JOSEPHINE M. MERRILL Correspondence III

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
Josephine M. Merrill, Community Worker, Housemother, Teacher 1931-1949
Josephine M. Merrill Correspondence III, 1939-1954

Boys’ House, front view, c. 1940s. [nace_1_008a.jpg]

TAGS: Josephine M. Merrill correspondence, Newport NH, Barbara Merrill Bartlett, Glyn A. Morris, Fern Hall Hayes, Guidance Institutes, PMSS teachers, contracts, Boys House, fresh-airers, housemothers, Arthur W. Dodd, William Webb, Mary and Burton Rogers, religion classes, Dorothy Nace, H.R.S. Benjamin

JOSEPHINE M. MERRILL Correspondence III, 1939-1954

Community Worker at PMSS extensions (Line Fork Settlement and Medical Settlement Big Laurel) 1931-1937

Teacher and Housemother at PMSS, 1937-1949

Most of Josephine Merrill’s letters in the PMSS Collections, written during the years 1939-1948, were sent to PMSS staff while she was on summer vacations in Newport, New Hampshire, where she stayed with her sister, Barbara Merrill Bartlett. The PMSS Collection’s letters from Josephine Merrill during this time period were typewritten originals.

Letters from PMSS staff in the PMSS Collections were carbon copies, typewritten, unsigned, and meant for the Office files. The original signed documents were sent to the correspondents.

1939

067 June 13, 1939. To Glyn A. Morris, Director, from Josephine M. Merrill. In Newport, NH, thanking him for his note and wishing him “a happy and profitable summer” at PMSS.

068 July 7, 1939. To “Joan” at PMSS from Josephine Merrill in Newport, NH, thanking her for telling her of the arrival of the history books donated to PMSS by Miss Sims and her Girl Reserves. The books had been used by New Jersey Schools in Junior High classes. Merrill would like to be sent a copy to use for her lesson plans.

069 July 13, 1939. To Merrill from [unsigned, possibly Morris], mentioning that Joan left her office job to work as a camp counselor. He responds to Merrill’s request for addresses for “Lucille and Paul,” and Miss Cold.

070 July 30, 1939. To Morris from Merrill, who is sending papers and asking if Fern [Hall Hayes] will mimeograph them for distribution to her students.

071 August 21, 1939. To Merrill from [unsigned, possibly Morris], giving the school opening date. Attendees are arriving for the Guidance Institute: consultants and 57 county teachers.

072 DUPLICATE IMAGE OF [071]

073 August 26, 1939. To Morris from Merrill, asking to arrive a day early and providing her travel plans.

074 August 31, 1939. To Merrill from [unsigned, apparently Morris], agreeing to her early arrival on September 6.

075 MISSING IMAGE

1940

076 [Date stamp: Newport, NH, July 10, 1940] Address side of postcard to Mrs. William Hayes [Fern Hall Hayes, Office Secretary] at PMSS.

077 July 9, 1940. Message side of postcard to “Fern” from J.M. Merrill, advising Fern on how to handle her newspaper subscriptions.

078 July 9, 1940. To Morris from Merrill, asking whether to “expect any additional salary next year” and the dates of the school opening and Teachers Institute.

079 July 13, 1940. To Merrill from [unsigned, apparently Morris]. PMSS cannot increase her salary; Her new place at Boys’ House “will place no more strain upon you than the work at Far House.” He provides dates of the Institute (August 25-31); PMSS workers should arrive by September 5. The housemother’s room in Boys’ House has been enlarged.

1941

080 August 7, 1941. To Merrill in Newport, NH, from [unsigned, apparently Morris], sending dates of school opening and teachers’ arrivals. He tells about the “fresh airers,” who

…put on a dramatization of Sleeping Beauty…. They wrote the play themselves, and at one point seemed to lose all time sense, when they allowed Prince to waken the Princess about two seconds after she had fallen into her sleep! One hundred years never passed so quickly!

081 August 8, 1941. To Mr. and Mrs. Morris from Merrill. “I think of Pine Mountain every day and especially the Boys’ House.” Her sister, Barbara, is selling her property in New Hampshire.

082 August 15, 1941. To Merrill from [unsigned, apparently Morris]. Due to having to hire an exterminator from Knoxville for bedbugs in Boys’ House and Big Log, costing $295, “any other expenditures on Boys’ House will not be possible this year.”

083 August 20, 1941. To Morris from Merrill, outlining her travel plans.

1942: At Pine Mountain

084 April 11, 1942. To Merrill from Morris. Unsigned contract with edits, stating that the Board of Trustees has authorized Morris to hire Merrill as Boys’ House housemother for the 1942-1943 [edited to 1943-1944] school year. Payments: $75.00 per month, meals, two rooms at Boys’ House including heat and light, laundry, ironing, and two weeks’ vacation with pay at Christmas, and time off for staff committee meetings.

085 May 13, [no year]. To Morris from Merrill at Boys’ House, who expresses her unwillingness to serve as girls’ advisor.

Summer in New Hampshire

086 July 15, 1942. To Mr. [Arthur W.] Dodd from Merrill in Newport, NH, asking what she will teach during the next school year. “…[W]ith at least two teachers highly trained in Bible study, you might be making a change in the teaching that I have done for the last two years.” She also asks about “the matter of girls’ counselor.”

