Archives and Special Collections
Manuscript Register
4 boxes
Agency History/Biographical note:
Alzada Peckham Comstock was born on November 23, 1888 in Waterford,
Connecticut. She received an A.B. from Mount Holyoke College in 1910,
and a master's degree from Columbia University in 1913. Shortly
after, she began teaching economics at Mount Holyoke College, and
became a full professor in 1927. During the course of her lifetime,
she wrote textbooks and various other publications. She was chair of
the American Association of University Women for five years and
represented the AAUW at various international conferences. She was
recognized internationally as an authority on economic issues and
problems. Alzada Comstock died on January 15, 1960.
Scope and Content:
The Alzada Peckham Comstock Papers consist of correspondence,
published and unpublished writings, biographical information, and
photographs. The papers primarily contain letters written between
1915 and 1922 which document Comstock's activities while a graduate
student at Columbia University and later as a teacher at Mount
Holyoke College. The letters written while at Mount Holyoke reflect
Comstock's intense and affectionate relationship with a Mount Holyoke
student, Helen Graves Fisk, class of 1917. Of particular interest
are Comstock's notes sent to Fisk regarding their secret meetings.
In addition, there are letters to Comstock's close friend and
colleague, Amy Hewes. Comstock's writings include articles on
taxation policies at home and abroad, including Russia, Hungary and
Austria. Also included are Comstock's contributions to the "World
Bank Encyclopedia," 1953-1959 and the "New International Year Book,"
1958-1958. The biographical information contains articles about
Comstock's contributions to the field of economics, as well as essays
of her work.
Cite as: Alzada Comstock Papers, Mount Holyoke College, Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley, Massachusetts
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
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