January 4, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Left clothes at home, requests them to be sent to her

January 7, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Thanks parents for fruits - Sends Jean shower shoes - “Well, I ain’t sweet 16, them days is gone forever”

January 14, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “Dear Folkses, Honesty Mrs. Woodall is one person I really could get great joy out of taking something and knocking her flat.” - Mrs. Woodall wouldn’t let Katherine play a piece she wanted to play (“The Butterfly”) in a piano recital. (And instead gave that piece to another, less experienced pianist). - “It just about gripes her to death that she can’t give me lessons and get the glory.” - Went to an informal at Charlotte Hall with Bob Goerder the previous night. - Charlotte Hall just got a vitaphone and used it for the first time last night. The picture was, “It Happened One Night.” – “The film broke a few times and one film got wound up backwards and they had to take time out to rewind it but outside of that it was very good” - Unseasonable hot temperatures in January. - Plans to go to a sorority weekend in Washington with her friend, Tony Duckett - Another girl (Roselyn Hershberger) has scarlet fever. - Katherine’s father is a veteran/goes to veterans meetings in Hagerstown. - Wants wildroot to set girls’ hair

January 16, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Ended up playing the “Butterfly” piece at the recital (because she stood up to Mrs. Woodall). - Got a surprise package of candy from her parents - Plans to go home with Duckett and three other senior class sorority girls

January 21, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Gives Jean the phone number and address of Dot Moore. - Received a closet pole in the mail; “Did Miss Carr laugh when she gave it to me – ‘Of all things to get thru the mail is a broom handle,’ she said” - Requests permission to go home with Margaret Duckett - Attended (but did not play in) a basketball game the previous night with St. Mary’s Academy at Leonardtown – it was a tie. - Exams start next Saturday - Mrs. Hick’s school is now accredited. (Sacred Heart in Washington).

January 28, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. + Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Exams began this day. - Describes the winter weather on campus – “It looked like my idea of a fairy land, I’ve really never seen anything so pretty.” - The authorities that be will allow skating on the pond very soon. – “Every day they say we can go skating tomorrow, and it’s still tomorrow. It makes me furious, for 2 days we’ve had to stand by and watch the county folks skating.” - Describes a power outage that occurred earlier that week; “We at by candle light and put candles in study hall and danced.” - They couldn’t shower for several days due to a frozen water pump. - Mentions an upcoming senior party near St. Patrick’s Day. - Advises mother to visit various friends in Hagerstown. - Weather would not permit a dance at Charlotte Hall. - Was forced to go to school despite not having exams. - Asks about Cousin Emery.

February 1, 1935 – Addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Card written while Katherine waited for Mr. Duckett to pick her up.

February 11, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Letter written on a card to save postage - Hasn’t heard from Jean in “weeks and weeks” - Sending films to be developed - Went to an informal at Charlotte Hall the previous night (“Bob invited me, but in the meantime his grandfather died and he had to go home for a week end so his roommate and cousin [Ross Powell from Cumberland] took his place”) - “Hope you can read this without a magnifying glass” - Does not plan to go to the game (presumably basketball) at Hyattsville tomorrow On a quarter sheet of paper: “Yesterday we had a snow battle between the senior and junior classes…. Polly Chinly got knocked out someway or other, tho and stayed out for ¾ hr. She’s not very strong that’s why.”

February 18, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Talks fashion to Jean - Katherine got a role in a play (“Pinafore”) and doesn’t know if that role is the lead; “anyway it’s an important part.” - Complains about Mrs. Woodall’s teaching style. - A girl lost $5 and Mrs. France interrogated students one by one in the study hall. (Apparently this was an ongoing issue; “all the stealing has gone on on the second floor” - Won a basketball game between the school and the college 18-15 the day prior. Blames her bad basketball playing on her heavy shoes. - Discusses Billy Newman, a straight-A student who will go to Washington College. - Mentions that the college here isn’t accredited. - “So many of the kids have company today. It seems like everybody’s company always comes the same day.” - Discusses the pronunciation of the word, “applique.” February 28, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Discusses photographs from the developed film, and names the people in the photographs - “They’ve put that operetta off until after Easter”—“It certainly is dumb” - Someone named Kit Shaw is engaged to be married. - Pinky plans to move to Hagerstown - Thanks sister for perfume. - Went to a tea party for Miss France’s birthday. - Plans to welcome new sorority members in a few days. - Went to the formal at Charlotte Hall with Bob the previous night; describes her attire. - “There’s some dumb sophomore here who has a crush on Tony and follows her everywhere and nearly sets her nuts…. Tony tried every method to get her (the soph) to go home and finally had someone say a teacher was looking for her. At this, Gloria (the soph) sits in the middle of the floor and howls, consequently, Mrs. Woodall heard her and found them. None of these girls could go to the dance…. It’s bad enuf for Tony to have to tolerate Gloria much less miss a dance for her.” - Describes the schedule of a girl named Ann Mears.

