Pratt, Genevieve F.
Pratt papers,
1916-1976.
Manuscript Collection: MS 0708
1
box
Agency History/Biographical note:
Genevieve Frances Pratt was born on June 24, 1898 in Westfield,
Massachusetts to George F. Pratt, a whipmaker, and Ermina Ford Pratt.
She graduated from Westfield High School then entered Mount Holyoke
College, alma mater of her sister, Gladys, in 1916. She received
senior honors and a B.A. in English Literature. After graduating in
1920, Pratt worked at the Mount Holyoke Library as an assistant from
1920-1921. She then worked in New York City as a translator for the
Western Electric Engineering Library from 1921-1923 and attended the
Ballard School in New York City for stenography and typing from
1922-1923. From 1923-1932 she was the office manager of a mail order
shop in Westfield, Massachusetts. She attended Northeastern
University in Springfield for accounting from 1926-1927. Pratt
served at Mount Holyoke College as secretary to the Comptroller from
1932-1938, secretary to the Academic Dean from 1938-1941 and
secretary to the Registrar's Office from 1941-1942. After serving as
the Recorder in the Registrar's Office from 1942-1948, Pratt served
as Registrar from 1949-1963. She was an honorary life member of the
New England Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission
Officers and served as president of the organization from 1952-1953.
In 1970 Pratt was awarded the Alumnae Medal of Honor by Mount Holyoke
College. She died on August 4, 1976 in Holyoke, Massachusetts at the
age of seventy-eight.
Scope and Content:
The Genevieve Frances Pratt Papers contain diaries, correspondence,
biographical information, memorabilia, and photographs. Of
particular note is the diary kept by Pratt while she was a student at
Mount Holyoke College from 1916 to 1920. The diary includes short
daily descriptions of classes, social activities, people, and the
weather. A travel diary dating from 1958 to 1970 is also included.
In it are details about Pratt's trip in 1958 to England, Scotland,
the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. Descriptions of her
trip to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, and England in 1964 are
included as well. The later entries document Pratt's trips around
New England. Topics mentioned in the travel diary include her
activities, expenses, and food. The correspondence dates from 1938
to 1975 and includes personal letters by Pratt and several friends.
The biographical information dating from 1921-1976 includes newspaper
clippings and a tribute by classmate Eleanor C. Buchholz. The
memorabilia dates from 1920-1976 and includes greeting cards, her
Mount Holyoke diploma, an auto sales bill from 1927, and documents
relating to her retirement. The photographs series consists of
photographs of Pratt and her Mount Holyoke classmates engaging is
social activities such as senior rope-jumping, the laurel parade, and
other traditional events. There are also photographs of a visit to
Mount Holyoke by Princess Juliana of the Netherlands in 1941.
Photographs of campus buildings and of President Mary Woolley are
included, as is a retirement photograph of Pratt.
Cite as: The Genevieve F. Pratt Papers, Mount Holyoke
College Archives and Special Collections, South
Hadley, MA
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted.
Series List:
- Diaries
, 1916-1920, 1958-1970
, 2 folders
- Correspondence
, 1938-1975
, 1 folder
- Biographical Information
, 1921-1976
, 1 folder
- Memorabilia
, 1920-1976
, 2 folders
- Photographs
, 1916-ca. 1969
, 2 folders
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