September 13, 1934 – Addressed to Mr. + Mrs. C. A. Tenney - Tenney excited to be a member of a sorority on campus & not have to pay sorority dues. - Underscores significance of sorority on campus - Discusses scarlet fever quarantine (and how the school addressed contagious illnesses at the time) - Sometimes addresses someone named “Jean” (older sister).

October 8, 1934 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Tenney - Discusses the conditions under 3-week scarlet fever quarantine; wants to go home for Halloween, but probably won’t be able to - Also mentions Duckett, who has been trying to get Katherine to join the sorority. (likely an earlier letter than previous entry) - Discusses the family’s money troubles; fashion; approaching marriages - Talks about archery and piano lessons - Mentions a man who was stuck at the seminary due to the quarantine and was taught to dance

October 1, 1934 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Went to a dance at Charlotte hall the previous night  “I really had a right nice time, probably because I expected it to be so dumb and it wasn’t as bad as I expected” - Went on a blind date with a man named Bob Goerder; “he tickled me” - Plans to go to a party hosted by the Delta Phi Epsilons, but does not plan to join due to exorbitant dues ($20 a year!) - A girl named Alma might have T.B.; Katherine discusses this situation in depth. - Katherine = president of the dramatic club. - Kay Aldridge is engaged to Jack Cahill. - Discusses her busy schedule – has dropped short hand in favor of phys. ed. - “I think St. Mary’s will do me so much good in the developing of personality and that sort of thing that the H. S. can’t give that it is well worth the difference. Credits are no good without something to go with them and I feel St. Mary’s is precisely the place to give it.” - The pianos Tenney has been practicing on are in bad shape. Apparently the piano teacher (Mrs. Woodall) wants to give Tenney lessons – possibly even for free; Tenney says, “I guess that’s so she could save her reputation”. September 28, 1934 – Addressed to Mrs. C. A. Tenney (Katherine’s mother) - “Cake, candy, and sweets” can only be delivered on the weekends – this letter includes directions for her mother to send a cake clandestinely.

September 24, 1934 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Includes a letter written to Senator Byron, thanking him for his aid (which allowed her to attend the school) - Discusses the cost of laundry

Letter not dated. – “Dear ‘fambly’” - Will have a second year of Home Economics class; discusses the importance of Home Economics at St. Mary’s (and the rest of her schedule). - Discusses the archery club – which was apparently sizeable, with 20 members at the time. Worries over the cost of membership. Suggests that her sister, Jean, founded the club when she was on campus. - Goes into a discussion of local politics (and talks about congratulating someone named Mr. Jess for winning Chair of Dem. Central Comm.) - Likes living alone. Wants to rent a piano for the semester. - “Hester Laster asked me if sometime when she took a week-end if I’d go with her; from what I’ve seen of her I don’t think I’d especially want to” - Speaks highly of the bishop Freeman - Katherine is president of the Biology club: “Oh yes, I’m pres. Of the Biology club but that doesn’t mean so much.” - Got hand-me-down napkins from Jean on the down-low. - Plans to go to the Tercentenary Pageant, but is “not so enthused.” - “Haven’t had any fried chicken – only stewed etc. How I envy you all.” - Requests a collection of insects (for extra credit in Biology); “Remember that collection of insects in the drawer of the green desk, that Jean made a long time ago. I wish you could bring them when you come, It would give me extra credit in Biology. I’ll let her think I did it down here.”

September 17, 1934 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Had a dress up party last night with some friends; she dressed up as a Katzenjammer kid. - “We have ten in our class, only three new girls: myself, Anne Blackistone, and Jane Anderson from Baltimore” – lists all the other students too - Asks for notebook paper – again, talks about cutting excess expenses in school; decides to drop short hand class.

September 13, 1934 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Requests two Hoover aprons (“as cheap ones as you can”) - Signed, “Katy”

October 12, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “Well, here I is. So far I like it a lot and haven’t felt the least bit homesick or lonely.” - Debates taking the short hand course, teaching herself typing, and taking a business course (the extra cost would be $10 a semester).

October 15, 1934 – addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Tenney” - “they will give you fruit only during week” - The quarantine is coming to an end; “it looks like they’ll be able to get that long week-end over Hallow’een” - The previous night the girls staged a wedding in “music hall” (St. Mary’s Hall)

October 22, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Katherine received her report card, was first in her class, and “was tickled pink” - She got an “A” in “attitude and deportment” along with As in Biology, Math, and English - “I’d give anything to see someone from home but I’m not homesick” - “If I soon don’t get some apples I’ll pass out – you have no idea how I miss fruit here” - Talks about arranging visits from various friends - Also talks up someone named “Charlie” to Jean

