Cynthia Propper Seton Papers, 1951-1982
type: FindingAid
type: Document
conforms to: General International Standard for Archival Description
publisher: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
encoded as: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers, 1951-1982
topic: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
subject: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
has part: Biographical History for: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
topic: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
subject: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
topic: Contents
subject: Contents
topic: Articles and clippings about Cynthia Seton, 1971-83
subject: Articles and clippings about Cynthia Seton, 1971-83
topic: Obituary clippings, 1982, n.d.
subject: Obituary clippings, 1982, n.d.
topic: Eulogies, Oct 1982
subject: Eulogies, Oct 1982
topic: Photographs, 1946-88, n.d.
subject: Photographs, 1946-88, n.d.
topic: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
subject: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
topic: To Frances Richardson, 1963-82
subject: To Frances Richardson, 1963-82
topic: To David Richardson, 10 Nov 1967
subject: To David Richardson, 10 Nov 1967
topic: SERIES III. WRITINGS
subject: SERIES III. WRITINGS
topic: Articles
subject: Articles
topic: Literary reviews, clippings, and typescripts, 1973-81
subject: Literary reviews, clippings, and typescripts, 1973-81
topic: "Ah, Did You Once See Shelley Plain?," n.d.
subject: "Ah, Did You Once See Shelley Plain?," n.d.
topic: "The College Town," Feb 1974
subject: "The College Town," Feb 1974
topic: "Higamous Bigamous Who Is Monogamous?," n.d.
subject: "Higamous Bigamous Who Is Monogamous?," n.d.
topic: "On Being Bored By Mistake," 1972
subject: "On Being Bored By Mistake," 1972
topic: "One Woman and Two Myths," 1972
subject: "One Woman and Two Myths," 1972
topic: "On Women, Men, and Monogamy," n.d.
subject: "On Women, Men, and Monogamy," n.d.
topic: Untitled essay, perhaps related to The Mother of the Graduate, n.d.
subject: Untitled essay, perhaps related to The Mother of the Graduate, n.d.
topic: Books
subject: Books
topic: The Half-Sisters: incomplete typescript, n.d.
subject: The Half-Sisters: incomplete typescript, n.d.
topic: The Mother of the Graduate: typescript, Mar 1970
subject: The Mother of the Graduate: typescript, Mar 1970
topic: A Special and Curious Blessing
subject: A Special and Curious Blessing
topic: Typescript, 1968
subject: Typescript, 1968
topic: Galley, 25 Apr 1968
subject: Galley, 25 Apr 1968
topic: Page proof, 30 Apr 1968
subject: Page proof, 30 Apr 1968
topic: Published copy, 1968
subject: Published copy, 1968
topic: Portions of an untitled novel, n.d.
subject: Portions of an untitled novel, n.d.

General International Standard for Archival Description
type: Standard

Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: Repository
type: Organization
type: Agent
country code: US
maintenance agency code: mnsss
is publisher of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers, 1951-1982
administers: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
provides access to: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
provides access to: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
provides access to: Contents
provides access to: Articles and clippings about Cynthia Seton, 1971-83
provides access to: Obituary clippings, 1982, n.d.
provides access to: Eulogies, Oct 1982
provides access to: Photographs, 1946-88, n.d.
provides access to: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
provides access to: To Frances Richardson, 1963-82
provides access to: To David Richardson, 10 Nov 1967
provides access to: SERIES III. WRITINGS
provides access to: Articles
provides access to: Literary reviews, clippings, and typescripts, 1973-81
provides access to: "Ah, Did You Once See Shelley Plain?," n.d.
provides access to: "The College Town," Feb 1974
provides access to: "Higamous Bigamous Who Is Monogamous?," n.d.
provides access to: "On Being Bored By Mistake," 1972
provides access to: "One Woman and Two Myths," 1972
provides access to: "On Women, Men, and Monogamy," n.d.
provides access to: Untitled essay, perhaps related to The Mother of the Graduate, n.d.
provides access to: Books
provides access to: The Half-Sisters: incomplete typescript, n.d.
provides access to: The Mother of the Graduate: typescript, Mar 1970
provides access to: A Special and Curious Blessing
provides access to: Typescript, 1968
provides access to: Galley, 25 Apr 1968
provides access to: Page proof, 30 Apr 1968
provides access to: Published copy, 1968
provides access to: Portions of an untitled novel, n.d.

Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: SpatialThing
is administered by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Cynthia Propper Seton Papers, 1951-1982
type: EAD
type: Document
description: Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07
created: 2006-04-07
conforms to: Encoded Archival Description
conforms to: Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
encoding of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers, 1951-1982

Encoded Archival Description
type: Standard

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
type: Standard

Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
type: ArchivalResource
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: collection
identifier: MS 142
date: 1951-1982
date created accumulated string: 1951-1982
date created accumulated start: 1951
date created accumulated end: 1982
produced in: Creation of Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
extent: 2 boxes
extent: (1 linear ft.)
language: eng
origination: Seton, Cynthia Propper
has biographical history: Biographical History for: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
scopecontent: Scope and Contents of the Collection The Cynthia Propper Seton Papers consist of 1 linear foot of material dating from 1946 to 1982, with the majority dating from the later 1960's to the end of Seton's life. The collection consists mainly of Seton's writings, including drafts and finished typescripts of her columns, essays, and novels. Personal papers are less extensive, and are primarily Seton's detailed correspondence to her longtime friend and confidante Frances Richardson, whom Seton met in 1951 while their husbands were both at Yale Medical School. These discuss Seton's views on women's rights, writing, travels, her children, and her later battle with Hodgkin's disease. Seton's search for what it means to live a fulfilling life runs heavily throughout the correspondence, a theme she also discusses at length in her writings. The collection also contains several photographs and some biographical information, mostly articles featuring Seton's politics and experience as an older feminist and mother, but also obituaries and other materials relating to her death. Major themes addressed in the papers are the social movements of the 1960s (especially the women's movement); the impact of feminism on middle-aged women; Smith College; the city of Northampton; and the writing process. Organization of the CollectionThis collection is organized into three series: I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS II. CORRESPONDENCE III. WRITINGS
associated with: Authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources
associated with: Feminism--United States--History--20th century--Sources
associated with: Female friendship--United States--History--20th century
associated with: Family--United States--History--20th century--Sources
associated with: Women authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources
associated with: Seton, Cynthia Propper
associated with: Smith College--History--Sources
associated with: Northampton (Mass.)--History--20th century--Sources
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
aggregates: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
has part: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
aggregates: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
has part: SERIES III. WRITINGS
aggregates: SERIES III. WRITINGS

collection
type: Level
type: Concept

Creation of Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
type: Creation
type: Event
product: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
involved: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
time: Time of Creation of Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
at time: Time of Creation of Cynthia Propper Seton Papers

Time of Creation of Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
type: Interval
timeline: universaltimeline
start: 1951
interval starts: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1951
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1951
end: 1982
interval ends: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1982
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1982

2 boxes
type: Extent
archbox: 2
label: (1 linear ft.)

Seton, Cynthia Propper
type: Agent
is origination of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers

Biographical History for: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
type: BiographicalHistory
type: Document
type: DocumentPart
body: Biographical Note Cynthia Propper was born Oct 11, 1926 in New York City to Charlotte Jansen and Karl Propper. She graduated from the Fieldston School in Riverdale, New York and earned her B.A. from Smith College in 1948. She was married to Paul Seton, the Smith College physician and psychiatrist; the two had five children: Anthony, Julia, Margaret, Jennifer, and Nora. After living in Natick and Stockbridge, Massachusetts the family moved in 1957 to Northampton, where they remained for the rest of Seton's life. Starting in 1956 Seton worked as a journalist, serving for 12 years as a writer for the Berkshire Eagle of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where she wrote a column on modern motherhood called "Skirting the Issue." Her column was also printed in the Washington Post for a year, from 1959-60. She published three essay collections and five novels. Additionally, Seton also wrote articles for magazines such as The Atlantic Monthly, Redbook, and McCall's, and regularly contributed book reviews to several publications. Many critics praised Seton's work, calling her "a latter-day Jane Austen, writing a comedy of manners." Her third novel, A Fine Romance, was nominated for a National Book Award in 1976. In addition to writing, Seton lectured on literary and feminist topics and taught at the Indiana Writer's Conference. After a decade-long battle with Hodgkin's disease and leukemia, Seton died in Northampton on October 23, 1982.
topic: Seton, Cynthia Propper
subject: Seton, Cynthia Propper
is biographical history for: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
is part of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers, 1951-1982

Authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources
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Feminism--United States--History--20th century--Sources
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Female friendship--United States--History--20th century
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Family--United States--History--20th century--Sources
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Women authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources
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Seton, Cynthia Propper
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focus: Seton, Cynthia Propper

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Seton, Cynthia Propper
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Smith College--History--Sources
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Northampton (Mass.)--History--20th century--Sources
type: Concept
in scheme: lcsh
focus: northamptonmass--history--20thcentury--sources

SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
is aggregated by: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: Contents
aggregates: Contents
has part: Articles and clippings about Cynthia Seton, 1971-83
aggregates: Articles and clippings about Cynthia Seton, 1971-83
has part: Obituary clippings, 1982, n.d.
aggregates: Obituary clippings, 1982, n.d.
has part: Eulogies, Oct 1982
aggregates: Eulogies, Oct 1982
has part: Photographs, 1946-88, n.d.
aggregates: Photographs, 1946-88, n.d.

SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
is aggregated by: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: To Frances Richardson, 1963-82
aggregates: To Frances Richardson, 1963-82
has part: To David Richardson, 10 Nov 1967
aggregates: To David Richardson, 10 Nov 1967

SERIES III. WRITINGS
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
is aggregated by: Cynthia Propper Seton Papers
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
level: series
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: Articles
aggregates: Articles
has part: Books
aggregates: Books

series
type: Level
type: Concept

Contents
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
is aggregated by: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Articles and clippings about Cynthia Seton, 1971-83
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
is aggregated by: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Obituary clippings, 1982, n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
is aggregated by: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Eulogies, Oct 1982
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
is aggregated by: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Photographs, 1946-88, n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
is aggregated by: SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

To Frances Richardson, 1963-82
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
is aggregated by: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

To David Richardson, 10 Nov 1967
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
is aggregated by: SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Articles
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES III. WRITINGS
is aggregated by: SERIES III. WRITINGS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: Literary reviews, clippings, and typescripts, 1973-81
aggregates: Literary reviews, clippings, and typescripts, 1973-81
has part: "Ah, Did You Once See Shelley Plain?," n.d.
aggregates: "Ah, Did You Once See Shelley Plain?," n.d.
has part: "The College Town," Feb 1974
aggregates: "The College Town," Feb 1974
has part: "Higamous Bigamous Who Is Monogamous?," n.d.
aggregates: "Higamous Bigamous Who Is Monogamous?," n.d.
has part: "On Being Bored By Mistake," 1972
aggregates: "On Being Bored By Mistake," 1972
has part: "One Woman and Two Myths," 1972
aggregates: "One Woman and Two Myths," 1972
has part: "On Women, Men, and Monogamy," n.d.
aggregates: "On Women, Men, and Monogamy," n.d.
has part: Untitled essay, perhaps related to The Mother of the Graduate, n.d.
aggregates: Untitled essay, perhaps related to The Mother of the Graduate, n.d.

Books
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: SERIES III. WRITINGS
is aggregated by: SERIES III. WRITINGS
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: The Half-Sisters: incomplete typescript, n.d.
aggregates: The Half-Sisters: incomplete typescript, n.d.
has part: The Mother of the Graduate: typescript, Mar 1970
aggregates: The Mother of the Graduate: typescript, Mar 1970
has part: A Special and Curious Blessing
aggregates: A Special and Curious Blessing
has part: Portions of an untitled novel, n.d.
aggregates: Portions of an untitled novel, n.d.

Literary reviews, clippings, and typescripts, 1973-81
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

"Ah, Did You Once See Shelley Plain?," n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

"The College Town," Feb 1974
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

"Higamous Bigamous Who Is Monogamous?," n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

"On Being Bored By Mistake," 1972
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

"One Woman and Two Myths," 1972
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

"On Women, Men, and Monogamy," n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Untitled essay, perhaps related to The Mother of the Graduate, n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Articles
is aggregated by: Articles
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

The Half-Sisters: incomplete typescript, n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Books
is aggregated by: Books
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

The Mother of the Graduate: typescript, Mar 1970
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Books
is aggregated by: Books
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

A Special and Curious Blessing
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Books
is aggregated by: Books
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: Typescript, 1968
aggregates: Typescript, 1968
has part: Galley, 25 Apr 1968
aggregates: Galley, 25 Apr 1968
has part: Page proof, 30 Apr 1968
aggregates: Page proof, 30 Apr 1968
has part: Published copy, 1968
aggregates: Published copy, 1968

Portions of an untitled novel, n.d.
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Books
is aggregated by: Books
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Typescript, 1968
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: A Special and Curious Blessing
is aggregated by: A Special and Curious Blessing
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Galley, 25 Apr 1968
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: A Special and Curious Blessing
is aggregated by: A Special and Curious Blessing
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Page proof, 30 Apr 1968
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: A Special and Curious Blessing
is aggregated by: A Special and Curious Blessing
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA

Published copy, 1968
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: A Special and Curious Blessing
is aggregated by: A Special and Curious Blessing
access provided by: Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA