Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers, 1916-1985
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Smith College Archives Northampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Deborah A. Richards. 2006-09-20
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers
Creation of Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers
Time of Creation of Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers
Hornbeak, Katherine Gee
Biographical History for: Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers
Biographical Note Katherine Gee Hornbeak was Professor of English at Smith College from 1930 to 1962. She was born in Tehuacana, Texas on January 24, 1897 to Samuel L. Hornbeck and Martha Gee, one of three sisters. Her twin sister, Louise, became a professor of history and taught in Oklahoma and her sister Harriett Lee ("Hattie) (b. Aug. 1892) was a schoolteacher who taught in Panama, the Philippines and in Texas. Her father was an educator and was eventually President of Trinity University (Texas). She graduated from Trinity University in 1916 and received a master's degree from Columbia University in 1922. After her Columbia degree she taught in high schools in Cleburne, Texas and Cleveland Heights, Ohio and at the North Texas State Normal College, Denton, Texas. Professsor Hornbeak entered Yale University where she specialized in 18th century literature and social history, in particular, the works of Samuel Richardson and Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu. Her dissertation research took her to Great Britain financed in part by a Sterling Research Fellowship. After the completion of the Ph.D. at Yale in 1930 she came to Smith College where she moved through academic ranks until she was made full professor in 1955. Professor Hornbeak was known as an exacting teacher, but one who was fair and full of praise for her students. Among her publications are the books The Complete Letter Writer in English, 1568-1800 (1934) and Richardson's Familiar Letters and the Domestic Conduct Books (1939). Both texts were published as part of the series Smith College Studies in Modern Languages. Professor Hornbeak retired in May 1962 and entered Smith College in the fall of that year as a special student in order to study the Greek language, a study that continued for a number of years. Her studies brought her the Julia Harwood Caverno Prize in May 1964, a prize usually awarded to a member of the junior or senior class for excellent in Greek language and literature. She gained such proficiency that she was called upon to teach Greek as a lecturer at Smith College in 1965/1966. The retreat owned by Smith College, Juniper Lodge, Silver Lake, New Hampshire was often her summer residence during her early years at Smith and for many years she served as the chair of its executive committee. Professor Hornbeck died on February 24, 1985.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Katherine Gee Hornbeak Papers contain items related to Professor Hornbeak's affiliation with Smith College and her own education. There is extensive correspondence from her sisters Harriett Lee Hornbeak ("Hattie") and Louise Hornbeak. In addition there is correspondence with Ruth Hillyer Hill, Katherine Strayer and Anne Francis (Smith College, M.A., 1942; Headmistress of the Pontypool Girls' County School, Penygarn, Wales, 1945-1960s) and from various students and friends. Professor Hornbeak's research and lecture notes reflect a teacher's use and reuse of notes throughout her teaching career. A file may contain notes for a particular course in a given year, but it is more apt to contain notes from a succession of years (sometimes dated to show succession). Folders labels suggest a date for a course as noted by Hornbeak but materials included may reflect a range of dates. Also there are situations where a particular file will include papers related to more than one course number. Duplication between files does occur and notes on a particular topic may appear in more than one file. For the most part files are as Professor Hornbeak left them and reflect these many apparent date and course conflicts. The Hornbeak papers are divided into four series: Series I: General materials (1930s-1985)Series II: Correspondence (1916-1985)Series III: PublicationsSeries IV: Lecture and research notesSeries V: Oversize materials
series
Series I - General
Biographical materials 1985, n.d.
Address books, Christmas card lists, etc. 1940s-1970s
Financial papers 1930s-1960s, 1985
Call slips from a British library n.d.
Photographs, some of Hornbeak, others not identified n.d.
Photograph album - snapshots of Colorado (?) n.d.
Photograph album - snapshots of New Hampshire and New England n.d.
Retirement items 1962
Certificate from Trinity University (Texas) "upon the fiftieth anniversary of [K.G.H.'s] graduation" May 30, 1966
KGH's Greek studies-Student papers and related documents 1963-1965
Greek 11 Examinations and papers 1966
Greek studies-Drafts of articles on 1964-1966
Family documents n.d.
Hornbeak's written examination for Yale University's English 123-Shakespeare for Professor C. B. Tinker January 1928
Yale University Commencement program and related material June 1930
Miscellaneous materials n.d.
European travel pamphlets
Series II - Correspondence
Correspondence from Katherine G. Hornbeak 1945-1946; 1955-1979, n.d.
