Call Number:

28

Repository:

Bryn Mawr College

Extent:

1 volumes

Language:

English

Date:

1890-1893 (inclusive)

Abstract:

Evangeline Walker (later Andrews) was a member of the class of 1893. She was one of the founders of the Alumnae Association and the organizer of the first May Day at Bryn Mawr. The Evangeline Walker (Andrews) scrapbook contains Walker's one-volume scrapbook. The scrapbook covers Walker's sophomore-senior years at Bryn Mawr, from 1890-1893, and consists primarily of Bryn Mawr memorabilia.

Evangeline Walker (later Andrews) was born December 31, 1869. She graduated first from the Classical School of Indianapolis, Indiana before attending Bryn Mawr College. Walker graduated from Bryn Mawr in 1893 with degrees in Greek and Latin. She went on to become one of the founders of the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Society and served as president, 1893-97. In 1895, she married Charles McLean Andrews, a renowned professor of early American History who taught at Bryn Mawr, Johns Hopkins, and Yale. Together, the couple had two children. Walker taught at the Baldwin School and at the eponymous school begun by her sister, Ethel Walker. She also served as headmistress of the Ethel Walker School from 1921-22. Walker remained interested in history throughout her life, with a special interest in the Elizabethan and Colonial eras. She organized the first May Day celebration at Bryn Mawr, modeled after Elizabeth May Days, and is widely credited with initiating May Day festivals in the United States. She was also involved in the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames and assisted with her husband's research. She was the editor of "Journal of a Lady of Quality" in 1921 and "Dickinson's God's Protecting Providence" in 1942. Walker passed away on February 26, 1962.

The Evangeline Walker (Andrews) scrapbook contains the one volume scrapbook of Evangeline Walker, Bryn Mawr class of 1893. The scrapbook covers Walker's sophomore-senior years at Bryn Mawr, from 1890-1893, and consists primarily of Bryn Mawr memorabilia.

The scrapbook comprises one volume. It contains the usual Bryn Mawr memorabilia as well as a few unique sketches of Bryn Mawr students. It also contains some memorabilia from dances at other colleges as well as manuscript copies of poems copied by Walker. Materials of note include: a pencil drawing on page 72; an English composition workbook by Mary Gwinn; and a letter from M. Carey Thomas regarding attending her Chaucer lecture, 1892.

As the founder of May Day at Bryn Mawr and the woman credited with initiating May Day festivities in the United States, Walker was an interesting alumna in her own right, in addition to being related to notable alumnae Susan Walker FitzGerald (cousin) and Ethel Walker (sister). The scrapbook is small and a bit fragile, but in moderate condition. It would be of use to those interested in Bryn Mawr's early history, especially in student life and academics.