Mary Lyon Collection, ca. 1778-
General International Standard for Archival Description
Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections South Hadley, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Patricia J. Albright. 2007-05-18
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Mary Lyon Collection
Lyon, Mary, 1797-1849
Biographical History for: Mary Lyon Collection
Biographical Note Mary Lyon, educator and founder of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (now Mount Holyoke College), was born on February 28, 1797, in Buckland, Massachusetts. Her parents were Aaron Lyon, a farmer, and Jemima Shepard Lyon. After her father's death in 1802 and her mother's remarriage 1810, Lyon remained on the family farm as a housekeeper for her brother. She started teaching in 1814 and continued her own education by attending Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, Massachusetts, Amherst (Massachusetts) Academy, and Byfield (Massachusetts) Seminary. She opened the Buckland (Massachusetts) Female School in 1824 and taught the summer term classes at Adams Female Academy in Derry (now East Derry), New Hampshire with Zilpah Grant. In 1828, she began teaching full time at Ipswich (Massachusetts) Female Seminary. During this period, she also attended lectures at Amherst College and spent a few weeks studying at what is now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1832, she began developing plans for a new school for adult women that would own its own property and not be a for-profit venture. She spent the summer of 1833 traveling through Pennsylvania and New York State to Detroit, Michigan purchasing scientific equipment for Ipswich Seminary and visiting schools and colleges. She resigned from the Ipswich school in 1834, returning later to serve as acting principal during Grant's temporary absence, and assisted with the planning of Wheaton Female Seminary (now Wheaton College) in Norton, Massachusetts. With the help of male advisers she began raising funds for a school that was chartered on February 11, 1836 as Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Mount Holyoke opened on November 8, 1837 and Lyon served as principal for almost twelve years. She also taught chemistry classes and organized the domestic work system by which students and teachers took care of cooking and housekeeping chores in order to avoid the expense of hiring paid staff. Lyon died of erysipelas, an acute streptococcus disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, on March 5, 1849 and is buried on the Mount Holyoke grounds.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Mary Lyon Collection consists of letters by and to educator Mary Lyon, her published and unpublished writings, biographical information about her and memorabilia associated with her, books that were in her personal library, materials about the Lyon family and the Massachusetts towns closely associated with her early life, and portraits and other likenesses of her. The collection primarily documents Lyon's activities as a pioneering educator of women and her work as the founder and first principal of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Correspondence (1818-1849, n.d.) contains letters by and to relatives, friends, and colleagues concerning her work, particularly at Mount Holyoke, and aspects of her personal life. Correspondents include educators Zilpah Grant Banister and Eunice C. Cowles, L.T. Guilford, and other Mount Holyoke graduates, Lyon's niece, Abigail Moore Burgess, missionary Justin Perkins, and Laban and Elizabeth Wheaton, founders of Wheaton Female Seminary. Writings (circa 1827-1849, n.d.) include pamphlets that Lyon wrote to publicize Mount Holyoke, the Missionary Offering (1843) which reflects her support of missionary work, and many unpublished documents such as her student compositions, her notes for lectures, and her journal describing travels in Pennsylvania, New York State, and Michigan in 1833. Notes on Lyon's Remarks (circa 1837-1849) were compiled by Mount Holyoke students and teachers and reflect her views about religion, the purpose of education, character, and other subjects. Biographical Material and Memorabilia (circa 1778-) consists of articles, newspaper clippings, and papers about Lyon's life, jewelry, textiles, and other items that belonged to her and others, and items once used to furnish the Mary Lyon Room at Mount Holyoke. These materials include information about the many posthumous honors conferred upon her. Lyon's Library (1809-1847) consists of books that she owned and includes writings by Catharine Esther Beecher, Amos Eaton, Edward Hitchcock, and John Milton. Lyon Family materials (circa 1836-) chiefly consist of published and unpublished genealogies about various branches of the family both in the United States and Europe. There is also a photograph album that appears to contain portraits of Lyon's brother, Aaron E. Lyon, and his relatives. Places Associated with Lyon (circa 1849-) consists of publications, notes, postcards, and photographs concerning Ashfield, Buckland, and Byfield, Massachusetts. Portraits and Other Likenesses (1832-) contains prints of a daguerreotype, a ferrotype, and paintings of Lyon taken or completed during her lifetime as well as later paintings and drawings of her. Lyon's correspondence and writings were microfilmed in 1987 and the collection includes four sets of the film and related user guides. Oversize (Folio) Material (circa 1827-) in the collection is boxed separately. Material from this collection is available in an online digital format.