March 4, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Katherine “realized that my choice of words is very commonplace”….”The day before I received your letter I had begun keeping a list of every good word I hear and then referring to it often” - Laments how little she reads and mentions Kay Aldridge’s vocabulary; “I wish you would do that which Jean said Kay Aldridge’s mother did. Every once in a while in a letter I wish you’d give us a new, good word and then use it as much in the letter as possible.” - “The letters you receive are by far the worst examples of my writing” - Goes on to discuss Ann’s (presumably Ann Mears’) letter-writing style. - Lauds the benefits of constructive criticism. - A man from Baltimore who had spent 14 years in Russia came to speak at the junior college, and Katherine gave up study hall to listen to him talk for 3 hours. According to Katherine, “one of their outstanding doctrines is atheism.”—tells an anecdote about how the government instills atheism in starving orphans by telling them to pray for food and then telling them to ask the government for food and seeing which works. - “Stalin has people shot whenever he feels like it. The people are like dumb driven cattle…. They worship machinery” - Beat the Hyattsville team 16-10 on Wednesday. - “I certainly wish this nice spring weather would arouse the gypsy spirit in Cousin Emery.” - Complains about academic schedule. - Instead of an oratorical contest, the school will be hosting a contest of one act plays – as the president of the dramatic club, Katherine = student representative at meeting in Leonardtown. - Can’t be valedictorian because she’s only been at the junior college for one year. - Describes Charlotte Hall school formals. How C.H. boys ask St. Mary’s girls. - Bob invited her; “he seems to be very nice but – conceited, oh!....All those boys are impardonably conceited, they make me so mad.”

March 19, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Watched a basketball game at Glen Burnie – St. Mary’s won 16-9. - Describes dinner at Peachy’s family’s farm after the game. - Wednesday had game with Indian Head, won 50-11. - Had senior party last night; she took Bob. - Pinky dropped out of St. Mary’s. - Discusses controversy over an unnamed award. - Discussion of the honor roll. - Plans to go to Indian Head the following day. - Attached is a letter addressed to Mrs. Zeigler, written on a quarter page: * “It is so unfortunate, that it seems almost impossible, that fate could be so cruel as to necessitate my coming to St. Mary’s.” * Thanks Mrs. Zeigler for the award she’s been bestowed.

March 11, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Tenney - Has enjoyed having pledges and being doted on and called “Miss” Tenney. - In her report card, was called “Gracious and busy” –this was high praise; most students came back from their meeting crying. - Recommends an article on Green Pastures in the March 9th Literary Digest - “I like the word ‘prolixity’ very much. It’s so interesting to wonder which word you’ll give next.” - Plans to go to Glen Burnie tomorrow for basketball, and is very excited. - Kit Shaw is engaged and her picture was in the March 3 “Sun” - Previous night went to informal at Charlotte Hall with Bob; had a very good time. - Jean goes to the College of William and Mary.

March 25, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney – - Mrs. Woodall requests a copy of Every Woman. - Requests finger tabs for archery - “We have a new radio!!! I’m sitting by it in study hall writing this. It’s perfectly wonderful, a huge Philco. The tone is so mellow.” - Discusses travel logistics for Easter – “I’m wondering if on account of our old car it wouldn’t be better to take the bus?” - Mentions inter class basketball games – the seniors beat the juniors and tomorrow will play the freshmen. – “We stuffed a pair of white ducks and a shirt and made it look like a stiff. We then carried it in on a stretcher and named them, ‘The Juniors.’” - Alumnae lodge to be repurposed as Home Economics department. “Then next year, the home ec students will live there a certain amount of time and keep house, cook etc.” - Mentions construction to be done on the library - Plans underway to eliminate the freshmen and sophomore programs at the school in the next two years; “then it will be a standard junior college” - Jean met Eva Le Gallienne

April 1, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “Well we had our first shooting the other day, it is so lovely now.” - “Kay Aldridge fell off a horse and is now in the hospital in a cast with a fractured pelvis…. They say she’s suffering terribly but is so noble about it” - Prom scheduled for April 13 - Saw “David Copperfield” in Leonardtown last night. “It was wonderful. I could see it 6 times more… I’m just crazy about it.” - Attended a birthday party for a friend yesterday. - Complains about Mrs. Woodall’s teaching style again. - Has to write a 3000 word paper on Charles I - Tries to use the word “matutinal” in a sentence. - Lists the words she’s “collected” so far.

