1924-1928 Diary of Edith Souther Tufts, the New Hampshire-Born Female Professor and Long-Time Wellesley College Dean of Residence

On offer is the diary of a woman ahead of her time, who spent her life in academia, advocating for women’s education through her roles as professor of Greek, and later Dean of Residence at Wellesley College. 

Edith Souther Tufts (1862-1935) was born in Dover, New Hampshire to Dr. Charles Augustus Tufts (1821-1899) and Anne Blanchard Souther (1827-1907). Dr. Tufts was well-known in Dover as a  pharmacist, physician, councilman, alderman, town clerk, associate judge and senator. He ran the family apothecary shop, which had been opened by his father, Asa Alfred Tufts in 1815, and was one of the oldest apothecary shops in the country. 

Edith completed a five-year B.A. in Music from Wellesley College in 1885, a M.A. from Yale in 1895 and was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1927. She taught Greek at Wellesley College and then at the Norwich Free Academy. In 1902 she returned to Wellesley where she remained for the duration of her career. Tufts was named Dean of Residence at Wellesley in 1919 and held that position until her retirement in 1930. She was a trustee of the University of New Hampshire. She passed away suddenly while attending a Wellesley class of 1884 reunion. At the time of her death, Tufts was staying at the President’s House with her dear lifelong friend and Wellesley president, Ellen Fitz Pendleton (1864-1936). Edith writes of Pendleton regularly, referring to her mostly as “E.F.P.” in her diary. While Tufts was never married and had no children, she clearly had extremely fulfilling and loving female friendships. 

Edith’s diary is rich with details of her working life, social life and summer travel and activities, such as the trip to Europe in Summer 1924, which involved Pendleton. Though she is 62-years-old when she begins her diary, Edith is an incredibly busy and sought-after academic, balancing her work as professor and dean with her speaking engagements and event commitments. She also notes the goings-on of other faculty members and administrators. 

While Tufts is a successful and well-respected professional, she remains humble. For example, she was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from University of New Hampshire on June 20, 1927. Her diary entry for the day makes it seem like she simply took an unremarkable day trip back home:

“Drove by motor for Durham at 7am. Lake Minnie…to Dover and bring Sandy and Marion back. Meet J.A. T and G. Sawyer. Interesting exercise. Address by C.R. Browne [Charles Reynolds Browne, Dean of the Yale Divinity School]. Lunch with J.A.T and E.C.S. Reach [Wellesley] in time for dinner” [June 20, 1927].

Edith’s writing varies by day. Some days she writes detailed, newsy entries, some days she skips altogether, and some days she makes cursory notes with only the highlights. Most days she is engaging in activities connected to Wellesley’s academics, recruitment, or housing and building operations. On school breaks she sometimes travels, including a European trip in the summer of 1924. Some excerpts give the flavour of her writing:

“...Take train to Leamington. Change at Stratford. Reach L. between 5 to 6. E.F.P. already there. ABM arrives shortly…Room with E.F.P.” [Aug 5,1924].

“Village after breakfast to talk about room for French instructors. Office hours. Call from Pauline Hayes. Keep her to lunch with group of contemporary alumnae. Call at Calflin. Busy afternoon. Evening in rooms” [Sept 17, 1924]. 

“Lunch for Wellesley Teachers Association. 730 Sophomore Prom” [Nov 15, 1924].

“Speak in N.Y. at school for Ethical Culture. Entertained at dinner by Mrs. Weinberg” [Feb 9, 1925]. [Note: The Brooklyn Eagle reported on Tufts’ speech to the Manhattan PTA of the Ethical Culture School. They report that in this speech she stated that college girls have an “exaggerated sense of individuality…and the lack of a true sense of community responsibility…”]. 

“Tea for parents at President’s House. Appointment for freshmen in evening at Billings Hall. E.F.P. and E. Smith make excellent speeches. Conference [about] registration slips. [Belle] Wardwell, [Mary Fraser] Smith, [Effie Jane] Buell (?)...” [Sept 22, 1925].

