writings, 1920-27 9 104 National Committee on Maternal Health, 1932-34

[see also Box 12]

9 Miscellaneous pamphlets and publications, 1923-31 Writings

[see also Books on Shelf]

9a 105 Girl Scouts, 1921-23

[see also Box 11]

9a 106 Correction, 1915-63 9a 107 School feeding, 1910-13

[see also Box 10, Box 12 and Books on Shelf]

9a 108 Miscellaneous, 1910-18 10 Nutritional Survey of Washington School Children, 1913-18 Subjects American Association of University Women 11 109 Correspondence, 1940-50 11 110 Exhibitions, 1947-50 11 111 Girl Scouts

[see also Box 9a]

11 112 Job hunting 11 113 U.S. Army 11 114 World food supply 11 115 World War I Health and hygiene 12 116 Articles, topics for 12 117 Eyestrain in childhood 12 118 Maternal mortality 12 119 Malnutrition and incidence of disease among school children 12 120 Medical inspection in the public schools 12 121 Mothers' Assistance Fund, Pennsylvania 12 122 National Committee on Maternal Health

[see also Box 9]

12 123 Psychological Clinic, University of Pennsylvania 12 124 School feeding

[see also Box 9 and Box 10]

12 125 School feeding in Europe 12 126 Sterility 12 127 Work history 13 128 Records in social service Social Work 13 129 Abortion 13 130 Central Bureau of Planning and Statistics 13 131 Committee on Dispensary Development 13 132 Hospital Social Service 13 133 Municipal Court of Philadelphia 13 134 Organization 13 135 Philadelphia Conference on Illegitimacy 13 136 Publication 13 137 Studies: reports and articles 13 138 Unstable diabolic blood pressure and feeblemindedness 13 139 Weekly reports OVERSIZE MATERIALS 14 Girls' House of Refuge, Philadelphia: photograph album, 1908-09 15 A Child's Primer of Natural History by Oliver Herford, 1899 BOOKS ON SHELF By Louise Stevens Bryant Better Doctoring - Less Dependency: A Study of the Relations Between Medical and Non-medical Agencies With Special Reference to Clinic and Family Services, 1927 Municipal Court of Philadelphia: Report, 1915 School Feeding: Its History and Practice at Home and Abroad, 1913 By others Campward Ho!: A Manual for Girl Scout Camps by Girl Scouts, Inc., 1920 Clinics, Hospitals, and Health Centers by Michael M. Davis, 1927 Fourth International Congress on School Hygiene: Transactions: Vol. V: Papers, 1913 Human Sex and Anatomy by Robert Latou Dickinson, 1933 Human Sterility: Causation, Diagnosis and Treatment by Samuel Raynor Meaker, M.D., 1934 Scouting for Girls: Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts, Inc., 1920 Seventy Birth Control Clinics by Caroline Hadley Robinson, 1930 Songs For Our Darlings, edited by Uncle Willis, 1889 The Special Class For Backward Children by Lightner Witmer, 1911 Time of Ovulation in Women by Carl G. Hartman, 1936 The War With Germany: A Statistical Summary by Leonard P. Ayres, 1919