Correspondence from Katherine G. Hornbeak to Ruth Hillyer Hill
June 1929-Sep 1929
Oct 1929-Dec 1929
Jan 1930-Aug 1930
Correspondence from Ruth Hillyer Hill July 1929-Dec 1929
Correspondence from Ruth Hillyer Hill 1931-1932, 1980
Correspondence from Katherine Strayer 1931
Correspondence from Priscilla Presbrey 1928
Correspondence from Priscilla Presbrey 1929-1932, n.d.
Christmas letters from Katherine G. Hornbeak 1949-1958
Correspondence from Lois Ames 1966-1967
Correspondence from Samuel L. Hornbeak ("Father") 1945-1947
Correspondence from "Pattie" 1948-1950
Correspondence from Harriett Lee Hornbeak (Hattie) to Lona and Ruth Spruiell with occasional correspondence to Mrs. W. P. Withers (Carrie) from Harriett Hornbeak 1955-1957
Correspondence from Harriett Lee Hornbeak ("Hattie") to Katherine Hornbeak ("Tassie")
n.d.
Feb 1969-Apr 1969
Aug 1969-Dec 1969
Jan 1970-May 1970
June 1970-Dec 1970
Jan 1971-Aug 1971
Sep 1971-Dec 1971
Jan 1972-May 1972
June 1972-Dec 1972
Jan 1973-June 1973
July 1973-Dec 1973
Correspondence from Louise Hornbeak ("Lub") to Katherine G. Hornbeak ("Tod") 1935-1985
Correspondence from Katherine G. Hornbeak to Anne Francis 1941
Correspondence from Anne Francis to Katherine G. Hornbeak 1941
Correspondence from Anne Francis to Katherine G. Hornbeak 1945-1981
Correspondence from and related to Cuthbert Becher Pigot 1947
Correspondence from C. B. Tinker and Remarks on C.B. Tinker and the 18th Century at a dinner Jan 18, 1947 1944-1949
Correspondence from Jane Shaw 1947-1948
Correspondence from Dorothy Robinson 1952
Correspondence from Jean Hecht 1955
Correspondence from W. Douglas Simpson 1955
Correspondence from Arthur Raistrick 1955-1956
Correspondence with the Duke of Northumberland 1955-1956
Correspondence from Diana Gould White 1966-1973
Correspondence from Virginia Corwin Brautigam and Herman A. Brautigam 1975-1978
Correspondence from and related to Marjorie Hanson 1976
Correspondence from Betty Baum 1977-1980
Correspondence from various individuals (usually only one item from each individual), some identified only by first name, Christmas greetings
Correspondence from Trinity University (Texas) officials 1916-1922
Correspondence from North Texas State Normal College, Denton, Texas officials 1922-1924
Correspondence from Cleburne Public Schools, Cleburne, Texas official 1922
Correspondence from Cleveland Heights Schools, Ohio official 1926-1929
Correspondence from Yale University officials 1927-1979
Series III - Publications
Publications 1949-1966
Series IV - Lecture and research notes
English honors examinations-Notes, etc.
Lecture notes for English 11-Notes, etc.
English 19-Notes, etc.
English 19-Examinations and notes
Lecture notes for English 21 and syllabi
Examinations and notes for English 21
Lecture notes on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Bunyan memorabilia (post cards, booklets, etc.) 1960s-1970s
Lecture notes on Congreve's The Way of the World
Lecture notes on Milton
Lecture notes on Milton's Paradise Lost
Lecture notes on Fielding's Joseph Andrews
Notes on Fielding and Fielding's Tom Jones
Lecture notes on Pope's Rape of the Lock
Notes on the [Royal] Game of Ombre
Notes on Pope
Notes on Pope's Essay on Man to Gen. Lit. 291 in Sage Hall March 13, 1957
Pope and Swift as satirists
Notes on Swift [1]
Notes on Swift [2] (satire)
Lecture notes on Richardson
Notes on Keats
Notes on Shakespeare's Comedies-English 21
Notes, etc. for English 29
Notes on Medieval drama
Lecture notes for English 40b-18th Century 1954
Notes for English 58-Boswell and Johnson 1946
Notes for English 58-18th Century 1949
Notes for English 58-18th Century 1945-1950
Lecture notes for English 58a-18th Century 1950/1951
Lecture notes for English 58a-18th Century 1951/1952
Lecture notes for English 58a 1958
Lecture notes for English 310 Spring Semester 1949
K.G.H.'s letter and questionnaire to English 310 students June 9, 1950
Lecture notes for English 310 1950-1951
Reading period lists, English 310 1947-1955
Examinations, English 310 1940s-1950s
Bibliographies on the Social Background of the 18th Century 1940s
Notes on Mandeville and Shaftesbury
Satire-Definitions of terms-Survey of 17th and 18th century dictionaries
Satire-General Notes
Satire lecture notes, English 310a 1939-1943
Satire lecture notes, English 310a (1) 1946-1951
Satire lecture notes, English 310a (2) 1946-1951
Satire lecture notes, English 310a 1953-1958
Satire lecture notes, English 310a 1959-1961
Satire lecture notes and syllabi 1962
Student cards-English 310a 1962 (?)