“First chapel. Good representation of faculty. E.F.P. speaks well. Florence Carpenter sings new Wellesley song. Reception on Guest House lawn. Cool but lovely. Priscilla Cooper married in Chapel” [Sept 26, 1925]. 

“Appt. with Dr. Keen re swollen ankle. Nothing much amiss. Advised stern reducing. Home dinner” [March 17, 1926].

“Anne leaves at 7.56. Office as usual. Thorough inspection of Severance Hall w. E.F.P, Mr. [Wendell Howard] Kayser and Mr. [Ellery K.] Taylor of Day & Klauder. Mary F. [Sime] comes in time for dinner. E.F.P. goes to own house” [Aug 30, 1926].

“Tom Griffin goes to Westport Point for Miss Kendall and brings her to Hallowell [House]. K. Hall drives back with her and spends night. Art Dept. at lunch with B. Straight. Lovely drive for autumn colouring with Charlotte G.” [Oct 7, 1926]. 

“Conference with E.F.P. and Mr. K. Do village plan for next year. Work out figures. Mary comes back from Philadelphia” [Nov 15, 1926].

“Call on Dr. P.D. White after 9 mos. Makes good report. Advises loss of 10 lbs by Xmas. Meet Anna Morse H. and her son” [Sept 14, 1927].

“1st communion Sunday. Good congregation but rather small number remain. E.F.P. leaves in early afternoon for Oberlin. Dr. Calkins at dinner…” [Oct 23, 1927].

“Lunch at Washington House. Mrs. [Harriet C] Woodward’s funeral [manager of College Lodging House]  at Village Church. Tea dance at Lower Courts. Dinner for Liffy (Tiffy?). E.F.P, Gamble…C.W.E Walker, M.B.J…” [Nov 26, 1927].

“E.F.P mentions fire anniversary at Chapel. Various office-hour callers. Etta Newell at lunch. Tells me of the desertion of Miriam’s husband. Call from A. [Adele] Lathrop re her new position in N.Y. Play at Wood “Gut the Hero”” [March 17, 1928].

“Freshman blanks in a.m. Boston w E.F.P.  Mr [Wilford Priest] Hooper drives us in. Lunch with A.B.H. at College Club. Few errands. Hot supper w E.F.P. Conference w rooms. Thunder shower” [Aug 3, 1928].

“Freshman come. Unusually quiet day for first. Few snarls. All but four on list accounted for at ten o’ clock. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges and sister at lunch. Mr. Hodges spends the night at J.C.” [Sept 17, 1928].

“Mr. Arbuckle preacher. E.F.P. invites Lida K. and me to dinner w Miss Chapin. Alarm of fire at Eliot [Hall] shortly after two. Apparently from chimney. Hole burned in roof but no serious damage. Thankful!” [Oct 7, 1928].

The 1920s were a time of great change for American women. The decade opened with women winning the right to vote, and women’s voices were becoming stronger. More women began entering postsecondary institutions and finding their places in the workforce. Tufts and her Wellesley contemporaries were many steps ahead, having held advanced degrees and leadership positions in higher education for years.

Tufts’ diary is an exceptional document for those interested in the history of Wellesley College, the role and experience of American women in the 1920s, women in leadership roles, and the leadership, faculty, and students of Wellesley College between 1924-1928.

The diary measures 6.75x4 inches. It is a 5-year diary containing 365 pages plus memoranda. Edith has filled approximately 70% of the diary. While her periods of consistent writing and breaks are sporadic, she seems to forget to write for most of December each year. The diary covers shows signs of age and are faded and chipping. The spine is in-tact, but loose. All pages are present and attached. The writing is in pencil, and is very legible, though Tufts’ handwriting is sometimes rushed and challenging to interpret. Overall the diary is Fair to Good.