mshm015 Carr papers, ca. 1902-1986. Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections

South Hadley, MA

Finding aid generated in MARC format from database, then encoded using Perl scripts and XSL stylesheet. 2003-05-20 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mshm015 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Carr papers, ca. 1902-1986. Finding Aid MS 0517 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Carr, Emma P. (Emma Perry), 1880-1972. Carr papers ca. 1902-1986. MS 0517 LD 7092.8 Carr 14 boxes (6.1 linear ft.) Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections

South Hadley, MA

Carr, Emma Perry, 1880-1972; Chemist and college teacher. Attended Mount Holyoke College, 1900-1902. Mount Holyoke College faculty member, 1905-1946. Papers contain correspondence, published and unpublished writings, chemistry research, legal documents, biographical information, Carr family papers, photographs, and Mount Holyoke Chemistry Department records; primarily documenting Carr's chemistry research and her achievements in science. English. Biographical Note

Emma Perry Carr was born on July 23, 1880 in Holmesville, Ohio, to Edmund and Anna Carr. She attended Ohio State University from 1898 until 1899, and then came to Mount Holyoke College. She attended Mount Holyoke from 1900 until 1902, and later received a B.S. and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1905 and 1910, respectively. She then began teaching chemistry at Mount Holyoke. She became Chair of the Chemistry Department in 1913. In 1937, Carr became the first woman to be awarded the Francis P. Garvan Gold Medal honoring women chemists. She retired in 1946 after publishing numerous articles in chemistry journals. In 1955, the Chemistry Building at Mount Holyoke College was dedicated to Emma P. Carr. She died on January 7, 1972 in Evanston, Illinois.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Emma Perry Carr Papers contain correspondence, published and unpublished writings, research materials, legal documents, Carr family papers, Mount Holyoke College Chemistry Department records, biographical information, and photographs. The papers chiefly contain Carr's correspondence with various colleagues and institutions ranging from 1918-1969. In these letters, Carr discusses her work on absorption spectra as well as teaching positions at Mount Holyoke and opportunities in the field of research. Of note within the correspondence is Carr's participation in the International Critical Tables of the International Research Council where she worked with Professor Victor Henri of the University of Zurich (several of Henri's letters are in French). An encoded Carr's writings consist of published and unpublished documents primarily regarding her work with various chemists on absorption spectra in addition to several articles written for the "Mount Holyoke Alumnae Quarterly" on the topic of advancements of women in the sciences. To complement her writings, there are extensive research materials including graphs, calculations, plate slides, and lab reports on her specialty. The biographical information includes articles written about Carr and the opportunities for women in science following the turn of the century. Of particular importance are the articles describing her accomplishments in the field of chemistry and her acceptance of the Francis P. Garvan gold medal of the American Chemistry Society. Photographs show Carr in the laboratory and working with students.

Material from this collection is available in an online digital format.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into seven series:

Correspondence (1918-1969) Writings (1909-1957) Research Material (circa 1909-1957) Department Records (circa 1920s-1946) Legal Documents (1926-1935) Biographical Material (1910-) Photographs (circa 1902-1960) Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

Unrestricted

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Emma Perry Carr Papers, Mount Holyoke College, Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley, Massachusetts

