Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 21, 2021

Thursday {June 1888}

President Taylor,



Your note is just received. Mr. Lossing and Fanny Swan had preceded you. The plan suits me exactly. I could not, according to my own ideas, have consented to receive money – honors I can take and the unanimity is very gratifying.


I think the fact that I hold title may give me a chance to do some good for the College. I have rec’d unasked $90 this year which has been forwarded to the students (Miss Day, Treasurer).


Excuse my writing – it is one of the dark days.


Maria Mitchell


This letter from Maria came after the Vassar College Trustees officially accepted her resignation. Originally, she had hoped to return to the College. In poor health, her siblings begged her to take a break and she relented. Once back in Lynn, she realized a return to the College was not in store for her. She would write her letter of resignation which remained unopened –   purposefully – by the Trustees for several months until it became apparent that she would not return and thus their acceptance of it. In that acceptance, they offered her a pension, the title Professor Emeritus, and a home at the College. Maria of course, as she notes, turned down the monetary offer. She wanted any money to go towards student scholarship. But the Emeritus title she did accept and as she notes, in part it would help her to continue to support the College – as was her way.


Maria never returned to the College. She would ask her sister Anne Mitchell Macy, and Anne’s daughter, Frances “Fanny” Mitchell Macy, to remove her items – from furniture and keepsakes to her papers and other personal belongings. Of further note, to highlight where her health was, she notes she is having one of her “dark days” – the term she used to describe those days when she felt weak, unable to move about, and unwell. Those would become more numerous and closer together until her death on June 28, 1889.


JNLF

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