Missionaries--United States.
lcsh
Women--Education (Higher)--United States--History.
Women--Massachusetts--Religious life.
Women educators--United States.
Women teachers--United States.
Lyon, Mary, 1797-1849.
lcnaf
Burgess, Abigail M. (Abigail Moore), 1813-1853.
Cowles, Eunice C. (Eunice Caldwell), 1811-1903.
Banister, Zilpah P. Grant (Zilpah Polly Grant), 1794-1874.
Guilford, L.T. (Linda Thayer).
Perkins, Justin, 1805-1869.
Lyons family.
Byfield Seminary.
Sanderson Academy (Ashfield, Mass.)
Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.
Mount Holyoke Female Seminary--Recollections.
Ipswich Female Seminary (Ipswich, Mass.)
Wheaton Female Seminary (Norton, Mass.)
New York (State)--Description and travel.
Detroit (Mich.)--Description and travel.
aat
series
Correspondence 1818-1849, n.d.
Correspondence (1818-1849, n.d.) consists of letters by and to Lyon that concerning her activities as an educator, particularly her work as founder and principal of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and aspects of her personal life. Numerous letters describe the search for a location for the school, efforts to funds, and design, construction, and furnishing of the Seminary Building. Many other letters are by and to women who wished to attend Mount Holyoke or individuals recruiting teachers and missionaries to work in schools in the United States and other countries. There are also letters from Lyon's former pupils, often describing their experiences as teachers. Personal letters in the collection concern Lyon's religious views, her finances, and events affecting members of her family, such as the mental illness of her sister, Lovina Lyon Putnam. Correspondents include her friends and colleagues Zilpah Grant Banister and Eunice C. Cowles; Mount Holyoke trustee William Tyler; Hannah Porter (wife of Trustee Andrew Porter); L.T. Guilford (a Mount Holyoke graduate who established a school for girls in Cleveland, Ohio); Thomas White of Ashfield, Massachusetts (Lyon's friend and financial adviser) and his daughter, Hannah White; Lyon's niece, Abigail Moore Burgess, who served as a teacher at Mount Holyoke and a missionary in India; Laban and Elizabeth Wheaton (founders of Wheaton Female Seminary in Norton, Massachusetts); the Reverend Charles C. Beatty (principal of a school in Steubenville, Ohio); and Justin Perkins (missionary to the Christian Nestorians in Persia).
Unrestricted.
Writings, circa 1817-1849, n.d.
Writings (circa 1827-1849, n.d.) contains Lyon's published works and her unpublished lists, notes, and other documents. Her publications consist of pamphlets that she wrote between 1834-circa 1840 describing the goals, location, curriculum, requirements, regulations, application process, and domestic work system at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. The collection also includes her 1843 book, the Missionary Offering, which reflects her commitment to supporting the work of foreign missionaries. Some of the unpublished materials date from her studies at Byfield Seminary (1821) and Sanderson Academy (1827-1828). These documents consist of her compositions and lecture notes as well as her hand-drawn map of the United States. Unpublished writings from her years as a teacher and administrator at Ipswich Female Seminary date from about 1830-1834 and include notes for her religious instruction of and talks to students, her lectures on "intellectual philosophy," notes for teachers' meetings, and lists of books, chemicals, and other supplies at the school. Writings relating to Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (circa 1833-1848, n.d.) include plans for the Seminary Building, financial records, lists of applicants, and notes about the domestic work system. The remaining materials in this series consist of documents organized into subject categories (circa 1833-1849, n.d.). These items include a journal the she kept during her travels in Pennsylvania, New York State, and Michigan in 1833, notes reflecting her ideas about education and teaching, her comments on some of her readings, a list of members of her family, and descriptions of her personal property.
