| Creator | Ayer, Marion Pearl, 1895-1981 |
| Title | Marion Pearl Ayer papers |
| Dates | 1913-1946 |
| Identification | MS 31 |
| Quantity | 1.5 linear feet (1 oversized container) |
| Collection Abstract | This collection contains memorabilia from Ayer's time at Simmons College and includes a scrapbook, engagement calendar, and a studio portrait. The bulk of the materials date from 1913 to 1917. |
| Historical Abstract | Marion Pearl Ayer, originally from Biddeford, Maine, entered Simmons College School of Secretarial Studies in 1913 and graduated in 1917. During her time at Simmons, Ayer received a Typing Medal and was Auditor of Treasurer's Accounts. After graduating, she obtained secretarial and accounting work with several organizations in Boston, including Harvard University's Department of Engineering and Applied Physics. She eventually moved on to become the personal secretary to Gilbert Hood, President of the H.P. Hood Company. |
| Language | Material in English. |
| Location | Collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Archives staff for more information. |
Collection is open.
Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question, unless otherwise designated.
Please contact the College Archivist with requests to publish any material from the collection.
[Identification of item: description and date], Marion Pearl Ayer papers, 1913-1946, MS 31, Simmons College Archives, Boston, MA, USA.
The memorabilia of Marion Pearl Ayer '17 came to Simmons in July 1981 from executors of her estate: Miss D.G. Willard and Mr. Kenneth W. Thompson.
Accession number: 81-77
Processed by Pat Perrault, April 2000
Supervised by Claire Goodwin, April 2000
This collection guide was encoded as part of the LEADS project by Katie R. Sallade, March 2014
Marion Pearl Ayer, originally from Biddeford, Maine, applied for admission to Simmons College School of Secretarial Studies in 1913, and graduated with her class in 1917. According to her yearbook, Ayer was awarded a Typing Medal and was Auditor of Treasurer’s Accounts. The Simmons Quarterly, November, 1917, mentioned that Ayer had obtained a position as a Secretary to a Mr. Fuller at Lewis Manufacturing Company in Walpole. The February 1918 edition of The Simmons Quarterly finds Ayer as having the position of Secretarial Assistant at the Portland Chapter of the American Red Cross in Portland, Maine. It is not until 1977 that Ayer's name appears again, this time, as a member of the committee that compiled a booklet in preparation for their Sixtieth Reunion. This booklet, containing a list of positions held by the Class of 1917, noted that Ayer lived at 12 Newbury Park in Needham, Massachusetts and the positions she held since graduation included: secretarial and accounting work with several firms in Boston from 1917-1948, income tax work in the Trust Department of Nutler, McClennan, and Fish from 1938-1942, accounting work in the Department of Engineering and Applied Physics at Harvard University from 1942-1960, and Personal Secretary to Gilbert Hood, President of the H.P. Hood Company from 1960-1965.
The collection is comprised of a photograph, a scrapbook and an engagement calendar (1946). The photograph (a studio portrait) was removed from a backing on which was written: "Robbins and Norris, 227 Tremont St., Boston." There does not seem to be any order to the arrangement of items in the scrapbook. The scrapbook contains various items collected by Ayer during her years at Simmons, 1913-1917. Included are: dance cards, invitations, place cards, programs for Class Day, Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises, photographs of roommates, class schedules, theatre programs, dried flowers, and copies of what appear to be exams for Psychology 1, Psychology 2, Accounts 2, and Library Methods. Also, included are various letters from the Offices of the Dean and Registrar concerning Ayer’s request for admission to Simmons College.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
The collection contains Marion Pearl Ayers' scrapbook, presumably kept during her four years at Simmons (1913-1917). Each page is described in detail in the container list due to the wealth of information available. Items contained in the scrapbook include dance cards, invitations, place cards, programs, photographs, class schedules, dried flowers, exams, and admission materials.
Photograph of the Class of 1917 at their 25th Reunion taken by Ward in Boston.
Page 1 contains three letters from 1913. Two letters are from the Office of the Dean regarding Ayer's application and lodging. One is from the Office of the Registrar acknowledging receipt of Ayer's application.
Page 2 contains a letter from the Office of the Recorder, dated July 8, 1913, acknowledging receipt of transcript. There is also a letter on this page from the Office of the Dean, dated August 22, 1913, indicating Ayer's room assignment.
