Guide to the Weeks family papers, 1901-2002

Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2006

Collection Overview

Title:	Weeks family papers
Date range:	1901-2002
Creator:	Weeks, Elizabeth Goddard, 1901-1992
Extent:	6.5 linear feet (6 records center boxes and 1 oversize box)
Abstract:	Papers of three 20th century New England sisters, Elizabeth Goddard, Genevieve Cass and Norma Geraldine Weeks, the only children of William B. and Mabel Cass Weeks. The collection includes legal documents, baby books, travelogues, diaries, photographs, newspaper clippings, letters and published books.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Brown University Library, Special Collections
Collection number:	Ms. 93.2

Scope & content

This collection includes cradle to grave sources on the lives of three educated, working, single women of New England over the entire span of the 20th century. The papers include everything from baby books and hair clippings to graduation photographs, passports and funeral arrangements. There are letters, "Rabbit" stories written for Norma, salary information and retirement good wishes. A great deal of information on the sale and distribution of their household goods which included books, antique furniture, silver and artwork is also included in the collection as the sisters dealt with and kept records on many institutions in Providence, Rhode Island and its environs. The most extraordinary document is a diary of the care given by Elizabeth to L. Ralston and Editha Thomas, the former head master of Moses Brown School and his wife in their last years.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Weeks, William B.
• Weeks, Mabel Cass
• Weeks, Elizabeth Goddard
• Weeks, Genevieve Cass
• Weeks, Norma Geraldine

Subject Organizations

• Fairhaven High School (Fairhaven, MA)--Alumni and alumnae
• Moses Brown School--Alumni and alumnae
• Moses Brown School--Administrators
• Vassar College--Alumni and alumnae
• University of Chicago--Alumni and alumnae
• Indiana University--Faculty
• Johnson State College--Alumni and alumnae
• Rhode Island College--Administrators
• Brown University
• Central Congregational Church (Providence, R.I.)
• Rhode Island Foundation
• Swan Point Cemetery (Providence, R.I.)

Subject Topics

• Women travelers
• Single women--New England--20th century
• Women social workers
• Women college teachers--Indiana
• Women college administrators--Rhode Island
• Women school administrators--Rhode Island
• Charity organization--Rhode Island

Geographical Names

• Providence (R.I.)--Social life and customs--20th century
• Mt. Mansfield (VT)

Document Types

• Accounts
• Artifacts
• Bills of sale
• Clippings
• Diaries
• Directories
• Drawings
• Invoices
• Legal documents
• Letters (correspondence)
• Maps
• Memorabilia
• Memorandums
• News letters
• Notebooks
• Paintings
• Photograph albums
• Photographs
• Poems
• Portraits
• Posters
• Programs
• Receipts

Subject Topics

• Social Life and Customs
• Education

Occupations

• Social workers
• School administrators
• College professors

Arrangement

The collection is divided into the following series:

• Series 1. Weeks Family
• Series 2. Norma Geraldine Weeks
• Series 3. Elisabeth Goddard Weeks
• Series 4. Genevieve Cass Weeks

Biographical note

Elizabeth Goddard Weeks (1902-1992) was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, attended Rogers School there, and graduated from Fairhaven High School. She then did a year at Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, before attending Vassar College from which she graduated in 1924. She was the resident secretary at Moses Brown School from 1926 to her retirement in 1962. She traveled, mainly in the United States, wrote extensive letters to family and friends. She was an amateur naturalist, and a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Genevieve Cass Weeks (1903-2001) was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, attended Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Vassar College in 1927. She worked in the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky and did social work in Boston, Massachusetts, before returning to school at the University of Chicago from which she graduated in 1946 with a degree in social work. She was on the faculty of Indiana University for more than 25 years, taking sabbatical leave to write a book on Oscar McCullough, a congregational minister. On her retirement in 1972, "Vevie" moved back to Providence to live with her sisters. She was a world traveler both for pleasure and for work.

Norma Geraldine Weeks (1908-2002) was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, graduated from Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Vassar College in the class of 1931. She was an administrator at Rhode Island College, and bursar of the bookstore for 26 years. She was a member of the Providence Figure Skating Club and also traveled.

The Weeks sisters came from an educated family. The father is described as being an engineer and the mother as an alumnae of Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont. All three sisters were active in the congregational church and in charities. They are buried together with their parents in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island, in Group 409, lot 163.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	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.
Use of the materials:	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.
Preferred citation:	Weeks family papers, Ms. 93.2, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	Brown University Library, Special Collections Box A, John Hay Library Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 Fax: 401-863-2093 E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Processing information:	Ms. 92.3 represents the combined collection of Elizabeth Goddard Weeks' papers which was originally processed in 1992 and the papers of all three of the Weeks sisters which was accessioned as A2003-24.The title page image of the Weeks Family is from this collection. Written on the back of the photograph: "Steps of Mt. Mansfield Hotel. Vt. Elisabeth, Genevieve, Norma and Mother and Father Weeks."
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Lindsay Woodel
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Lindsay Woodel and Tatyana Badalyan 2006 Oct 10

Additional Information

Related material:	A biographical sketch of Genevieve C. Weeks may be found at: Rhode Island Foundation, The Permanent Endowments, December 31, 2003, page 38Information about the book written by Genevieve C. Weeks may be found at: Weeks, Genevieve C. Oscar Carleton McCulloch, 1843-1891: preacher and practitioner of applied Christianity. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1976.
Other information:	Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: Weeks family papers

Inventory

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