Notes on Lyon's Remarks, circa 1837-1849
Contains notes by Mount Holyoke Female Seminary students and others on Lyon's lectures and talks on religious and secular subjects, circa 1837-1849. Topics of her remarks include religious faith, humility, charity, service to others, behavior,character, fashion and dress, the purpose of education, and teaching methods.
Biographical Material and Memorabilia circa 1778-
Biographical Material chiefly consists of reminiscences, books, articles, newspaper clippings, and unpublished papers and essays dating from 1849 to the present that concern Lyon's life and work. These materials include the sermon preached at her funeral in 1849 and on the one hundredth anniversary of her birth in 1897, biographies of her by Edward Hitchcock (1851) and Elizabeth Green (1979), recollections by her by Mount Holyoke alumnae (1905-1908) and articles relating to the United States postage stamp issued in her honor in 1987. Other honors conferred upon Lyon are documented by materials relating to her selection to the Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame (2005) and to a sculpture of her by Lu Stubbs (2006). An audiocassette in this series is of a radio program concerning Mary Lyon, Woman Educator (1937). There are also bibliographies of writings by and about Lyon and chronologies listing events during her life. Memorabilia dates from circa 1778 to the present and consists in part of items that Lyon owned, such as her eye glasses, writing desk, and the green velvet bag that she used to collect donations for Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. These materials also include examples of her weaving, scraps of her dresses, and jewelry that incorporates locks of her hair. Other memorabilia consists of jewelry and other objects not directly relating to Lyon. Some of these items were once part of the Mary Lyon Room established at Mount Holyoke in 1904 and dismantled at a later date. Memorabilia also includes the medal from her induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame (1993) and two portraits of Lyon: an ivory miniature from 1832 and a watercolor by Katharine Baldwin Sullivan from 1893.
Mary Lyon's Library 1809-1847
Mary Lyon's library consists of books that she owned. These volumes reflect her interest in astronomy, botany, geology, history, physiology, and religion and include works by Catharine Esther Beecher, Amos Eaton, Edward Hitchcock, and John Milton. This series also includes a biography of Lyon's teacher and mentor Joseph Emerson.
Lyon Family 1836-
Lyon Family material consists of manuscripts relating to members of Mary Lyon's family as well as articles and genealogies about the Lyon family in the United States and Europe. Materials concerning Lyon's brother, Aaron Lyon, consist of a list of his children (1839) and a letter that he and one of his sons wrote to another son in 1836 discussing family matters. Genealogical material includes charts showing the ancestries of Lyon's parents and several books and articles about the Lyon/Lyons family. There is also a photograph album (circa 1860s-circa 1900) that appears to contain portraits (including tintypes) of Mary Lyon's brother, Aaron E. Lyon, and his relatives.
Places Associated with Mary Lyon 1849-
Contains pamphlets, newspaper and magazine article, maps, postcards, drawings, photographs, and other material relating to Ashfield, Buckland, and Byfield, Massachusetts. These items include histories of Ashfield and Buckland and an abstract of title to the Mary Lyon birthplace property in Buckland. Drawings and photographs of that site including an 1883 engraving and copies of a 1905 painting by Edwin Romanzo Elmer. A publication entitled Historical Sketches of the Times and Men in Ashfield, Massachusetts, During the Revolutionary War mentions Lyon's father, Aaron Lyon. Postcards and photographs include images of the one-room schoolhouse that she attended in Buckland and the room that she used while loving with the Thomas White family in Ashfield.
Portraits and Other Likeness 1832-
Consists of prints of formal photographs and portraits of Lyon dating from her lifetime as well as likenesses created after her death. Includes reproductions of an ivory miniature painting (1832), a daguerreotype (1845) and a ferrotype (circa 1845) of Lyon, and copies of portraits of her by Joseph Chandler (1844) and Louise Rogers Jewett (1906).
Unrestricted
Microfilm and Guides 1987-
Most of Lyon's correspondence and writings in this collection were microfilmed in 1987 as part of a project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. There are four sets of the microfilm (four reels per set) in the collection, along with guides and other documents relating to the use of the film. The documents include photocopies of letters by and to Lyon acquired by the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections after the completion of the microfilming project.
