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Bryn Mawr College Class Ring Collection
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Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]Bryn Mawr College Library, 101 N. Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr 19010
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Bryn Mawr College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
This is a collection of class rings that spans from 1901 until 1921, the final year of individualized class rings at the college. The rings vary in shape, color, embellishments, and quality, highlighting how unique each class was in their design. The class rings also show trends in jewelry from year to year. All the rings offer insight into the class culture and interests of the students from the engravings in the stone to unique ring band designs, many of which include the class animal for the given year. Some rings contain initials identifying the alumna who owned the ring.
- Publisher
- Bryn Mawr College
- Finding Aid Author
- Grace Foresman
- Finding Aid Date
- 2024
Collection Inventory
A 1901 gold class ring. The head of the ring has the class year engraved in the center, above are three owls with the inscription "BMC." The engravings on the head are backward, indicating this ring was likely meant to be used as a seal. On each shoulder of the ring band is the silhouette of a seated owl. The inner side of the band has the initials "E. F." engraved. The ring could have belonged to either Eugenia Fowler (Henry) or Evelyn L. Fisk (Gould).
A 1903 gold class ring. The head of the ring is a dark green, oval stone with two seahorses engraved in the center and the class year below. Seahorses were the 1903 class animal. The engravings within the stone are backward, indicating that this ring was also used as a seal. The ring band is unique in its continuous use of the seahorse motif, as the band is made in the shape of two seahorses intertwined with elaborately carved scales and fins. On the inside of the ring band is a short phrase in what appears to be Greek along with the initials S. P. L, identifying the original alumna as Sally P. Law (McGlannan).
A 1903 class ring that has been greatly tarnished. Only the backplate that holds the green stone has retained its former gold color. To see a less tarnished version, see RG8-M5-002. The head of the ring is a dark green oval stone with two seahorses engraved in the center and the class year below. Seahorses were the 1903 class animal. The engravings within the stone are backward, indicating that this ring was also used as a seal.
A 1904 class ring with a gold-colored band. The head of the ring is a light blue, oval stone with the engravings of a beaver and the class year. The beaver was the 1904 class animal. The engravings on the head of the stone are backwards, indicating this ring was also likely used as a seal. This ring came with a box (RG8-M5-004b).
A small, white ring box donated alongside the 1904 ring (RG8-M5-004a).
A 1905 class ring with a thick, gold-colored band. Engraved on the head of the ring is a Pegasus. The Pegasus was the 1905 class animal. Above the Pegasus is '05, indicating the class year. Surrounding the Pegasus is a short phrase, likely Greek. The engravings on the head are backward, indicating that the ring was also used as a seal. The band of the ring has several parallel, vertical lines meant to mimic the aesthetic of a Greek pillar.
A 1906 class ring made of 14k gold. The head of the ring is carved to look like a crab, with its legs sprawling down over the shoulders of the ring band. Inside the large crab is a smaller crab engraved with "1906." The crab was the 1906 class animal.
A 1907 class ring made of 14k gold. The head of the ring is a dark green, oval stone with a sea turtle engraved in the center with the class year above and a Greek word below. The turtle was the 1907 class animal. The engravings on the stone are backward, indicating the ring was also used as a seal. The ring comes with a box (RG8-M5-007b).
The box the 1907 class ring came in. The bottom of the box specifies the ring was made by Charles I. Clegg in Philadelphia.
A 1908 class ring with a gold-colored band. The head of the ring is a light blue, oval stone with a crane and the class year engraved in the center. The crane was the 1908 class animal. The engravings on the stone are backward, indicating the ring was also used as a seal.
A 1909 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a red, oval stone with a bird and the class year engraved in the stone. To see a better image of the bird see the 1909 Bryn Mawr class yearbook cover. The bird could possibly be a phoenix. The bird is a reference to the 1909 class animal. All over the ring band is a scale-like design, further suggesting the animal depicted to be a phoenix. The engravings on the stone are backward, indicating the ring was also used as a seal.
A 1912 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a light blue, oval stone with a stylized butterfly design and class year. The 1912 class yearbook has the same stylized butterfly design inside the cover because the butterfly was the 1912 class animal. The ring also comes with a note, potentially identifying the ring's owner as Jane Beardwood. The engravings on the stone are backward, indicating the ring was also used as a seal.
A note that came with the 1912 ring. It says that the ring is from 1912 and has the name Jane Beardwood, an alumna from the class of 1912.
1913 class animal. The inside of the ring band has the initials M. L. M. indicating that this could be the class ring of alumna Marguerite Louis Mellen (Dewey). The engravings on the stone are backward, indicating the ring was also used as a seal.A 1913 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a red, oval stone with an engraving of a rooster surrounded by a Greek phrase. The rooster was the
A 1914 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a dark blue, round stone. The top and sides of the ring band are carved to resemble a bird's beak and wings stretched out. The bird design is a reference to the 1914 class animal. The inside of the ring band has the initials H. B. B. engraved, indicating that the ring might have belonged to alumna Helen. B. Brooks (Wiggins).
A 1915 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a green, oval stone. Each side of the ring band depicts a hummingbird with its wings spread out. The hummingbird was the 1915 class animal. The inside of the ring band has the initials C. S. on them, which indicates it could be a number of different alumna including Cecelia V. Sargent, Cleora Sutch, Catherine Simpson (Andrews), or Clarissa Smith (Ware).
A 1916 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a light blue stone. The ring band has a unique design with semi-circle embellishments that resemble oyster shells along the outside of the band. The oyster shell design may be a reference to the 1916 class animal. The inside of the ring band has the initials L. M. K. indicating that it could have been the owner of alumna Larie Maee Klein (Boas).
A 1916 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring has a light blue stone. The ring band has a unique design with semi-circle embellishments that resemble oyster shells along the outside of the band. The ring's design has been worn off from heavy use. To see a more intact version of the ring, see RG8-M5-016 (another 1916 class ring). The inside of the ring band has mostly been worn away, but there remains an F. initial that seems to indicate the first name.
A 1917 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a rectangular, red stone with the a dragon in the center. The dragon was the 1917 class animal. To see a better-quality version of the ring design, see the 1917 class yearbook. The inside of the ring band has the initials R. J. L. indicating the owner could have been alumna Ruth Levy (Weigle). The engravings on the stone are backward, indicating the ring was also used as a seal.
A 1918 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is an oval, white stone. Around the stone is a thin, dark-blue oval-shaped band, indicating the class color.
A 1920 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is an oval, white stone. The ring is ornate with several leaves carved into the top of the ring band framing the stone.
A 1921 class ring with a 14k gold band. The head of the ring is a large, flat red stone with the depiction of an unidentified building in the center.