Lecture notes for English 310a
Examinations, English 310a (some for English 310) 1930s-1950s
Examinations, English 310a 1960s
Suggestions for term papers, English 310a and English 310b
Notes on Petronius
Notes on Erasmus and Rabelais
Notes on Lucian
Johnson as literary critic-English 310a and 310b
Johnson as literary critic-English 310b-Student assignment
Johnsonon (various topics)
Lecture notes on Huxley, Waugh and Orwell
Reserve book list for English 310a and Roman satire materials, Latin 34b 1953-1958
Wit and burlesque notes
"Splitting the infinitive" notes
Notes on Don Quixote
Don Quixote illustrations, including Horst Lemke's
Notes on Sentimentalism and Richardson
Notes on Sentimental comedy 18th Century
Syllabi for English 310b 1960
Reading period and library reserve reading lists for English 310b
Examinations, English 310b 1930s-1960s
Memo book for English 310b 1958
Lecture notes for English 310b-Boswell and Johnson 1934
Outline and lecture notes for English 310b 1940s-1960s
Lecture notes for English 310b 1957-1961
Lecture notes and/or syllabi, English 310b 1957
Miscellaneous notes for English 310b
Map study, English 310b-18th Century London
18th Century London-Maps (Glass slides)
Notes on friendship and women
Notes on Addison and Steele
Notes on Defoe
Notes on Dryden
Notes on Macpherson's Ossian
Notes on Gray
Notes on Gentleman's Magazine
Notes on Goldsmith
Notes on James Thomson [1]
Notes on James Thomson [2]
Notes on Mary Astell
Notes on Rambler and Idler-17th and 18th Century journalism-English 310b 1950s
Notes on Juvenal and Johnson, English 310b
Social background of the age of Johnson (notes on)
Lecture notes on Boswell and Johnson
Notes on Boswell's Life of Johnson
Notes on Boswell as biographer
Notes and lecture notes on Johnson's Dictionary
Photographs and illustrations of Johnson and Johnsonian sites
Notes on Rasselas and Candide, English 59 and English 310b 1940s-1950s
Notes on P. H. Houston's Dr. Johnson (1923) 1930s
Notes for talk on the literary scene in England, 1761 April 1961
Notes on Boswell's papers (general)
Notes on Boswell's papers, v. 1-6
Notes on Boswell's papers, v. 8-12
Notes on Boswell's papers, v. 13-15
Clippings on Boswell's London journal 1950
Clippings on Boswell's papers 1948-1950
Clippings on Johnson and Boswell 1930s-1950s
Satire unit student papers n.d.
Satire unit student papers [1] 1956-1957
Satire unit student papers [2] 1956-1957
Satire unit student papers 1958
Satire unit student papers [1] 1959
Satire unit student papers [2] 1959
Satire unit student papers [3] 1959
Irene Levy paper
Marian Allison McCrillis paper 1943
Mary-Elizabeth Bruce paper 1953
Katherine Reese paper 1947
Notes on Peacock and Bryon
Notes for English 314-English Novel
Notes for English 414 a and b 1957-1959
Notes for English 414 a and b 1960-1961
Notes on Sir Robert Walpole and for English 414b 1957-1959
Notes on diaries
Notes on biography
Notes on domestic handbooks-Yale University Library Summer 1931
Notes on women and domestic relationships
Samples of and/or for examinations in English literature 1940s-1950s
Notes on, drafts and letters of recommendation 1950s-1960s
K.G.H.'s personal files on Smith College's M.A. in English literature
K.G.H.'s copy of Newton Arvin's "The Grounds of Literary Judgment"
Notes on lecture by Elizabeth Drew, "Life and art in the novel"-Sage Hall Oct. 5, 1959
Research on the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Correspondence from and to K.G.H. related to the Montagu letters 1938-1953
Notes on Montagu letters
Newspaper clippings on Montagu biographies and criticism
Note cards on various subjects
Series V: Oversize
Lithograph of cats, by Jim Sekim
Reproduction of the "View of the interior of the Rotunda at Ranelgh," by Caneletto from the National Gallery
Photostat of letter of Lady Elizabeth Montagu Sept. 4, 1772
Photostat of will of Lady Elizabeth Montagu August 27, 1809
Photostat of documents 18th century
Reproductions of etchings and paintings of 18th Century England
"18th Century England"-article in Life Sept. 13, 1948