Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Frances Morehouse and Milton Townsend Papers
UA.10.3.339
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator
- Morehouse, Frances, 1903-1984
- Creator
- Townsend, Milton, 1897-1993
- Title
- Frances Morehouse and Milton Townsend papers
- ID
- UA.10.3.339
- Date [inclusive]
- 1920-1923
- Extent
- 1.5 Cubic feet
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."
Biographical Note
Milton Coan Townsend was born in 1897, attended Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), and graduated in 1920 with a degree in Agriculture Science. He then took a teaching job in Hastings, Michigan, where he met his future wife, Frances Lucile Morehouse. Frances was born in 1903 and after graduating school, she attended Michigan Agricultural College in 1922 and lived in the Women’s Building (Morrill Hall). During her freshman year of college, she and Milton’s relationship became serious. By January 1923, they were engaged and were married March 25, 1923. Frances did not return to school after completing her first year.
Together, Frances and Milton had four children. After Milton quit his teaching job in 1926, he and Frances purchased a floral business in St. Louis, Michigan that they operated together until 1963. Frances died in 1984 and Milton in 1993.
Scope and Contents note
This collection consists of correspondence from Frances Morehouse and Milton Townsend. Most of the letters are between Frances and Milton but a few of the letters are also from their relatives and friends.
While professing their love for each other, Frances and Milton also talked about their day-to-day activities. Frances talked about her Home Economic classes, working on campus at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), and events she attended. She also mentioned someone preaching about prohibition during church and how several students on campus came down with scarlet fever and the flu. Milton talked about his teaching job, projects he was involved in, and people he interacted with.
Included with some of the letters are extra items, such as newspaper clippings of poems, drawings, photos/negatives, valentines, swatches of fabric for dresses, an old stick of gum, letters from other people they wanted to share, extra stamps, and a piece of birch bark that Milton wrote on declaring his love for Frances.
Most of the letters to this collection are not dated. For that reason, the date on the envelopes was used to arrange the letters.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections February 11, 2016
Conrad Hall888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Legal Status
Copyright: Mary Federspiel until December 31, 2041. After this date, copyright belongs to Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from Mary Federspiel through December 31, 2041. After this date, all rights to the collection are turned over to the University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University. Please contact the University Archives for Mary Federspiel's contact information.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Michigan Agricultural College. Students.
- Michigan State University. Class of 1920.
Genre(s)
- Letters (correspondence)
Personal Name(s)
- Hoffman, Marjorie
- Morehouse, Frances, 1903-1984
- Townsend, Milton, 1897-1993
Subject(s)
- College students -- Michigan -- East Lansing
- Courtship
- Marriage
Collection Inventory
|
Correspondence |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Box | Folder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
August 11, 1920 |
5539 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
1921 |
5539 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
January - June 1922 |
5539 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
July 1922 |
5539 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
August 1922 |
5539 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
September 1922 |
5539 | 6-7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
October 1922 |
5539 | 8-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
November 1922 |
5539 | 12-14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
December 1922 |
5539 | 15-17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
January 1923 |
5539 | 18-21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
February 1923
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Box | Folder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
March 1923 |
5540 | 3-5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
April 1923 |
5540 | 6-9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
May 1923 |
5540 | 10-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
June 1923 |
5540 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
undated |
5540 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||