Oversize (Folio) Material circa 1827-
Contains oversized items described as part of other series in the collection. In the container list, descriptions of these items include an indication that they are shelved in Folio.
By Lyon 1818-1828
By Lyon 1829-1832
By Lyon 1833
By Lyon 1834 February-July
By Lyon 1834 August-December
By Lyon 1835 January-March
By Lyon 1835 April-November
By Lyon 1836
By Lyon 1837 January-August
By Lyon 1837 September-December
By Lyon 1838
By Lyon 1839
By Lyon 1840
By Lyon 1841
By Lyon 1842
By Lyon 1843-1844
By Lyon 1845-1846 January-July
By Lyon 1846 August-November
By Lyon 1847 March-May
By Lyon 1847 June-November
By Lyon 1848 January-June
By Lyon 1848 August-December-1849 January 19
By Lyon n.d.
To Lyon 1818, 1822-1829
To Lyon 1830
To Lyon 1831
To Lyon 1832
To Lyon 1833
To Lyon 1834-1835
To Lyon 1836
To Lyon 1837 January-May
To Lyon 1837 June-November
To Lyon 1838
To Lyon 1839 February-June
To Lyon 1839 July-December
To Lyon 1840
To Lyon 1841
To Lyon 1842 January-March
To Lyon 1842 April-July
To Lyon 1842 August-December
To Lyon 1843 January-May
To Lyon 1843 July-November
To Lyon 1844 January-July
To Lyon 1844 August
To Lyon 1844 September-December
To Lyon 1845
To Lyon 1846 January-August
To Lyon 1846 September-December
To Lyon 1847
To Lyon 1848-1849, n.d.
Information relating to two bound volumes of Mary Lyon Manuscripts, gift of Class of 1929
Typescripts of Class of 1929 gift: two bound volumes of Mary Lyon letters and writings
Original binding for Mary Lyon Letters and Documents, Volume 1
Original binding for Mary Lyon Letters and Documents, Volume 2
Writings circa 1817-1849, n.d.
Circular publications 1834-1840, n.d.
Missionary Offering 1843
Missionary Offering (photocopy) 1843
Missionary Offering (manuscript drafts) circa 1843
Excerpts of Lyon's writings: The inception of Mount Holyoke; The Mary Lyon Yearbook; Mount Holyoke Female Seminary 1895, n.d.
Writings: Byfield 1821
Writings: Sanderson Academy, Ashfield 1827-1828
Writings: Ipswich circa 1830-1832
Duties respecting property circa 1833
Education, Teachers and Teaching n.d.
Family n.d.
Personal miscellany 1833-1846, n.d.
Religion circa 1843-1849, n.d.
Notes on Lyon's Remarks circa 1837-1849
Quotations attributed to Lyon circa 1866-
Notes by Eliza A. Hubbell Peabody, Class of 1844 1840-1844
Notes by Sophia Spofford, Class of 1846 1844-1846
Notes attributed to Fidelia Fiske, Class of 1842 1846-1849
Notes by an unidentified transcriber 1845-1849
Copies of notes 1840-1848
Miscellaneous notes by unidentified transcribers 1847-1849, n.d.
Adams, Elmer Cleveland. Heroines of Modern Progress 1921
Alcott, William Andrus. Tall Oaks from Little Acorns: or, Sketches of Distinguished Persons of Humble Origin 1856
Bailey, George H. An Address on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Mary Lyon's birth 1897
Banning, Evelyn I. Mary Lyon of Putnam's Hill: a Biography 1965
Banning, Evelyn I. Mary Lyon of Putnam's Hill: a Biography (typescript of manuscript) 1965
Banning, Evelyn I. Mary Lyon of Putnam's Hill: a Biography (uncorrected proof) 1965
Baldwin, James. An American Book of Golden Deeds n.d.
