Call Number:

04

Repository:

Westtown School Archives

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1904-1929 (inclusive)

Creator:

Prince, Helen Wright, 1911-2013

Abstract:

Helen Wright Prince (1911-2013) entered Westtown School in 1922 and graduated in 1929. Her father, William and brother, Herbert were also Westtown graduates. While at Westtown, Helen was very involved with student activities, playing on several varsity sports teams, active in art and music clubs, and serving on student council and various committees. The Helen Wright Prince family papers regarding Westtown School, 1904-1929, consist primarily of letters from Helen to her mother while a student. The collection also features a scrapbook, autograph album, reports, various ephemera, and some school notebooks created by Helen while she was a student, as well as some materials from Helen's brother Herbert and father William while they attended Westtown.

Helen Alice Wright Prince entered Westtown School, a prominent Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1922 and graduated in 1929. Born in Columbus, New Jersey in 1911, her parents were William Wright (Westtown class of 1905) and Ione Hankins Wright. While at Westtown, she was very involved with student activities, playing on varsity teams for hockey, swimming, and basketball. She also served on student council and on some student committees. She was in art and music clubs, played a leading role in a student presentation of "As You Like It," and was a finalist in an elocution contest.

After graduating from Westtown, Helen received a teaching degree and taught in elementary schools in several areas of Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. In the 1950s, Price taught a combined class of 1st through 8th graders at East Cutchogue Migrant Labor Camp. She and her husband, Frederic "Hummer" Corwin Prince, settled in Southold, Long Island, New York. An avid gardener, local historian, and genealogist, Helen was also an active member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). She passed away in 2013.

Helen's brother Herbert Ellis Wright entered Westtown School at the same time as his sister. Though a bit of a trouble-maker, he engaged in student activities and served as class Fire Chief. Herbert was active in the student hiking club, and also participated in Ataraxa, Bostonians, Rustic, Latin club, and junior varsity soccer.

Bibliography:

"Helen Wright Prince." Obituary in The Suffolk Times, May 14, 2013. Accessed October 4, 2013. http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2013/05/39676/helen-wright-prince/

Westtown School yearbooks.

The collection consists primarily of materials collected and created by Helen A. Wright Prince while a student at Westtown from 1922-1929. It includes correspondence, much of which is with her mother (originals annotated and transcribed) as well as a scrapbook, autograph album, reports, various ephemera, and some school notebooks. There are some materials from Helen's brother Herbert (letters to mother annotated and transcribed); and father William E. Wright (letters and photos, 1904-1909). Also included is one school textbook.