Viola Florence Barnes collection,
ca. 1896-1979.
Manuscript Collection: MS 0704
7
boxes
Agency History/Biographical note:
Viola Florence Barnes was born on August 28, 1885 in Albion,
Nebraska. She was the third of five children of Cass Groves Barns
(who spelled the family name without an "e"), a physician and
newspaper editor, and Isabella Smith Barns. She received a Bachelor
of Music degree from the University of Nebraska School of Music in
1906 and, after a brief period as a piano teacher, returned to the
University to complete work for a B.A. in 1909 and M.A. in 1910. She
joined the faculty of the University as a history instructor and
continued her studies at Harvard University and the University of
Wisconsin during the summers of 1915-1916, then went to Yale
University. After receiving her Ph.D. from Yale in 1919, Barnes
joined the faculty at Mount Holyoke College and greatly expanded the
American history curriculum. She became a full professor in 1933 and
was chair of the History Department from 1939-1942. Barnes was also
chair of the American Culture major (later the American Studies
Program) from its inception in 1937 until her retirement in 1952.
Her first book, "The Dominion of New England" (1923, reprinted in
1960) remains a standard history of the colonial period and she was
the author of numerous scholarly articles and essays. From about
1926 until the mid-1970s she focused her research on the history of
Great Britain from 1760-1776 and completed a three volume manuscript
that has not been published. In addition to her work as a teacher
and scholar, Barnes was a co-founder and second president of the
Berkshire Conference of Women Historians. She also helped establish
the riding program at Mount Holyoke. Barnes died on July 26, 1979 in
Holyoke, Massachusetts at the age of ninety-three.
Scope and Content:
The Viola Florence Barnes Collection consists of correspondence,
writings, records of the Mount Holyoke College History Department,
biographial information, memorabilia, and photographs. This material
chiefly relates to Barnes' work as a historian and member of the
History Department at Mount Holyoke College. Most of these documents
consist of letters to Barnes, 1955-1972, from colleagues and
publishers concerning the possible publication of her three-volume
manuscript, "Britain in the Shadow of World Revolution, 1760-1776".
Correspondents include historians Carl Bridenbaugh, Lawrence Henry
Gipson, John Higham, Leonard Woods Labaree, and Edmund Sears Morgan.
There are also letters from representatives of university presses and
other publishing firms in the United States and Great Britain,
especially Princeton University Press, Rutgers University Press, Yale
University Press and the American branch of Cambridge University
Press. Barnes' writings in this collection include the final typed
verson of the "Britain in the Shadow of World Revolution" manuscript
as well as published articles and reviews by her dating from
1926-1969 and a substantial number of unpublished essays, drafts,
notes, and memoranda probably dating from about 1923-1975. History
Department records primarily consist of copies of letters by Barnes,
1946-1950, concerning the curriculum, course work by students, and
staffing issues. The collection also include articles, sketches, and
other biographical information about Barnes, 1936-1979; a diploma and
two certificates dating from 1906, 1913, and 1919; and photographs,
ca. 1896-1964.
Cite as: Viola Florence Barnes Collection, Mount Holyoke
College Archives and Special Collections, South
Hadley, MA
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted.
Series List:
- Correspondence
, 1941-1973
, 7.5 linear inches
- Writings
, ca.1923-1975
, 1.5 linear feet
- History Department Records
, ca.1939-1950
, 2 folders
- Memorabilia
, 1906, 1913, 1919
, 1 folder
- Biographical Information
, 1936-1979
, 1 folder
- Photographs
, ca.1896-1964
, 4 folders
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