MS 0767.1
Correspondence , 1893-1987
Chronological
Forms part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2002/07/03
Description:
This series, containing letters from Runnette's
childhood through retirement, documents her
relationships with friends, family, colleagues,
students, and students' parents. Letters
concerning British children educated at Tower
School during World War II can be found in the
correspondence of the early 1940s. Additionally,
friends of Runnette living in England wrote of
their experiences of war and their relief after
it had ended. Affectionate letters of
congratulations and wishes upon Runnette's
retirement are contained that evidence the impact
her teaching had on former students and their
parents. A letter from Mary E. Woolley, dated
April 24, 1934, mentions a visit by Woolley to
Tower School. The majority of letters are dated
from the 1940s and 1950s.
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MS 0767.2
Diaries , 1924-1979
Chronological
Forms part of MS 0767, the Helen Virginia Runnette Papers
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2001/05/16
Description:
Runnette's diaries span the years 1924 to 1979
with the bulk of diaries created in the 1960s and
1970s. Some diaries overlap in dates and give
slightly different perceptions of the same days.
Notes found in the diaries have been left as
found though some of the diaries written in
loose-leaf binders have been removed from the
metal bindings for preservation purposes. While
many of the entries contain little more than a
recount of weather, daily activities, and health,
many detail her thoughts on people and events in
her life as well as education.
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MS 0767.3
Tower School Records , ca. 1913-1956
Arranged in 7 sub-series by record type: 1. Administrative
Records. 2. Correspondence. 3. Notes. 4. Teaching and Evaluation
MAterials. 5. Publications. 6. Memorabilia. 7. Clippings.
Forms part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers
Restrictions: Access restricted to student records.
Last Updated: 2001/01/31
Description:
The series contains records related to the
administration of Tower School from 1917 to 1956.
Administrative records include the history and
bylaws of the school, information regarding its
trustees, financial and enrollment information
and information regarding fundraising for the
"new building" built when the school was moved
from Salem to Marblehead in 1941. Correspondence
primarily relates to the school interactions with
area businesses and correspondence to the
trustees. Also contained are administrative
announcements, alumni news, and letters regarding
Runnette's retirement dinner. Three folders of
Director's Notes show Runnette's ideas about how
to manage and inspire teachers, how to educate
students, how to run effective meetings, and how
to maintain her own enthusiasm in the face of
difficulties. These display the transformation
of ideas about education into teaching practice.
Teaching and evaluation materials include
guidelines by which students were to be evaluated
and blank evaluation forms, a 1958 summer reading
list, and excerpts from school plays. Reports on
two specific students, one being a transcript
from another school, are also included. The
product of students' labor is captured in several
editions of "The Turret" and loose student
compositions. Additional issues of "The Turret"
are held in the Mount Holyoke College Library
periodical collection. Further publications
include applications and brochures for Tower
School that advertise its educational philosophy
and offer scenes from the school.Financial and
enrollment information includes budget reports as
well as one chart comparing Tower School with
other area schools in the areas of grades
offered, tuition, and "extras."
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MS 0767.4
Runnette Family Papers , ca. 1849-1988
Arranged by record type.
Form part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers.
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2001/01/31
Description:
This series contains family correspondence,
memorabilia and genealogical information,
clippings, and a family Bible containing further
genealogical information. Notes found within the
Bible have been left in place. More extensive
information on the Runnette lineage is contained
in the form of a report from Mabel Mann Runnette
written in 1952. A eulogy for Elizabeth Kerr
Runnette delivered on August 21, 1920 at
Sandstone Camp, Green Lake Wisconsin, is also
contained, paying tribute to her character and
mourning her death to appendicitis at age 29.
Many clippings refer to a slogan contest won by
Virginia Anderson Runnette in 1926, and two refer
to Fredric Ramsey Jr. (Runnette's nephew) and his
career as a jazz scholar. Family correspondence
spans 1849 - 1984 and contains letter to many
different family members.
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MS 0767.5
Biographical Information , ca. 1886-1988
Chronological
Form part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers.
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2001/01/31
Description:
This series contains biographical information
about Helen Virginia Runnette, including
clippings from Boston area newspapers and
obituaries.
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MS 0767.6
Artwork ,
Arranged by record type.
Form part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers.
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2001/01/31
Description:
Artwork contained in the Runnette Papers consists
of charcoal sketches, pencil sketches, a
sketchbook, bookplates, other drawings, and some
art produced presumably in conjunction with
courses taken at the New School of Design in
Boston. Artwork housed in folio includes a
painting of Runnette's father that bears the
inscription "for Charlie."
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MS 0767.7
Memorabilia , ca. 1940-1965
1 folder
Arranged by record type.
Form part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers.
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2001/01/31
Description:
Memorabilia in the Helen Virginia Runnette papers
consist primarily of travel itineraries. Much of
the memorabilia in the collection refers to
family members or Tower School and is arranged
accordingly. Many items were also returned to
the donor. Memorabilia housed in folio includes a
scrapbook of letters written to Runnette from
Tower School students upon her retirement.
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MS 0767.8
Photographs , ca. 1850-1988
1 box
Arranged by subject.
Form part of MS 0767, The Helen Virginia Runnette Papers.
Restrictions:
Last Updated: 2001/01/31
Description:
This series contains approximately eighty
photographs of family members, friends, Tower
School activities, and places visited on
vacations. Included are photographs of
Runnette's friend Miriam Luscomb visiting Mount
Holyoke College. Many photographs of Runnette
and her sisters capture their childhood
Pittsburgh. Individuals depicted include Helen
Virginia Runnette, sister Elizabeth Kerr
Runnette, sister Ethel Anderson Runnette, father
Joseph H. Runnette, mother Virginia Anderson
Runnette, grandmother Elizabeth Virginia Elliot
Anderson, aand aunt Mary Zeller Anderson.
Photographs housed in folio include individual
images of Helen Virginia Runnette, her mother,
and her father.
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