Schlesinger Library

Schlesinger’s growing collection of romance fiction now includes the complete works of Missouri writer Elizabeth Seifert (1897-1983), internationally-bestselling author of more than 80 medical romances.

As recounted in the catalog of rare book dealer Between The Covers, Seifert completed 18 months of medical school at Washington University but was denied degree candidacy and left, marrying and becoming a mother.

Seifert wrote her first romance, Young Doctor Galahad, at age 40, when her husband John Gasparotti, an injured veteran of the First World War, was no longer able to work. The novel won the $10,000 Redbook Magazine prize for first novels in 1938, and her career was launched. Her works were translated into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Swedish, and Italian, and were especially popular in England.

Schlesinger’s collection, which was assembled by the author, contains 344 volumes — every American and overseas edition of her works, many inscribed by her. In addition, 20 historical romances by her sister, Shirley Seifert (1888-1971) are included, notably The Wayfarer, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1938 (a signal year for the Seiferts!). Shirley Seifert was one of six founders of the St. Louis Writers Guild; her success may have encouraged her younger sisters Elizabeth and Adele (Adele Seifert wrote mysteries).

Photograph by Corey Bechelli for Between The Covers Rare Books

Elizabeth Seifert’s oeuvre gives a broad view of a half-century of popular perceptions of medicine and hospitals, of male and female doctors (several of her main characters are women struggling to gain acceptance as doctors), and of romantic relationships with medical professionals. Her novels were praised for their credible medical details, and her medical training was often cited in cover blurbs.

Besides tracing the writing careers of two very successful women, the Seifert collection documents the history of romance publishing, as it includes so many editions of each title, and also presents a wide array of book cover art and book design, spanning 45 years.

The collection complements two collections of nurse romances recently added to Schlesinger, and offers a window into the popular glorification of doctors that the women’s movement would begin to pick apart in the 1960s.

— Marylène Altieri, Curator of Books and Printed Materials

Photograph by Corey Bechelli for Between The Covers Rare Books

In times of economic downturn and transition one is prompted to look back to the last century for guidance on how to comport oneself in society. The Schlesinger Library’s collection of largely 19th century etiquette books is a great place to start. This collection of approximately 150 books was donated to the library by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. Here we can find the expected topics on introductions, personal (and spiritual) hygiene, letter writing, weddings, elocution and the value of carefully chosen words. Surprisingly, one can also find chapters on the proper way to rescue a drowning person, the fashions of immigrants, and the appropriate time and place to wear diamonds. In these modern times, many of the volumes in this collection are having problems of their own. They exhibit concerns typical of late nineteenth century bound materials—brittle paper, weak sewing, and detached bindings. Their problems are addressed by a conservator who designs individual treatments to support their weak points, shore up their bindings, and generally safeguard the collection for future researchers. For more 19th century etiquette books, search HOLLIS: http://tinyurl.com/cmjdewa

Plate 2 from Modern Cookery for Private Families

Receipt for Baked Irish Stew
Fill a brown upright Nottingham jar with alternate layers of mutton (or beef), sliced potatoes, and mild onions; and put in water and seasoning as above; cover the top closely with whole potatoes (pared), and send the stew to a moderate oven. The potatoes on the top should be well cooked and browned before the stew is served. We have not considered it necessary to try this receipt, which was given to us by some friends who keep an excellent table, and who recommended it much. It is, of course, suited only to a quite plain family dinner. The onions can be omitted when their flavour is not liked.Recipe from Modern Cookery for Private Families reduced to a system of easy practice, in a series of carefully tested receipts, in which the principles of Baron Liebig and other eminent writers have been as much as possible applied and explainedby Eliza Acton, London, 1864, p. 243.
Learn more in HOLLIS: http://tinyurl.com/6ux32lk
Full text of this title is available at http://tinyurl.com/6pxdla7

Students arriving at Harvard this year with smart phones in hand might not consider how students of yesteryear communicated.  In 1914, a Radcliffe student would have read the following in the Red Book (Radcliffe’s student  handbook).

“Read the bulletin boards daily for all notices.
Look every day at the letter boards
under your initial for all notes and mail.
The letter board in Fay House is for U.S.
mail and official mail; the one in Agassiz
House is for all other notes. Students are
held responsible for all notices on the bulletin
board and official letter board.”

“Messages for students are not taken at the
office telephone. Students should have their
friends call them up on the Agassiz House
telephone, Cambridge 22581”

Radcliffe College student handbooks from 1904 to 1970 were recently digitized:

http://tinyurl.com/3wo77g4  1904-1919

http://tinyurl.com/3ss5sfz  1920-1970

The fight for woman suffrage was long and hard-fought by several generations of women. In 1902, Susan B. Anthony inscribed the following to fellow suffragist, Caroline H. Dall in the just completed volume four of The History of Woman Suffrage:

This closes the records of the 19th century of work done by and for women – what the 20th century will show – no one can foresee – but that it will be vastly more and better – we cannot fail to believe – But you & I have done the best we knew – and so must rest content – leaving all to younger hands. Your sincere friend and coworker, Susan B. Anthony.

Hollis:http://tinyurl.com/3rp32qf