No envelop/date – (The 26th Friday of October, 1934) - A girl named Alma asked Katherine to go home with her if they could get a ride, but Katherine is not particularly enthused about spending that much time with Alma (a Freshman). - The remainder of this letter is Katherine attempting to come up with excuses not to go home with Alma. October 23, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Katherine plans to go home for the weekend (this letter includes all of the logistical planning for transportation, etc) - She has a ride with Helen Pinkstone – “this solves the Alma problem” - Signed “Hurriedly, K.T. Answer immediately.” October 24, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “the quarantine broke yesterday – once more we’re free white folk” (?) - Again, this letter deals with the logistical planning for the free Halloween weekend. November 5, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Katherine was dropped off in Hyattsville and spent three hours there by herself before Dottie came to pick her up. - Got back to school; prepared a D.A.R luncheon for 40 people. Describes the feast in depth. - They put on a play (I think) and Katherine was Fatima, Bluebeard’s wife. “It was really cute.” - “The prom is this Sat. and I guess I’ll take Bob Goerder from Char. Hall. I wrote to Jean for her dress and shoes.” - Someone stole some of Katherine’s sheet music; “I’m going to find it if I’ve gotta burn the school down” - “Pinky stayed home an extra day – she of course has to pay $1 for every class she missed.” November 12, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Tenney - “Dear Fambly, Well, well, I have a room-mate and I’ve had to move, darn it.” - “I don’t think she’s the kind of girl I’d pick if I had my choice of a room-mate….What I mean is she hasn’t much personality and is rather slow in catching on to things.” - “Well, we had the Prom last nite and I had a grand time, the orchestra was grand, of course I got a few dumb dances, but on the whole I had a grand time.” - Katherine was “furious” because she broke the heel of her preferred sandals before Prom. - Plans to go to Macbeth on Saturday night. Also plans to go to an informal at Charlotte Hall. - Katherine wants more apples. - There was a dance at the hall, sponsored by the athletic club, and decorated with various sports equipment - “Some kids were caught having a feast in the John the other night, so they’re confiscating all flashlights, candles, etc.” - “Dr. and Mrs. Dixon just came and Georgie is going home for good because scarlet fever left her eyes too weak to continue, isn’t that awful.” - The remainder of the letter is dedicated to arranging visits from cousins (Emery and Lucille). Not dated - This letter advises Katherine’s parents to wait to give permission to Miss France until Katherine knows when Lucille will visit.

November 19, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “Dear Fambly, Well we can’t go to Macbeth because it’s on the same day as Junior Play” - Katherine decides that she would rather have her cousin Emery come after Christmas, in the Spring. - Apparently Katherine was planning to attend a wedding soon. - “Jean, the other day in H.E. we served a breakfast and I had to get supplies so I looked behind the refrigerator for that piece of steak you left on the water bottle but it’s gone. Ha! ha.” - Wants to bring up grades in Phys. Ed. and Housekeeping. - Wants parents to make cookies for upcoming sorority potluck. - “Had dumbest letter from Mrs. Angle – now I‘ve gotta write her another.” - Asks parents for permission to go for a ride with Lucille that Sunday.

November 26, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Thanks parents for cookies they made and for mended arrows. - The plays are over. - She didn’t get on honor roll that month because her “numerical average was just below it;” asks her parents to sign her report card. - Mentions that she met a Mrs. Chealy the previous night (at the play)

December 1, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “Dear Fambly” - Discusses the upcoming dance, which was to be held in Baltimore at the Emerson Hotel. - Letter dedicated to making arrangements for Jean to attend the dance with a man named John (or driven by a man named John). - Lost an arrow and is very upset about it. - Is officially a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority (as of Thanksgiving). - Discusses weight. (Weighs 3 pounds more than in September!) - Lucille can’t come visit. - Describes all the food served at the Thanksgiving banquet.

December 3, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Katherine wants to begin charging girls for doing their hair – “I’ve been setting loads of kids’ hair and everyone wants me to take something for it, so I think I’ll start.” - Plans to go home at 2:30 on the 15th for Christmas break.

December 4, 1934 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “I hate dreadfully to have to write and ask for this, it seems like every time I turn around I’m writing for you to send me something.” - Asks for marshmallows.

December 8, 1934 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Katherine decides not to go to the dance because she can’t think of anyone to bring. - Travel arrangements for Christmas break. - Apologizes again for asking for candy. - Hopes her grandmother is better.

December 8, 1934 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Discovered she’d sent a letter to a Mrs. Zeigler at the wrong address - Asks for her mother’s recipe for marshmallows

December 13, 1934 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Once again goes over travel arrangements for Christmas break. - “I’m tickled to death, I’m on the basket ball squad; that is, 1 of the 23 she kept and didn’t discard” - “It just breaks my heart not to go to the dance, but as it stands I don’t see how I can without a man.”