Katherine Frances Littlefield (1880-1959) was a 1902 graduate of the Women's College at Brown University (later called Pembroke College) where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Littlefield spent her professional life as a teacher of Latin, Greek, and Piano at schools in Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and for twenty two years as a Providence, Rhode Island school teacher. She married Reverend Kinsley Blodgett in 1910 and was widowed in 1927. Katherine Blodgett retired from teaching in 1950 and died June 15, 1959.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Katherine Frances Littlefield papers, MS-1U-L7, Christine Dunlap Farnham Archives, Brown University Archives.
The Katherine Frances Littlefield papers chronicle, primarily through letters to her mother Emma Littlefield, the early professional experiences of a Pembroke College graduate from 1902. The collection provides considerable insight into the daily activities of a young, educated female school teacher in early twentieth century America. During the period covered by the letters (1905-1909) Littlefield was a teacher of Music, Latin and Greek at schools in rural Maine, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Also included in the collection is a small amount of correspondence between Katherine Littlefield's father, Providence attorney George A. Littlefield, with his wife Emma Littlefield, as well as a few letters from Katherine's siblings (Ivory, James, Henry and Barbara) to their parents. These letters principally discuss family matters including money concerns.
Katherine's letters, dated from 1905-1909 (excluding a single letter from 1887 she wrote to her mother as a young girl), describe in some detail the insular concerns of family, employment, and to a lesser extent social life that Littlefield experienced. Littlefield, from a middle class Providence, Rhode Island family who sent all five children to Brown University, never strays from those domestic concerns in the correspondence.
Rounding out the collection is a small amount of Pembroke related ephemera concerning 1902 graduation and dances; a few student grade reports for Katherine; two photographs of Pembroke students, as well as prepared remarks authored by Littlefield for "Ivy Day", 1901. These offer surface detail into Katherine Littlefield's experience as a Pembroke student, but do not extend insight into her personal activity.
The collection is arranged chronologically within the following series and subseries.
This collection was donated by Jean Edwards (Pembroke '45, P'76) of Providence and Patsy Weille of New York City in 2006
No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
This series contains two subseries of correspondence between Kathcrine Littlefield and her father, George A. Littlefield, as well as a few letters from her siblings.
This subseries is comprised primarily of correspondence by Katherine Littlefield, as well as a few letters from her siblings. The letters focus on the establishment of her professional career and family matters.
This subseries is comprised primarily of correspondence by George A. Littlefield
This series contains Pembroke College related ephemera, student grade reports, and photographs.