This page includes an envelope with a letter from Mrs. Hattie H. Clark containing items needed for the room. There is also another envelope from Mr. Ralph Boothby Grace and Miss Josephine Hill with two cards, one dance card with pencil from a 1913 Student Government dance and a place card from Christmas dinner.
This page has three cards: a dance card with pencil from a 1915 Student Government dance, a place card from a Halloween dinner party, and a card from a sophomore senior luncheon in 1914. There is also an invitation to a Progressive Whist Party at a student's house.
Page 5 includes two theater programs: "Guy Bates Post" on December 14, 1914 and "Common Clay" on January 7, 1915. There is also an invitation to a senior/sophomore party.
This page includes five items: a notice from Biddeford High School for class night exercises in 1915, a Simmons College dance card with pencil from 1915, an identification card for Ayer from September 1915, a receipt for three dollars from the Class of 1917 treasurer, and a newsclipping of Simmons senior Baccalaureate sermon.
Page 7 includes an envelope and letter from Aunt Clara with an invitation to visit, a dining permit, and an envelope and letter with a wedding invitation for Alfredda Rena Pellerin and Cassius William Fogg.
This page includes a program for a Simmons College Christmas prayer service in 1915 and a handmade Christmas card.
Page 9 has two cards and a program: a place card for a West House dance and dinner, a handmade dance card with a ribbon, and a program to a 1916 production of "Daddy Long Legs" at the Hollis Street Theater.
This page includes a program for the Simmons College Dramatic Association, an envelope and letter from Frederick B. Knight, and an envelope and letter from J. Charles Seidel.
Page 11 includes a dance card with a tassle to Junior Promenade in 1916, a crepe paper flower decoration from Junior Prom, an envelope with a formal invitation to the Junior Prom, a ticket to the Maine Club Banquet, and a place card.
This page contains a ticket stub to Castle Square Theater, a class schedule, a betrothal announcement for Pauline Helms and Howard Roscoe Knight, and the Simmons College 1916 track meet.
Page 13 has two programs: one for the Simmons College Baccalaureate Service in 1916, and another for Simmons College Class Day exercises in 1916.
This page has one program for the Simmons College Commencement of 1916.
Page 15 contains two dried flowers, an envelope and letter with room assignment, a studio portrait of Marie F. Smalley, and a letter from Marie F. Smalley, Ayer's roommate.
This page includes an invitation from the Evergreen Pine, a notice from the Dean's Office about repeat classes, a program for the Simmons College Christmas Vesper Service in 1916, an identification card, and a Halloween place card.
This page has three programs: one for Founder's Day Convocation in 1916, "The Cinderella Man" at Wilbur Theater, and a program for the Cecilia Society in 1916.
Page 18 has two programs and two tickets: a program for Musical Clubs at Brown University, a program for "Erstwhile Susan" at Tremont Theater, a ticket for Sunday Tabernacle and a ticket showing "Your correct weight".
This page contains two theater programs, two sections of a notebook page, and an envelope with a wedding invitation from Pauline Helms and Howard Roscoe Knight.
Page 20 includes a dance card, a piece of paper from a sociology class, a place card, an invitation to Maine Club Girls, a program to the Simmons Dramatic Association, and an invitation to the Women's Educational and Industrial Union College.
This page contains a place card from the Boston Simmons Club, an invitation to a party, a class schedule, and an Easter Sunday program.
Page 22 contains a program, an envelope and letter regarding a notice to seniors about Baccalaureate and Commencement, an engagement notice, and an exam from Accounts Two.
This page includes an administrative letter, an invitation to the Annual Commencement Luncheon, and an exam from Library Methods.
Page 24 has four typewritten pages of various songs and an exam from Psychology Two.
This page contains exams from Psychology One and Business Methods Five.
Page 26 includes photographs of Bellvue House, a party, and groups of young women.
This page has three photographs of female students and a party as well as an absence validated note.
Page 28 contains a card with two stars and letters from Home Economics and a shield shape with a blue field including stars and red and white stripes.
This page includes two programs from a glee club concert and a Baccalaureate service.
Page 30 has an invitation to Simmons College Class Day Exercises, a ticket to Commencement Exercises, and a place card with an attached menu, all from 1917.
This page contains the program to the 1917 Simmons College Commencement ceremony.
Page 32, the final page in the scrapbook, contains two dance cards. One is undated and the other is from the 1917 Commencement week.