Beilenson, Evelyn and Nick, ed. First Women: American Originators 1988
Bolton, Sarah Knowles. Lives of Girls Who Became Famous 1886
Boynick, David King. Pioneers in Petticoats 1959
Daugherty, Sonia Medvedeva. Ten Brave Women 1953
Douglas, John, Mrs. Life Story of Mary Lyon: Founder of Mount Holyoke College 1897
Evans, Mary. Mary Lyon and Higher Education 1897
Fiske, Fidelia. Recollections of Mary Lyon 1866
Fiske, Fidelia. Recollections of Mary Lyon (reprint) 1995
Fiske, Fidelia. Mary Lyon, Recollections of a Noble Woman n.d.
Fiske, Fidelia. Mary Lyon, Recollections of a Noble Womann n.d.
Gilchrist, Beth Bradford. The Life of Mary Lyon 1910
Goodsell, Willystine. Pioneers of Women's Education in the United States 1931
Gracey, Annie Ryder. Eminent Missionary Women 1898
Green, Elizabeth Alden. Mary Lyon and Mount Holyoke: Opening the Gates 1979
Green, Katharine R. Mary Lyon 1935
Green, Katharine R. Biography of Mary Lyon (in Chinese) 1930
Green, Katharine R. Famous Women of the Western World 1934
Heath, Monroe. Great Americans at a Glance 1955-1957
Hitchcock, Edward. The Power of Christian Benevolence: Illustrated in the Life and Labors of Mary Lyon 1851
Hitchcock, Edward. The Power of Christian Benevolence: Illustrated in the Life and Labors of Mary Lyon 1852
Hitchcock, Edward. The Power of Christian Benevolence: Illustrated in the Life and Labors of Mary Lyon 1855
Hitchcock, Edward. The Power of Christian Benevolence: Illustrated in the Life and Labors of Mary Lyon 1856
Hitchcock, Edward. The Power of Christian Benevolence: Illustrated in the Life and Labors of Mary Lyon 1858
Hitchcock, Edward. The Power of Christian Benevolence: Illustrated in the Life and Labors of Mary Lyon 1860
Howe, M.A. De Wolfe. Classic Shades; Five Leaders of Learning and their Colleges 1928
Huckel, Oliver. Higher Education and the Common People 1897
Jandl, Nancy Perrin. Mary Lyon, 1797-1849: a Bibliography 1975
Johnson, Joseph. Noble Women of our Time 1882
The Jubilee Book: Bournemouth High School, Talbot Heath, 1886-1946 1946
Kunz, George Frederick. The Hall of Fame: Proceedings of the Second Unveiling 1908
Life and its Purposes: Illustrated in the Life of Mary Lyon n.d.
Lyon, Mary. Mary Lyon through her Letters 1937
McLean, Sydney R. Miss Lyon of Mount Holyoke circa 1930s
Memorabilia of Mary Lyon 1905-1908
Merii Raiyon ichidaiki (in Japanese) 1883
Morgan, James. Daily Jaunts in New England with James Morgan 1931
Moxom, Philip Stafford. Mary Lyon Centennial and the Higher Education of Women 1897
Parkman, Mary Rosetta. Heroines of Service 1917
Prior, Margaret. Walks of Usefulness, or, Reminiscences of Mrs. Margaret Prior 1845
Recollections of Mary Lyon, 1837-1849 1906
Rosen, Dorothy Schack. A Fire in her Bones: The Story of Mary Lyon 1995
Saito, I. Journal of Yamanashi Eiwa Junior College 1989
Stabler, Ernest. Founders: Innovators in Education, 1830-1980 1987
Stengel, H. Oxley. The Story of Mary Lyon circa 1992
Thayer, William Makepeace. The True Woman: Elements of Character 1858
Thayer, William Makepeace. The Good Girl and True Woman 1866
Whiting, Lilian. Women Who Have Ennobled Life 1915
Wilson, Vincent. The Book of Distinguished American Women 1983
Wilson, Vincent and McClung, Gale S. The Book of Distinguished American Women 2003
Winship, Albert Edward. Great American Educators 1900
Autographs circa 1820s-1849
Bibliographies circa 1930s
Chronologies circa 1936
Lists, Inventories, etc. circa 1930s-1981
Inventory project to locate missing Mary Lyon memorabilia (not completed) January 1977
The Mary Lyon Room circa 1904-1975
The Mary Lyon Room: Photographs n.d.
