Contents

Collection Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Organization of the Collection

Search Terms

Correspondence, 1941-1973

Writings, circa 1923-1975

History Department Records, circa 1939-1950

Memorabilia, 1906, 1913, 1919

Biographical Information, 1936-1979

Photographs, circa 1896-1964

Correspondence, 1941-1973

Writings, circa 1923-1975

History Department Recordscirca 1939-1950

Memorabilia, 1906, 1913, 1919

Biographical Information, 1936-1979

Photographs, circa 1896-1964

Viola Florence Barnes collection, ca. 1896-1979.

Finding Aid

Encoding funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

© 2003

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.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

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, circa 1896-1964.

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Search Terms

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Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into six series:

• Correspondence
• Writings
• History Department Records
• Memorabilia
• Biographical Information
• Photographs

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Contents List

Correspondence, 1941-1973 7.5 linear inches

Chiefly consists of letters written to Barnes between 1955-1972 concerning the possible publication of her three volume manuscript entitled "Britain in the Shadow of World Revolution, 1760-1776." These documents discuss the merits of the work (often in considerable detail) and ways in which the manuscript might be published. Correspondents include Lawrence Henry Gipson, Leonard W. Labaree, Edmund S. Morgan, and other noted historians, as well as representatives of numerous commerical publishers and university presses. Other letters to Barnes reflect her association with the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, which gave her financial support for her research, and discuss her gifts of books, articles, and family memorabilia to the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Nebraska State Historical Society between 1968-1973. Also contains several letters by Barnes written between 1941-1973. These letters are chiefly addressed to friends on the Mount Holyoke staff and they include autobiographical details and notes about the history of the College.

Arranged chronologically or by name of correspondent.

Writings, circa 1923-1975 1.5 linear feet

Contains the manuscript of Barnes' three-volume study of the history of Great Britain from 1760-1776 which she completed between 1959-1973. Other writings consist of copies of articles and reviews published between 1926-1969 and a substantial number of unpublished essays, drafts, notes, and memoranda, circa 1923-1975. Some of the latter material concerns the History Department at Mount Holyoke College while other writings are autobiographical in nature.

Arranged chronologically.

History Department Records, circa 1939-1950 2 folders

Reflects activities of the Mount Holyoke College History Department from about 1939-1950 and chiefly consists of copies of letters by Barnes written between 1946-1950. These letters are addressed to President Roswell Ham and other College officials, History Department members (particularly Frederick Cramer), alumnae, students, and colleagues. Also includes notes, lists, and memoranda by Barnes dating from 1939-1942. Materials in this series concern a variety of Department matters, including course offerings and staffing issues.

Arranged chronologically.

Memorabilia, 1906, 1913, 1919 1 folder

Contains a certificate for Barnes' completion of her studies at the University of Nebraska School of Music in 1906, her certificate of membership in the National Daughters of the American Revolution, 1913, and her Ph.D. diploma from Yale University, 1919.

Arranged chronologically.

Biographical Information, 1936-1979 1 folder

Includes newspaper articles and press releases about Barnes as well as a biographical questionnaire and lists of her publications. Also contains a tribute read at her memorial service on August 16, 1979 and a recollection by William S. McFeely presented at the September 24 Faculty Meeting of that year.

Arranged chronologically.

Photographs, circa 1896-1964 4 folders

Consists of formal portraits and informal snapshots of Barnes, circa 1896-1964. Of particular note are photographs of Barnes teaching a kindergarten class in the Albion, Nebraska, Methodist Church in 1896 at the age of ten and of her with members of her high school graduating class in 1901. Also includes photographs of other people (probably friends or colleagues) and of a variety of animals, buildings, and scenes. Almost all of the photographs are unlabeled and undated.

Arranged chronologically.

Contents List

Correspondence, 1941-1973 7.5 linear inches

Writings, circa 1923-1975 1.5 linear feet

History Department Records circa 1939-1950 2 folders

Memorabilia, 1906, 1913, 1919 1 folder

Biographical Information, 1936-1979 1 folder

Photographs, circa 1896-1964 4 folders