Contents

Collection Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Organization of the Collection

Search Terms

Nancy Toppan Little Papers, 1914-1978

Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Caroline Hasenyager and Valerie Love.

Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

© 2003

Biographical Note

Nancy Toppan Little, class of 1918, lived her entire life in Newburyport, Massachusetts. During her four years at Smith she studied Math, English, German, History, Latin, Biblical Literature, Geology, Philosophy, Physics, Economics and Physical Education and was a member of the Math Club. She also taught classes in Arithmetic and Geography at the People's Institute of Northampton. Between her graduation and her marriage on June 16, 1920 to Herbert Greenleaf Noyes, also of Newburyport, she worked briefly as a bank clerk. Her sixty-one-year marriage produced three sons, nine grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Until her death in 1995, Little delighted in outdoor walks and visits from her large family.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Nancy Toppan Little Papers contain correspondence to her family from her enrollment at Smith College in 1914 until her graduation in 1918. The papers also contain materials relating to her college career, including a memorabilia book, class songs, programs from Smith theatrical events, and memoirs of her 45th and 60th college reunions.

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Search Terms

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Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into four series:

• I. Correspondence
• II. Photographs and Memorabilia Book
• III. Smith Materials
• IV. Post-Smith Materials

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SERIES I. CORRESPONDENCE, (1914-1918)

This series is comprised primarily of Little's letters to her parents and sister during the four years she studied at Smith College. Her letters mostly deal with daily life at Smith, such as academic work, sports, theatre, activities with friends, food, clothing, requests for money, and gentlemen callers, as well as glee and mandolin club concerts. She also writes about general life in Haven House, including freshman pranks, tea, and other social gatherings. There are also several telegrams that she received, and also a letter from the Office of the Physician about precautionary measures taken in response to the epidemic of Infantile Paralysis in 1916.

SERIES II. PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA BOOK

Little's memorabilia book ranges from 1914 to 1918 containing articles pertianing mainly to Smith College, although several mention her specifically. Also included in the series are three photographs of Little during her college career.

SERIES III. SMITH MATERIALS

This series consists of miscellaneous materials that pertain to her Smith career. These include invitations to athletic events, notes to her, People's Institute papers, copies of class songs, as well as dance and report cards.

SERIES IV. POST-SMITH MATERIALS

This series consists primarily of concert programs and playbills of events Little after her graduation from Smith in 1918. Also included in the series are memoirs of her 45th and 60th college reunions.