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Emily Kellogg Beach was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut on June 7, 1871, to J. Wickliffe Beach and Maria Talcott Beach. Her father was a Congregational minister and founder, principal, and classics teacher at the Robbins School in Norfolk, Connecticut. Her mother was a member of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary Class of 1858. Beach attended Hillhouse High School from 1885-1889. She graduated from Mount Holyoke Seminary and College with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in 1893; her sister, Grace, graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1900. Beach worked as a teacher at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut from 1894-1898. She took classes at Yale University from 1897-1898 and 1909-1910. She taught at Stratford High School from 1901-1903 and at Miss Baird's Private School in Norwalk, Connecticut from 1903-1905. She was an executive secretary for the Young Woman's Christian Association (YWCA) National Board in Worcester, Massachusetts from 1907-1908. She was the assistant editor for the statistical atlas of missions for the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910. She also assisted in compiling maps for Dr. William E. Stamps' work on missions. She resumed teaching math, science, history, Latin, and Greek at Hillhouse High School in 1914 and taught until her retirement in 1936. Beach did American Red Cross work during World War I. She was involved in the YWCA, the Society of Mayflower Descendents, the Mount Holyoke College Club of New Haven, and her Congregational Church throughout her retirement. She died in New Haven on May 26, 1955, at the age of eighty-three.
The Emily Kellogg Beach Papers consist of a scrapbook, writings, memorabilia, biographical information and photographs. Of particular interest is a scrapbook compiled by Beach between 1880-1910. This volume contains a wide variety of materials that reflect Beach's activities and interests. Most documents and photographs concern her student years at Mount Holyoke Seminary and College, 1889-1893. These items include an "Anthropometric Card" that contains "measurements and tests" of Beach dated 1888, a "Library Card" listing the titles of books that Beach may have read, and Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Clubs concert programs. Other documents relate to the Robbins School in Norfolk, Connecticut, and the Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut, 1884-1888. Also contained in the scrapbook are a Woman's Christian Temperance Union pledge card from 1880 and Prohibition Party material, 1892. The prohibition material reflects Beach's involvement in a mock political convention at Mount Holyoke and includes the Prohibition Party campaign textbook, a letter from the National Headquarters, two campaign pins, and an official Mount Holyoke ballot for the United States presidential election of 1892. This scrapbook also contains programs concerning events and institutions in New York City. This material includes the program from the first United States production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" in 1885, the program of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886, and the 1887 "Catalogue" of the Eden Musee, a waxwork museum. Other programs, clippings, and invitations highlight events in Norfolk, New Haven, and Hartford, Connecticut. There are several documents reflecting Beach's interest in missionary work between 1884-1892. The scrapbook includes a few photographs taken at Mount Holyoke and elsewhere. The writings consist of a pamphlet about the Robbins School, written by Beach and published in 1935. Rounding out the collection are Beach's Mount Holyoke graduation pin, a Mount Holyoke postcard, her obituary, and two copies of her Mount Holyoke senior photograph, 1893.
This collection is organized into five series:
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Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Emily K. Beach Papers, Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley, MA.
Arranged chronologically.
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This scrapbook was compiled by Beach between 1880-1910. It includes programs, newspaper clippings, cards, several letters and notes from friends, invitations, photographs, objects, menus, examinations, pamphlets, brochures, catalogues and a ballot. Most of the materials date from 1889-1893, when Beach was a student at Mount Holyoke Seminary and College. Some items relate to the Class of 1893 after graduation or to activities of the Mount Holyoke Club of New Haven and Vicinity between 1903-1910. In these materials is an "Anthropometric Card" that contains the "physical measurements and tests" of Beach in 1888. There are many programs for musical and dramatic productions at the College, including concerts by the Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Clubs. Activities of the Class of 1893 are recorded in dance cards, Class Day programs, and invitations to social events. There is a program from the Biological Club of 1891. Also included is a "Library Card" from 1892, possibly listing titles of books read by Beach. Photographs show a gymnastics class and the Seminary Building attic. Other materials pertain to the Robbins School in Norfolk, Connecticut, between the years of 1884-1894. Included are a brochure for the school, a prize declamations program, a report card, anniversary exercises, and an Arbor Day program. Also contained in the scrapbook are the 1888 annual examinations for Hillhouse High School and the program for graduation. There is a Woman's Christian Temperance Union pledge card from 1880. There are also Prohibition Party materials from 1892 which relate to the mock political convention at Mount Holyoke Seminary and College that year. Included in these materials are the Prohibition Party campaign textbook of 1892, a letter from the National Headquarters, two campaign pins, and an official Mount Holyoke ballot for the United States presidential election of 1892. This scrapbook also contains programs concerning events and organizations in New York City, including a program from the first United States production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" in 1885. There is also a program from the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886 and a "Catalogue" for a waxwork museum called the Eden Musee, 1887. There are programs, clippings and invitations to events and organizations in Norfolk, New Haven, and Hartford. These programs concern the opening of the Norfolk Library, the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of New Haven in 1888, and concerts of the New York Trio Club. Beach's interest in missionary work is illustrated by the certificates of shares of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and the Rosebud Indian Mission in Dakota Territory of 1884. Also included is a certificate from the Christian Endeavor Society of New York dated 1892.
Arranged chronologically.
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This series consists of a pamphlet entitled "Robbins School: Founded Eighteen Hundred Eighty-four." Published in 1935, it contains an account of the Robbins School's fiftieth anniversary written by Beach. The pamphlet gives a brief history of the school, which was founded in 1884 by Beach's father.
Arranged chronologically.
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This series contains Beach's Mount Holyoke graduation pin, 1893, and a Mount Holyoke postcard with Christmas greetings written by Beach, circa 1900.
Arranged chronologically.
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This series includes two biographical notes, circa 1911 and circa 1916, and Beach's obituary from the "New Haven Register," May 28, 1955.
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This series consists of two copies of a Mount Holyoke graduation photograph of Beach taken in 1893.