Letters written by Selma Ingersoll Bush, a Riverside, California native, while a student at Smith College. The letters are written to her parents and to her brother Barnard. Selma graduated in the class of 1910, she never married and was a teacher in various parts of the country, she died in 1972.

The letters describe her college life and activities, classes, college friends, life in her boarding house, etc. The letters are largely undated, and the mailing envelopes are not present so putting them in chronological order is difficult. Selma writes frequently sending separate letters to her mother, father and her brother.

Sample quotes:

"Wednesday just after supper,

Dear Mamma,

               I am writing at Mrs. Cook's desk up in her room... I just can't be still a minute! Tomorrow I am going (Miss Cook is in Springfield now) with Mrs. Orcutt and the girls to the Draper Hotel for dinner then come over here and stay all night. Admiral Cook is going to bring his son and a young friend over in the afternoon for supper. They are naval officers... Lots of love, Selma."

"Friday Morning,

Dear Mamma,

             The snow is about a foot or two deep and whopperest big flakes are flying around every now and then. Miss Baker read a paper that I wrote yesterday before the class this morning. It was a description of the doves in the arroyo at home. Don't you remember how they loved the seeds of that queer smelling grey weed that so much of which grew along by the old alder tree. We used to find their craws full of the black seeds. I didn't write about what they ate though. I used to love to hear them coo along down there at sunset..."

"Thursday Morning,

Dear Papa,

Miss Cook didn't come till late last night and I could just see her a minute or two ... I made a little hole to see what the waist was like while waiting for the car but that heavy package! Miss Cook said you made it for me. I never was so surprised when I got back and found B's bed pulled away out in the middle of the room and Edith in my bed. I lit the gas and they scrambled around to see my things. O that box of fudge! Edith dug a little hole down in one corner to see if it really went to the bottom then taking a piece and falling back on the bed she exclaimed "O this is Heaven!". Florence has just come in for another piece and wants me to tell you that my father is just the best fudge maker. My! What a box! It must have taken you a week to make all that... Lots and lots of love from Selma."

"Dear B.,

This is "us" taken Rally Day ... The seal paper is quite expensive but at a sale I got a box of Amherst seal for almost nothing. I thought you'd like it. ..."

"Rally Day Night,

Dear Papa,

              O since, I'm not getting ready to go to Cal just yet after the spirit that got me today. O, I won't attempt to tell all about the decorations and songs and all! It was fine. In the morning a Congressman addressed us and was so interesting. He put so plainly just the situation in the Philippines and also described vividly the Empress of China giving me a sort of trip through the islands and China and Japan. You ought to come up here some Rally Day... Love Selma."

"Sunday May 27^th,

My dear People,

            I am up in Christine's room writing at her desk... Yesterday the whole house went bathing in different crowds. Mrs. Orcutt giving them their suppers. She went too with some girls to Mt. Tom. The Freshmen and Sophomores went to Mt. Holyoke. It was such fun going across the meadows to the river then being ferried across and climbing up. Although of course, it was awfully steep and hard. But do you know I had will power enough not to go. I knew it would tire me dreadfully and I needed to study Latin ... Christine sends her fond love to you all and I send my fondest, Selma."

"Friday Morn,

             Oh, Pap, you're the dearest thing that ever was! It was a good thing I had to go to gym last hour when I got your letter in order to work off my joy...I dreamt last night that you married some pretty, dark, young girl and mamma and I were so mad and yet I felt sorry for you... Truly I'm going to stop! Got lots to do today, a big hug from Selma."

"Dear Little Brother,

              I haven't got a minutes time to spend writing you but I'm going to just the same... last Thursday 14 of us went to a chicken supper in the county church out at Whately. Mrs. Orcutt took us. We had the most fun. We went on the trolley starting at 20 minutes of six to some place away out by Sugar Loaf and there were met by a big bob sled all fixed up and padded nice and warm and plenty of big fur robes to take us 2 miles to Whately. Didn't we have fun! I was going to tell you all we had for dinner but O dear it would take a book. I tell you these country New England people know how to cook things and lots of things ... Good night dear, Selma."

"Tuesday Night,

Dear Barnard,

             Vacation tomorrow! ... I had the loveliest ride with Christine this afternoon. Mr. Cook drove us over the river and through beautiful meadows and hills to Amherst Aggie College. The boys were having military drills with the band just as we were going through so we stopped and watched them. It was fine. Some one from West Point comes up to drill them. Oh I wish I was a boy! You boys can't realize what all is in store for you at college... A beautiful day but Decoration Day makes me feel sad someway... Lovingly yours, Selma."