| Creator | Cutting, Jessie Taft |
| Title | Jessie Taft Cutting papers |
| Dates | 1929-1932 |
| Identification | MS 272 |
| Quantity | 1.7 linear feet (1 oversize container) |
| Collection Abstract | The Jessie Taft Cutting papers consist of one scrapbook documenting her life as an undergraduate student in the Secretarial Studies program at Simmons College until her graduation in 1933. Contents reflect the social and academic aspects of a Simmons student and life in Boston in the early 20th century. Materials include notes and letters, play programs, ticket stubs, photographs, paper napkins, and official Simmons College correspondence. Although the exterior of the scrapbook indicates her class year as 1934 she was, in fact, a member of the Class of 1933 and remained so throughout her four years at Simmons. It is possible that someone purchased the empty scrapbook as a gift for her and was unaware of her class year. |
| Historical Abstract | Jessie May Taft Cutting, of Rochdale, Massachusetts, entered Simmons College as an undergraduate student in 1929 and graduated in 1933 with a degree in Secretarial Studies. Her studies included Economics, English, History, Chemistry, Shorthand, and Physics. She was a member of the Simmons College Microcosm. Taft died in 1981.. |
| 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 University Archivist with requests to publish any material from the collection.
Materials are in fragile condition.
[Identification of item: description and date], Jessie Taft Cutting papers, MS 272, Simmons University Archives, Boston, MA, USA.
Gift from Suzanne Hall, Leicester Public Library, in 2024.
Accession number: 2024.002
Processed by Skylar Ball
This collection guide was encoded by Kelsey Kolbet, June 2024.
Jessie May Taft Cutting (1911-1981) was born in Rochdale, Massachusetts on December 22, 1911 to Robert B. Taft and Florence M. Lamson. She entered Simmons College as an undergraduate student in 1929 and graduated in 1933 with a degree in Secretarial Studies. Additional studies included Economics, English, History, Chemistry, Shorthand, and Physics. She was involved in numerous extracurricular activities at Simmons and served as a member of Microcosm, class representative during her junior year, business manager during her senior year, and dormitory council. Despite the fact that the Great Depression was in full swing by the time that Jessie had settled into college (the stock market crash of 1929 occurred a little over a month after her move-in date), she seemed to enjoy Boston and have a vibrant social and cultural life, attending plays, operas, symphony concerts, and debates. It is clear that others in her class were affected by the economic downturn, as Jessie’s roommate Raleigh did not finish at Simmons and withdrew before her senior year. After graduating from Simmons, Taft married Merritt E. Cutting and had two children: Jane (1947) and John (1949). Taft died in 1981.
The Jessie Taft Cutting papers consist of one scrapbook documenting her life as an undergraduate student in the Secretarial Studies program at Simmons College until her graduation in 1933. Contents reflect the social and academic aspects of a Simmons student and life in Boston in the early 20th century. Materials include notes and letters, play programs, ticket stubs, photographs, paper napkins, and official Simmons College correspondence. Although the exterior of the scrapbook indicates her class year as 1934 she was, in fact, a member of the Class of 1933 and remained so throughout her four years at Simmons. It is possible that someone purchased the empty scrapbook as a gift for her and was unaware of her class year.
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