Search Terms Carr, Emma P. (Emma Perry), 1880-1972. Mount Holyoke College. - Chemistry Dept. Mount Holyoke College - Chemistry Club. Chemists - United States - Correspondence. Women chemists - United States - Correspondence. Women scientists - United States - Biography. Women college teachers - United States - Biography. College teachers - United States - Biography. Chemistry - Study and teaching (Higher) - History - Sources. Mount Holyoke College - Oral history. Letters Series 1: Correspondence 1918-1969 1 1 General 1918-1919, 1922-1924 1 2 International Critical Tables 1924-1928 1 3 International Critical Tables 1924-1928 1 4 General 1925 1 5 General 1926 1 6 General 1926 1 7 General 1926 1 8 M. S. Kharasch 1926-1929 1 9 General 1927 1 10 General 1927 1 11 General 1927 1 12 General 1928 1 13 General 1928 1 14 General 1928 1 15 General 1929 1 16 General 1929 1 17 General 1930 1 18 General 1930 1 19 General 1930 1 20 Wells College Honors Committee 1930-1931 2 21 General 1931 2 22 General 1931 2 23 General 1932-1933 2 24 General 1934 2 25 General 1935 2 26 General 1935 2 27 Garvan Formulation Committee 1935-1936 2 28 Garvan Formulation Committee 1935-1936 2 29 Garvan Formulation Committee 1935-1936 2 30 Garvan Formulation Committee 1935-1936 2 31 General 1936 2 32 General 1937 2 33 General 1937 2 34 General 1938 2 35 General 1939 2 36 General 1940 2 37 General 1941 2 38 General 1942 2 39 General 1942 3 40 Monsanto Chemical Company 1942-1943 3 41 Monsanto Chemical Company 1942-1943 3 42 General 1943 3 43 Institute of Chemistry, Mexico 1943-1945 3 44 Institute of Chemistry, Mexico 1943-1945 3 45 General 1944 3 46 General 1945 3 47 General 1946 3 48 General 1946 3 49 General 1947 3 50 General 1947 3 51 General 1948 3 52 General 1949 3 53 General 1950-1952 3 54 General 1953 3 55 General 1954 3 56 General 1956-1969 Series 2: Writings 1909-1957 4 1 Writings 1909-1929 4 2 Writings 1930-1933 4 3 Writings 1934-1936 4 4 Writings 1937-1944 4 5 Writings 1945 4 6 Writings 1947 4 7 Writings 1948-1957 Series 3: Research Material circa 1909-1957 5 1 General circa 1909-1957 5 2 General circa 1909-1957 5 3 General circa 1909-1957 5 4 General circa 1909-1957 5 5 General circa 1909-1957 5 6 General circa 1909-1957 5 7 General circa 1909-1957 6 8 Index cards, probably for International Critical Tables project circa 1909-1957 6 9 Index cards, probably for International Critical Tables project circa 1909-1957 6 10 Index cards, probably for International Critical Tables project circa 1909-1957 7 11 Relating to studies of the Adsorption intensities of the isomeric pentenes in the vacuum ultraviolet, conducted by Dorothy Semenow, Anna J. Harrison, and Emma P. Carr circa 1949-1954 7 12 Relating to studies of the Adsorption intensities of the isomeric pentenes in the vacuum ultraviolet, conducted by Dorothy Semenow, Anna J. Harrison, and Emma P. Carr circa 1949-1954 7 13 Relating to studies of the Adsorption intensities of the isomeric pentenes in the vacuum ultraviolet, conducted by Dorothy Semenow, Anna J. Harrison, and Emma P. Carr circa 1949-1954 7 14 Relating to studies of the Adsorption intensities of the isomeric pentenes in the vacuum ultraviolet, conducted by Dorothy Semenow, Anna J. Harrison, and Emma P. Carr circa 1949-1954 7 15 Relating to studies of the Adsorption intensities of the isomeric pentenes in the vacuum ultraviolet, conducted by Dorothy Semenow, Anna J. Harrison, and Emma P. Carr circa 1949-1954 7 16 Relating to studies of the Adsorption intensities of the isomeric pentenes in the vacuum ultraviolet, conducted by Dorothy Semenow, Anna J. Harrison, and Emma P. Carr circa 1949-1954 8 17 Adsorption spectra of a series of dienes, Emma P. Carr and Hildegard Stuecklen circa 1940s 8 18 Adsorption spectra of some derivatives of an isolhydantoin, circa 1927 8 19 Brombenzene data, circa 1930s-1940s 8 20 Curves--barbaturic acid, circa 1930s-1940s 8 21 Curves--isatin derivatives, circa 1930s-1940s 8 22 Curves--pyrimidines, circa 1930s 8 23 Curves--pyrimidines--photograhs, circa 1930s 8 24 Curves--2-pentene, circa 1920s-1930s 8 25 Dioradiene, circa 1940s 8 26 Dispersion curves; fluorite spectograph; acetone, circa 1942 8 27 Fe and cu spect. photographs, circa 1930s-1940s 8 28 Impure brombenzene--photographs, circa 1930s-1940s 8 29 Isomeric ethylene derivatives, circa 1920s 8 30 Pentene data, circa 1920s-1940s 8 31 Pure brombenzene, circa 1930s-1940s 8 32 Trimethylene oxide, circa 1955 8 33 Ultraviolet adsorption spectra of conjugated dienes, Lucy W. Pickett and Emma P. Carr circa 1940s 8 34 Ultraviolet adsorption spectra of the isomeric 2-pentenes, circa 1920s-1930s 9 Glass plate slides and spectographic photographs circa 1909-1940s 10 Glass plate slides and spectographic photographs circa 1909-1940s 11 Glass plate slides and spectographic photographs circa 1909-1940s Series 4: Department Records circa 1920s-1946 12 1 Correspondence, reports, and memoranda 1922-1946 12 2 Equipment orders, manuals, catalogues, and related material circa 1920s-1946 Series 5: Legal Documents 1926-1935 12 1 Contracts, insurance policy 1929-1935 Series 6: Biographical Material 1910- 13 1 Biographical sketches, notes, clippings, press releases, and related material circa 1914- 13 2 Biographical sketches, notes, clippings, press releases, and related material circa 1914- 13 3 Biographical sketches, notes, clippings, press releases, and related material circa 1914- 13 4 Biographical sketches, notes, clippings, press releases, and related material circa 1914- 13 5 Taped interviews of reminiscences about Carr by Mr. and Mrs. Edmund A. Carr, Lucy W. Pickett, and Jytte Muus, recorded in 1978 by Martha Verbrugge (2 sets of interviews on 5 cassette tapes) 13 6 Transcripts of Verbrugge's interviews of Pickett and Muus, prepared for Pamela Mack in 1991 13 7 Lists, programs, receipts, and memorabilia circa 1914-1947 14 8 Diplomas, certificates, and awards 1910-1957 14 9 Carr family correspondence, articles, notes, and photographs circa 1910-1954 Series 7: Photographs circa 1902-1960 14 1 Formal and informal photographs of Carr circa 1902-1960