April 8, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Thanks parents for sending new bow. - A scarlet fever quarantine at Charlotte Hall precluded prom – and also affects Katherine’s ability to get home for Easter. - Jean plans to visit Katherine with someone named Miss Massey. - Cousin Emery probably won’t visit. - Katherine doesn’t know what a telephone extension is. - Cryptic: “Imagine was you did escape by not going with the McLaughlins. Gosh! but one does feel grateful for such things.”

April 10, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “It seems my plans for coming home are going sadly amiss.” - “Miss France is sending the seminary bus which holds only about 12 with baggage. She is on the rampage because no one is sure of what they are going to do.” - “In assembly this morning Miss France said that all plans emphatically must be made for going on the bus after mail Thurs.”

April 29, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney – - “Well, here I am, back at the seminary, and I had such a good time at home.” - “Tomorrow is the extravaganza. The principals didn’t have to go to church today.” - Requests a tube of white shoe polish. - Describes the lovely weather. - Jean couldn’t come home for Easter - “You needn’t be afraid of my going out with anybody who isn’t a good driver. In fact I don’t suppose I’ll be going out at all. I realize the whole danger, you may be sure.”

May 6, 1935 – addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney – - “I must write just a note for our essays are due at 6 P.M. today and I haven’t even started to revise it, and when I’m finished, it takes me at least 5 hours to copy it.” - Happily accepted $5 from parents. - Katherine attended another informal at Charlotte Hall with Bob the night before. - Apparently Jean was well known on the William and Mary campus. - Katherine was asked to take a comprehensive test because she was “leading the H.S.” - Someone named Elise married someone named Richard on the eve of Easter.

May 10, 1935 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Went to see the nearly finished lodge – “It is just perfectly adorable, just like a modern little bungalow.” - “It seems like an utter impossibility that Jean and I are in school when we have absolutely nothing, anyone else would think it insane to try…. But, Mother dear, we have bright days coming, don’t we?” - Hopes Jean will be able to attend her commencement. - Considers playing the lottery (or joining a “chain prosperity letter”). (Addendum: this is illegal in Maryland and Katherine will not participate) - Only H.S. student on the 1st honor roll.

May 13, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Asks about Miss Massey and informs family of Pinky’s academic status. - Wonders who she should invite to commencement - Wants a bathing cap that “buttons under the chin” Plans to go to Charlotte Hall’s June Ball on June 1 and St. Mary’s H.S. commencement on June 10.

May 20, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - “News! News! Never have I been so excited. Today at dinner Miss France announced that Miss Carr is getting married!!” - Went to prom last night at St. Mary’s – describes the festivities and the preparations - Describes the boys that her friends took to Prom (she took Bob) - “Yesterday they unveiled the Freedom of Conscience monument that they erected on the point of the triangle (Jean you know where it is) just at the bottom of the hill which leads to the seminary. Ritchie and Nice were there and gave speeches. We sang and Charlotte Hall marched. Since the C.H. boys had to be here for that, they stayed for supper and then the dance. The school served lunch to the gov. and 50 other celebrities. Ritchie certainly received more applause than Nice and when Ritchie gave his speech he didn’t even recognize Nice. He recognized the chairman and others but not Nice. Ritchie certainly is good looking but that’s all.” - Requests the poem, A Woman’s Question, by Eliz. B. Browning - “You know they say Kay Aldridge might never be able to walk or else limp. Isn’t that awful.” - Asks for $10 for graduation expenses - Mentions a mounted policeman who attended the unveiling of the Freedom of Conscience monument. - Plans to go to June Ball with Bob on June 1. - “If I keep on gaining, I’ll be as broad as I am long.” Apparently students could only weigh themselves on Friday nights. - Plans to give her friends photographs as graduation presents (and worries about the cost)

May 28, 1935 – Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Tenney - They held a strawberry festival on Saturday. - On Sunday took a boat to a classmate’s house and had dinner there. Describes dinner. - Came back to St. Mary’s and worked on Trustees dinner for two days. - Went on another boat trip to a party for the seniors, thrown by the freshmen and sophomores - Very busy; “I’m absolutely breathless and just about dead” - Will write a speech for commencement. - “Kay Aldridge is walking and will almost surely in the course of time not even limp”

May 29, 1935 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Discusses invitations for commencement

June 6, 1935 – addressed to Mrs. C.A. Tenney - Discusses upcoming commencement plans