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(The biographical note was written by Elizabeth Kates in 1999 for the Smith College Archives collection of Professor Chase's papers located in that collection.)
Mary Ellen Chase was born on February 24, 1887 in Blue Hill, Maine. Her parents were deeply religious Protestants and Mary Ellen was one of eight children who received a thorough biblical education as well as an academic one. She began writing at the age of sixteen and by her death on July 28, 1973, had published more than thirty essays, novels, and biographies.
At the age of nineteen, Chase took a leave from the University of Maine, where she was enrolled as an undergraduate, in order to teach in a one-room school in Buck's Harbor, Maine. Following her graduation, she taught for three years in Wisconsin at a coeducational boarding school and later for two years at a private girl's school in Chicago, Illinois. At that point in time, Chase fell ill and was advised by her doctor that a move to Montana would improve her health. During her time there, Chase taught public school and wrote two novels.
Upon full recovery, Chase took a teaching position at the University of Minnesota where she also studied and earned her MA in 1918 and later her Ph.D. in 1922. In 1926 she was hired by Smith College where she taught courses on the English novel and the King James Version of the Bible. During her time at Smith, Chase became a respected colleague, teacher, and friend to many. Her courses, taken by English majors and non-English majors alike, were some of the most popular on campus. In addition, Chase's home on Paradise Road became a favorite place for her students to go for good conversation and cookies. Despite her success as an author, teaching remained her true love throughout her career. She viewed teaching as the main source of meaning in her life. An extremely dedicated professor, Chase believed that "the personality of the teacher is more important than her intellectual attainments" and that "if the teacher has no enthusiasm for teaching and for subject matter, her students will learn little." She was very excited about her field of expertise and hoped to similarly inspire her students.
Mary Ellen Chase has come to be known as one of the great American novelists. Much of her work was inspired by her childhood in Maine and several of her novels are autobiographical.
After her retirement in 1955 at the age of sixty-eight, Chase continued to live on-campus with her long-time companion, Eleanor Duckett, and her dog, Gregory. She spent summers in Maine at her home, "Windswept," and journeyed to England where she took Hebrew classes at Cambridge in order to better understand the Old Testament. She also taught two adult education seminars on the Bible at Radcliffe College. In 1968, Smith College acknowledged her dedication to the students and the College with a new dormitory, the Mary Ellen Chase House.
The Mary Ellen Chase Literary Manuscripts consist of 3 linear feet of material, dating from 1937 to 1968. The bulk of the collection consists of manuscripts of her novels, memoirs, biblical studies, articles, and book reviews, as well as a few miscellaneous personal items. The majority of the collection came to the Rare Book Room directly from Chase over a period of time, including items that were part of her estate. The manuscript of
The majority of Chase's literary manuscripts are located in other repositories. See the section entitled "Related Material" for assistance in finding other literary manuscripts. The Smith College Archives has files related to Chase's teaching career in the English Department of Smith College.
This collection is organized into four series:
The manuscripts are open for research according to the regulations of the Smith College Mortimer Rare Book Room without any additional restrictions.
The Mary Ellen Chase Literary Manuscripts are the physical property of the Mortimer Rare Book Room, Smith College. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors of the works or their legal representatives.
Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Mary Ellen Chase Literary Manuscripts, Mortimer Rare Book Room, Smith College.
The majority of the collection came to the Rare Book Room directly from Chase over a period of time, including items that were part of her estate. The manuscript of Dawn in Lyonnesse was given to the collection by Raymond P. Putman in memory of Natalie Starr Putman (Smith College Class of 1933). There are additional items that were donated by Eleanor Duckett and Esther C. Dunn. The letters of Mary Ellen Chase to Grace Cooper were given to the Library by Ann Gilbert McDonald.
Researchers should also view:
In Georgetown University Libraries. Special Collections. The Joseph G. E. Hopkins Papers contains letters from MEC.
In Indiana University. Lilly Library. Sylvia Plath Manuscripts, 1932-1977 contains letters from MEC.
In The Massachusetts Historical Society. Ellery Sedgwick Papers, 1898-1969 contains letters from MEC.
In Rockefeller Archive Center. Rockefeller Family Archives. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Papers, 1858-1957 contains correspondence between John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and MEC in regards to Chase's biography of Abby.
In Smith College Archives. RG 42 Mary Ellen Chase Papers, 1893-1995.
In Smith College Libraries. Mortimer Rare Book Room. MS 25 Hampshire Bookshop records, 1916-1971. (Contains letters from Mary Ellen Chase to Marion Dodd and others, as well as autograph manuscripts and typescripts.)
In the University of Minnesota Libraries. Manuscripts Division. Mary Ellen Chase Manuscript 01. Contains a partial manuscript of
In the University of New England Libraries, Maine Women Writers Collection
In the Folger Library, University of Maine, Orono, Maine
This series contains a few personal items of Chase, a few letters written and/or received by her, the notebooks she kept during her study of Hebrew at Cambridge University and other miscellaneous items.
This series includes the manuscripts of a few of Chase's literary output, namely her novels and children's books, memoir and biblical studies.
Chase wrote extensively for popular magazines. Included in this series are the manuscripts of a few of the articles she wrote for this media. In addition, there are some speeches and other materials whose purpose is not clearly identified.
This series includes reviews by Mary Ellen Chase, arranged alphabetically by the author.
Also contains outline for Seminar in Writing, [Smith College] 428.
(Original and revised manuscripts are in the Smith College Archives.)
Laid in: "This manuscript is gladly given to the cause of the War Bond Rally held in Northampton, on January 25, 1944 in John M. Greene Hall. The book was begun on April 16th, 1939 and written largely at Juniper Lodge, Chocorug, N.H. during the summer of 1939. It was finished on Sep. 17th, 1939...." AmsS.
(Earlier manuscripts for this title are in the Smith College Archives.)
On tp: "Originally written at Rockport: May 23rd-May 30th [1966?]"
On tp: of the 1st notebook: "Actual writing of this novel began on 12th November 1940 at 16 Paradise Pond …" Laid in: "The original manuscript began November 12, 1941 in Northampton. Finished September 2, 1942 at Windswept, Petit Manan Point, Maine." Dates incorrect on MEC's note in that her novel was published in 1941.
Laid in: "Dear Margaret Erierson: I am very happy to give to the Smith College Library the manuscript of Windswept in its original and its revised form.... because the College has given me the fifteen happiest years of my life. It may interest you to know that much of the novel was written in Library 35 and 36." AMsS, dtd 1942 Feb
Manuscript has title: Literary Portraits: Willa Cather, Sarah Orne Jewett, Gertrude Stein, Rose Macaulay, Dorothy Sayers
Manuscript has title: Some Brief Literary Portraits.
"Given at the Memorial Assembly at Smith College, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1943 at 8:30 A.M."
Draft has title: Pitfalls of Perfection: the Myth of 100%
Has title: The American Woman: A Diagnosis of Her Present State
Has title: The American Woman.
Has title: The American Woman.
Has title: The American Woman.
Has title: Introduction
Has title: Introduction
Has title: Introduction
Has title: Introductions to Units + mimeo list of "Table of Contents," 6 leaves, dtd 25 Jun 1963
Has title: Introductions to Units