The Offering: a Tribute of Friendship and Affection, 1834. Copy signed by Mary Lyon and presented to Jane Morgan March 14, 1840
Funeral sermon, obituaries, monument, will, etc. 1849-1936
Birthday Observances 1897
Birthday Observances 1944-1955
Birthday Observances 1964-1965
Birthday Observances 1984-1987
Birthday Observances 1997
Honors Conferred on Lyon: General Information circa 1887-1980, n.d.
Hall of Fame 1905
Mary Lyon stamp: General 1987
Mary Lyon stamp: Ceremony February 28, 1987
Mary Lyon rose 1988
Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame induction 2005
Mary Lyon sculpture 2006
Reminiscences: General Information 1905-1906, n.d.
Reminiscences: Questionnaires n.d.
Correspondence relating to Lyon 1933-
Poems and plays about Lyon 1879-
Radio program about Mary Lyon, Woman Educator (audiocassette and CD) 1937
Film relating to Lyon: Mary Lyon: Precious Time 1987
Film relating to Lyon: Mary Lyon: The Fight for Equal Education (DVD) 2006
Mary Lyon Lecture Series 1997-
Articles, essays, etc. n.d.
Articles, essays, etc. 1849-1867
Articles, essays, etc. 1877-1894
Articles, essays, etc. 1898-1904
Articles, essays, etc. 1905-1927
Articles, essays, etc. 1928-1969
Articles, essays, etc. 1970-1988
Articles, essays, etc. 1990-1998
Articles, essays, etc. 2000-
Scraps of Lyon's dresses n.d.
Lyon's writing case n.d.
Fern from cellar wall of Lyon's birthplace, Buckland, Mass. 1885
Pieces of wood from Lyon's birthplace n.d.
Rock broken from doorstep of Lyon's birthplace n.d.
Piece of wood from Lyon's birthplace n.d.
Piece of rock to which Lyon repaired for study n.d.
Lyon's nightcap n.d.
Hand-woven towel owned by Lyon n.d.
Mary Lyon doll-Sebastian miniature with Boston Globe article about these miniatures n.d., 1980
Ivory miniature portrait of Lyon 1832
Spoon from Squire Thomas White's home, Ashfield, Mass. n.d.
Oval pin containing lock of braided hair believed to be Lyon's n.d.
Oval pin containing lock of gray hair said to be Lyon's (unlikely) n.d.
Butter dish that belonged to Lyon n.d.
Printing plate for title page of Missionary Offering by Lyon 1834
Die of illustration of Lyon's grave used in History of Mount Holyoke Seminary 1887
Original key and copy of key to Seminary Building n.d.
Piece of dress Lyon wore on examination day n.d.
Mary Lyon doll (shelved in Folio) n.d.
Lead box from Lyon's casket n.d.
Stockings, white wool, made of yarn spun by Lyon n.d.
Pieces of Lyon's dresses, one plaid, one figured n.d.
Lyon's ring (pearls and garnet) n.d.
Lyon's thimble n.d.
Lyon's pin (topaz and pearls) n.d.
Lyon's gold bracelet n.d.
Piece of Lyon's mother's wedding dress, brown, figured 1784
Cross made of piece of Lyon's hair n.d.
Lyon's linen kerchief n.d.
Scrap of material from Lyon's dress, figured n.d.
Cross made of lock of Lyon's hair n.d.
Pin cushion made from one of Lyon's green velvet bags n.d.
Lyon's pocket knife (pearl handle) n.d.
Piece of Lyon's bonnet, off-white and beige n.d.
Lock of Lyon's hair in a wooden oval frame n.d.
Lock of Lyon's hair n.d.
Locks of Lyon's hair (four packets) n.d.
Locks of Lyon's hair (six packets) n.d.
Locks of Lyon's hair (one vial) n.d.
Silhouette of Lyon in an oval frame n.d.
Silhouette of Lyon in an oval frame, initials OCR n.d.
Pocketbook that belonged to Lyon's mother n.d.
