Archives and Special Collections
Manuscript Register
2 boxes
Agency History/Biographical note:
Charlotte Proctor Kummel was born in Trenton, New Jersey on January
23, 1903. She attended Mount Holyoke College from 1920-1924, majoring
in art history with a minor in Bible Studies. In her time at the
College, Kummel was honored as a Sarah Williston Scholar and inducted
into Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating cum laude, she went on to
teach for a year at the Tucson Indian Training School in Arizona.
She then returned to Mount Holyoke as a Graduate Fellow and Assistant
of Biblical History and Literature. She spent the next year at the
University of Chicago, receiving her M.A. in Religious Education in
1927. Kummel attended the Columbia University School of Library
Science, and from 1928 was a librarian at the Free Public Library in
Trenton. In 1935, Kummel married University of Pennsylvania graduate
George Krall of West Trenton, New Jersey, and they went on to have
two sons within the next four years. After a brief time away from
work while raising her family, Kummel returned to the Trenton Library
to eventually become head of the Circulation Department. She was
part of a delegation of librarians who went to Russia in 1960 to
visit the Lenin State Library in Moscow. Throughout her life, Kummel
was active in the League of Women Voters, and was involved in the
Trenton College Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution and
the American Library Association. She was also a member of the first
Presbyterian Church in Hightstown, and was an active alumnae.
Charlotte Kummel Krall died in Philadelphia on April 18, 1987 at the
age of 84.
Scope and Content:
The Charlotte Proctor Kummel Papers chiefly consist of academic work,
documenting her time as a student at Mount Holyoke College from
1920-1924. Included are some personal papers in the form of
correspondence and memorabilia, mostly dating from her years at the
College. Numerous essays and projects in art history, English and
Biblical Studies reflect her primary intellectual pursuits, while
club membership cards and written debates represent her
extracurricular involvements. Collectively, these papers reflect
both the intellectual and personal interests of Kummel that were
developed during her college years to last throughout her lifetime.
These papers contain academic work which includes
class notes, essays or projects, and exams in various academic areas,
in addition to personal correspondence in the form of writings,
memorabilia and a few certificates in her name. There are a number
of photographs within the file as well, including one of the
dormitory in which she lived for a number of years. Documents of
particular interest are a note and appointment invitation from Mary
Woolley, President of the College from 1901-1937.
Note that the Kummel papers originally contained a photograph
of her college friend Lois Curtis, which has been moved to Lois
Curtis' student file.
Cite as: Charlotte Proctor Kummel Papers, Mount Holyoke College, Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley, Massachusetts
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
Copyright © 1998, Mount H olyoke College. This page created by LITS and maintained by P. Carini. Last modified on October 28, 2002