087 July 17, 1942. To Merrill from [unsigned, apparently Dodd], reporting that Acting Director, William Webb, will arrive on August 2nd, and gives his background. Mr. and Mrs. [Burton] Rogers are living in Boys’ House and Mr. Rogers will do the counseling next year. Merrill will be teaching a religion class, possibly Ethics, unless Mr. Webb feels he can do it.

088 August 12, 1942. To Miss Grant from Merrill, asking if she can return five days before the School’s opening date of September 6.

1943

089 April 16, 1943. To Merrill from Webb. A contract stating that the Board of Trustees has authorized Webb to employ her as housemother at Boys’ House for the 1943-1944 school year. Payments: $75.00 per month, meals, two rooms at Boys’ House including heat and light, laundry, ironing, and two weeks’ vacation with pay at Christmas, and time off for staff committee meetings. Signed by Merrill and Evelyn K. Wells, Chairman of the Personnel Committee.

Summer in New Hampshire

090 August 3, 1943. To Webb from Merrill in Newport, NH, with questions and plans concerning her return trip to PMSS.

091 August 20, 1943. To Webb from Merrill, explaining that getting reservations for her return trip were difficult and she will be arriving later than expected.

1944: Summer in New Hampshire

092 August 10, 1944. To Miss [Dorothy] Nace, PMSS Secretary, from Merrill, asking to return a week or so early.

093 August 17[?], 1944.To Merrill from “DAN” [Dorothy A. Nace], confirming the School’s opening date and agreeing to her early arrival. Mentions Miss Baker, the current housemother that Merrill will replace, and Mr. [H.R.S.] Benjamin, Director.

1945: Summer in New Hampshire

094 August 3, 1945. To Benjamin from Merrill, asking for confirmation of the School’s opening date.

095 August 6, 1945. To Merrill from [unsigned, possibly Benjamin], confirming the School’s opening date of September 2 and hoping she can arrive by August 26 or 27. “Miss [Helen] Kingsbury tells me she is enjoying her work with the boys.”

1946: Newport, NH

096-096a March 24, 1946. Two-page letter to Benjamin from Merrill in Newport, NH, responding to his question concerning her choice of positions for next year: Boys’ House if Mr. and Mrs. Links do not continue as current houseparents. “I remember with pleasure the years I spent with the older girls at Far House.” She advises on housing for the incoming housemother.

097 June 12, 1946. To Dorothy [Nace] from Merrill, confirming receipt of her packages and trunks.

098 MISSING IMAGE

1947: Newport, NH

099 January 30, 1947. To Benjamin from Merrill. “…I believe that I am able to work for a while longer.” Merrill asks if PMSS will have any vacancies that she could apply for next year. “I think that you know my limitations…. And I hope that you know, too, that if there is a place for me at Pine Mountain, I will do my best.”

100 February 5, 1947. To Merrill from [truncated, likely Benjamin], listing several possibilities of work for Merrill at PMSS: West Wind, Far House, Big Log. The Appointments Committee of the Board asks for a statement from Merrill’s medical officer about her current health.

101 February 13, 1947. Handwritten statement on a prescription blank from D.C. Moriarty, M.D., Newport, NH, to “whom it may concern” that Merrill “with a few more months rest,…will be able to resume her school duties.”

102 February 15, 1947. To Benjamin from Merrill, enclosing the physician’s statement. “…I am thoroughly rested now, so that by next fall I expect to feel almost frisky.”

103 March 19, 1947. To Merrill from [truncated, apparently Benjamin], offering Merrill a Housemother position. Mentions the possible return of the Rogers and Miss [Minerva M.] Sparrow. It is not certain yet which house she will be assigned to and asks for her preference.

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104 N.D. Two memoranda: (1) Christmas vacation arrangements for Merrill and Mr. Arnie. (2) Statement of Merrill’s employment for 1941-1942 as Housemother at Boys’ House and teacher.

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105 May 13, 1947. To Merrill from [unsigned, possibly Dorothy Nace], enclosing Merrill’s agreement with PMSS for the 1947-1948 school year and requesting her signature. Mentions Margaret [Nace]’s upcoming marriage to Robert Starbuck.

106 May 26, 1947. To Merrill from Benjamin, enclosing her completed agreement. Mentions the graduation of 25 students.

107 July 26, 1947. To Benjamin from Merrill, who asks to return a few days earlier and which dormitory she will be assigned to.

108 July 28, 1947. To Merrill from [unsigned, apparently Benjamin], answering her questions about opening days. She will be at Boys’ House.

109 August 15, 1947. To Benjamin from Merrill, thanking him for the information and describing her travel plans.

110 August 16, 1947. To Merrill from Dorothy Nace, informing her of the School’s opening date. “Miss Spinney is returning instead of Miss Sparrow. The Rogers family is already settled in Old Log. I am enjoying them so much. Miss Louie Davis who had Boys’ House…will be at West Wind. She has been at Brasstown for some years.”

1948

111 August 18, 1948. To Benjamin from Merrill, asking to arrive earlier than the School’s opening date and describing her travel plans.

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112-113 August 12, 1954. Handwritten letter to “Dr. Tucker” [Dr, Francis Tucker] from Mrs. Barbara Merrill Bartlett in Newport, NH.

My sister Josephine is no longer with us. She died on the day after Christmas, with but a few days of acute illness. Her tired heart just had to stop and we miss her more than words can say.

She valued your friendship greatly and looked forward to your annual letter.

I’ll be thinking of you at Evanston, and shall ready reports of the World Council doings with great interest. ….

Yours truly,
(Mrs.) Barbara Merrill Bartlett