Lock of Jemima Smith Shepard's hair (Lyon's grandmother) n.d.
Piece of Lyon's mother's wedding dress, black and white 1784
Cross made of locks of hair from Lyon and Fidelia Fiske hair n.d.
Two small pictures drawn by Lyon of a house and flowers in a vase n.d.
Linen sheet woven by Lyon, off white n.d.
Linen homespun woven by Lyon, blue and white check n.d.
Rectangular pin containing lock of hair (possibly Lyon's) n.d.
Lyon's purse n.d.
Lyon's eye glasses n.d.
Green velvet bag used by Lyon to collect funds for the establishment of the MH Female Seminary n.d.
Butter knife and horseshoe excavated from grave near Lyon's birthplace, Buckland n.d.
Two coins from the birthplace: New Jersey coin and large U.S. cent 1787, 1823
Items found in Mary Lyon's birthplace cellar hole (shelved in Folio) n.d.
Lyon's writing desk (shelved in Objects Collection) n.d.
Watercolor portrait of Lyon by Katherine Baldwin Sullivan, exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition 1893
Medal from Mary Lyon's induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame 1993
Memorabilia from the Mary Lyon Room Collection
Medal of William Henry Harrison September 10, 1840
Cable, Brazilian n.d.
Handle of a door latch taken from one of the lower story rooms in the old Dwight Mansion n.d.
Piece of a plaque (yellow, broken) n.d.
Spinning wheel finger (wood) n.d.
Wooden box with picture of Lyman Williston Hall on cover, contains stick pins n.d.
Wooden butter stamp from Skane, Sweden n.d.
Wood handle n.d.
Blue sash (Seminary Anniversary) worn by Clara Torrey Fitch, Class of 1854 n.d.
Mount Vernon gem-containing likeness of George Washington and view of Mount Vernon n.d.
Cap, lace n.d.
Colonial $8 bill September 26, 1778
Socks, pair (specimen of old-time dyeing with chestnut bark) n.d.
Black crocheted bag n.d.
Knife (pearl handle) n.d.
Spun yarn and knitting probably started by Fidelia Fiske, Class of 1842 n.d.
Cape that belonged to Fidelia Fiske n.d.
Silk plaid, from only silk dress Fidelia Fiske had in Persia n.d.
Carpet slipper n.d.
Small hand-carved cylindrical box n.d.
Quill made for writing by Elizabeth Lewis Rogers, x-Class of 1871 n.d.
Comb (tortoise shell) n.d.
Sash (blue grosgrain ribbon), worn by Hettie Dodd Carter, Class of 1871 n.d.
Napkin ring made from the horn of an Egyptian ox n.d.
Gold pin containing a lock of hair, initials C.M. n.d.
Ring, graduate's, gold double band, belonged to Esther E. Hall, Class of 1854 n.d.
Sampler worked in Miss Ward's School, Bridgeport, Connecticut n.d.
Fan, feather, painted with ivory sticks n.d.
Ribbon worn by Philomela Greene Mower, Class of 1847, on her bonnet during her senior year circa 1846
Tablecloth, spun and woven by S.P. Linsley part of her wedding outfit (shelved in Folio) 1814
Four bureau scarves, decorated with blue yarn, woven by the first Mrs. Porter (shelved in Folio) n.d.
Needle book (shelved in Folio) n.d.
Three replicas of Lyon's green velvet bag n.d.
Arnold, Seth. The Intellectual House-Keeper: A Series of Practical Questions to his Daughters 1835
Beecher, Catharine Esther. Suggestions Respecting Improvements in Education, Presented to the Trustees of the Hartford Female Seminary 1829
Bible 1814
Bible 1838
Bigelow, Jacob. Elements of Technology, Taken Chiefly from a Course of Lectures Delivered at Cambridge 1829
Burritt, Elijah Hinsdale. The Comet of 1832: Being a Planisphere Representation of its Apparent Course in the Heavens 1832 (shelved in Folio)
Bush, George. A Treatise on the Millennium 1832
Butterworth, John. A New Concordance to the Holy Scriptures 1828
Coates, Reynell. Physiology for Schools 1840
De la Beche, Henry Thomas. Researches in Theoretical Geology 1837
Dix, Dorothea Lynde. Conversations on Common Things 1824
Eaton, Amos. A Manuel of Botany, for the Northern and Middle States of America 1824
Edwards, Bela Bates. The Missionary Gazetteer; Comprising a Geographical and Statistical Account of the Various Stations 1832
Emerson, Ralph. Life of Rev. Joseph Emerson, Pastor of the Third Congregational Church 1834
Gallaudet, T.H. The Child's Book on the Soul 1831
Goodrich, Charles Augustus. Stories on the History of Connecticut 1829
Hitchcock, Edward. Dyspepsy Forestalled and Resisted 1830
Hildreth, Hosea. A View of the United States 1830
Jarvis, Edward. Practical Physiology 1847
Milton, John. Milton's Poetical Works 1830-1839
Morse, Jedidiah. A Compendious History of New England of New England 1809
Prentiss, Charles. History of the United of America 1822
Prescott, William Hickling. History of the Conquest of Peru (two volumes) 1847
Robinson, Edward. A Dictionary of the Holy Bible 1833
Trimmer, Sarah Kirby. A Concise History of England, Comprised in a Set of Easy Lessons 1818
Walker, John. A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary 1819
Watts, Isaac. The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts 1827
Woodbridge, William C. Universal Geography 1824
General information: letter by Franklin Smith Lyon to Aaron Ezra Lyon, list of the names and birth dates of Aaron Lyon's children, magazine articles, newspaper clippings and photographs 1836-
Lyon(s), A.B. and G.W.A. Lyon, editors. The Lyon Memorial: Massachusetts Families. Detroit, Michigan: Wm. Graham Printing Co. 1905
Genealogies 1943-1977
Genealogies 1980-
Genealogies n.d.
Photograph album that appears to contain portraits of Mary Lyon's brother, Aaron E. Lyon, and his relatives. Includes tintypes. With related notes. circa 1860s-circa 1900
Ashfield and Byfield, Massachusetts: articles, historical sketches, newspaper clippings, notes, postcards and photographs circa 1883-
Buckland, Massachusetts: abstract of title to Lyon's birthplace articles, historical sketches, newspaper clippings, notes, information about Mary Lyon Education Fund, Inc., maps, postcards and a photograph circa 1879-
Buckland, Massachusetts: pamphlets and booklets published for anniversary celebrations 1879, 1880, 1979
Buckland, Massachusetts: postcards and photographs of Mary Lyon's birthplace 1905, n.d.
Buckland, Massachusetts: prints and drawings of Mary Lyon's birthplace 1849-
Buckland, Massachusetts: materials from Mary Lyon Day celebration, including invitations, brochures, newspaper clippings, and address (text and cassette tapes) by William S. McFeely entitled Mary Lyon: The Life of Her Mind October 5, 1985
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, lists and notes concerning photographs and other likenesses of Mary Lyon, circa 1909-
Ivory miniature portrait of Lyon: photographs, prints, and copies of the portrait 1832-
Daguerreotype of Lyon: prints 1845-
Ferrotype of Lyon: prints circa 1845-
Oil portrait of Lyon by Joseph G. Chandler: newspaper articles, prints 1844-
Oil portrait of Lyon by Louise R. Jewett: newspaper clippings, postcards and prints 1906-
Oil portrait by Alice Jones Peck: correspondence, prints 1908-
Other portraits of Lyon by unidentified artists: newspaper clippings, notes and prints 1939, n.d.
Other portraits of Lyon by unidentified artists: prints n.d.
Bust of Lyon by Laura Gardin Fraser in the Hall of Fame for Women, New York University: order of exercises, information about the artist, and prints 1907-
Silhouettes of Lyon: correspondence, prints, and silhouette by Dorothy Cogswell circa 1926-
Microfilm of Lyon's correspondence and writings (1 set, 4 reels), with copies of card catalogue entries for her letters, the register for the collection, the guide to the microfilm, transcripts of selected letters, and copies of letters not microfilmed with summaries of those documents 1987-
Oversize (Folio) material from other series in the collection circa 1827-