Hans and Frances Mitchell Froelicher Papers

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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES
Hans and Frances Mitchell Froelicher Papers
An Inventory
MS 0004
Creator: Froelicher, Hans (1865-1930)
Froelicher, Frances Mitchell (1854-1946)
Title: Hans and Frances Mitchell Froelicher Papers
Dates: 1790-1994, bulk 1888-1946
Abstract: Biographical works, correspondence, letters, photographs, scrapbooks, diaries, teaching notes, and other records documenting the lives of educators Hans and Frances Mitchell Froelicher. The Froelichers were both members of the Goucher faculty. Hans was active in many organizations related to general education in Baltimore, including the founding of The Park School of Baltimore.
Extent: 14 boxes, 6.4 linear feet
Language: Predominantly English, with some materials in German
Repository: Goucher College Special Collections & Archives
Call Number: MS 0004
Biographical Sketch
Frances Henrietta Mitchell, born in Philadelphia March 26, 1854, quit school to become a teacher after completing her sophomore year at Cornell University. She later attended the University of Zurich with the intention of becoming a college professor. She earned a Ph.D. in philology as the second American woman to do so.
While studying in Zurich, Frances met Hans Froelicher, born in Solothurn, Switzerland March 6, 1865, who was also studying for a doctorate in philology. Frances and Hans became engaged, and Frances returned to the states to search for job opportunities for them both. After interviewing with The Woman’s College of Baltimore (later Goucher College), Frances sent a telegram to Hans that read “Baltimore ours.” They were married 2
on September 5, 1888, and eight days later they began teaching as part of the first faculty of The Woman’s College of Baltimore.
Frances served as the chair of the German Language and Literature department, but after two years withdrew to commit her time to home and family. Hans served as a professor, teaching French, German and art history until 1918, when Froelicher was dismissed from his position at Goucher for vague reasons, perhaps related to wartime German prejudice. Froelicher wrote to President Woodrow Wilson for support. President Wilson sent a letter to Goucher College President William Guth affirming the he trusted Froelicher’s patriotism as well as his abilities as a teacher. Froelicher was reinstated. Froelicher was appointed to serve as acting president of Goucher College in 1929. He also taught summer classes at Johns Hopkins University for teachers.
Froelicher served on various boards around Baltimore, including School Commissioners of Baltimore City, City Wide Congress, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Baltimore Reform League and was involved with the founding of The Park School of Baltimore.
Hans and Frances had two children, C. Mitchell and Hans Jr. Hans Froelicher died suddenly in 1930 as a result of a heart attack. Frances died in 1946.
Scope and Contents
Hans and Frances Mitchell Froelicher Papers, 1790-1994 (bulk 1888-1946), include a variety of records documenting the personal and professional lives of the Froelichers. The collection is organized into five series: series I, Family Papers, series II and III, which are divided into subseries by the author of the materials, and series IV, which contains photographs and scrapbooks.
The biographical materials include the writings of Hans and Frances Froelicher, their sons C. Mitchell and Hans Jr., and their granddaughter, Joyce Froelicher Keyser, daughter of Hans Jr. These materials also include German manuscripts and letters relating to the Froelicher family spanning 1790-1836. Correspondence references both family and professional matters, including letters about the Froelicher’s dismissal from and reinstatement to Goucher College, congratulatory letters upon his position of acting president of Goucher, Froelicher’s involvement with the Baltimore City Board of Education, and condolence letters upon the deaths of both Hans and Frances Froelicher.3
Certificates and memorabilia include the Goucher College Song Book (1914), in which many of the songs are written by Hans Froelicher, materials relating to Hans and Frances’ education, Hans’ certificates of citizenship and delegacy, and his will.
Published works and notes encompasses the Froelicher’s writing, including Hans’ notes from the classes taught at Goucher, his published thesis and Hans’ translation of Keller’s Eugenia from German. Hans and Frances Froelicher both kept diaries. Hans’ diaries span from 1889-1929 and Frances’ diaries span from 1887-1938. The collection also includes diaries from C. Mitchell Froelicher.
The photographs and scrapbooks include photographs of the cornerstone laying of Froelicher Hall at Goucher College, photographs of the family’s European vacation, and memoranda notebooks and scrapbooks.
Organization of the Collection
Series I. Family Papers, 1790-1994
Subseries A. Biographical Material and Correspondence, 1790-1994
Subseries B. Condolence Correspondence, 1930, 1946-1959
Subseries C. Certificates and Memorabilia, 1884-1930
Series II. Published Works, Curricula, and Notes
Subseries A. Works by Hans Froelicher
Subseries B. Works by Frances Mitchell Froelicher
Series III. Diaries and Notebooks, 1873-1938
Subseries A. Diaries and Notebooks of Hans Froelicher, 1889-1929
Subseries B. Diaries and Notebooks of Frances M. Froelicher, 1873-1938
Subseries C. Diaries of C. Mitchell Froelicher, 1897-1907
Series IV. Photographs and Scrapbooks
Series V. Oversize Materials
Restrictions
Open for Research
Index Terms
People
Froelicher, Frances Mitchell, 1854-1946 (lcnaf)4
Froelicher, Hans, 1865-1930 (lcnaf)
Guth, William Westley, 1871-1929 (lcnaf)
Organizations
Baltimore Museum of Art (lcnaf)
Baltimore Reform League (lcnaf)
Goucher College (lcnaf)
Johns Hopkins University (lcnaf)
Subjects
World War, 1914-1918 (lcsh)
Women—Education (lcsh)
Document Types
Curricula (aat)
Letters (Correspondence) (aat)
Diaries (aat)
Photographs (aat)
Scrapbooks (aat)
Related Material
Office of the President Papers, William Westley Guth, Goucher College Library
Wilson-Froelicher Collection, 1786-1918, Maryland Historical Society
Administrative Information
Acquisition
Hans Froelicher, Jr., 1963.001 (letter of Dr. Mary Mitchell to Frances Mitchell, 1884; see folder 10); 1964.001 (Hans Froelicher’s published thesis; see folder 41); 1976.002 (portraits of Hans and Frances Froelicher); and 1977.001 (family papers, diaries, and scrapbooks included in MS 4).
Processed by
Adam Longwill, 2005; Nicole Blain, 2006; Cassie Brand, 2009
Preferred Citation
Hans and Frances Mitchell Froelicher Papers, 1790-1994. Goucher College Library.5
Container List
Series I. Family Papers
Subseries A. Biographical Material and Correspondence
Box 1
Folder 1: Newspaper clippings and obituaries, 1922-1946 and undated, related to Hans Froelicher and Frances M. Froelicher, including typed copies of memorial addresses and resolutions of Goucher College on the death of Hans Froelicher.
Folder 2: Autobiographical notes of Hans Froelicher directed towards his sons, and other notes, undated.
Folder 3: Autobiographical notes of Frances Mitchell Froelicher, undated.
Folder 4: Biographical notes on Charles Mitchell Froelicher, author unidentified.
Folder 5: Memoirs of Hans Froelicher Jr. relating to Hans Froelicher, Sr., and the Froelicher family genealogy.
Folder 6: Memoirs of Hans Froelicher Jr. relating to Frances M. Froelicher and the Mitchell family genealogy.
Folder 7: Memoirs of alumnae referring to Hans Froelicher, compiled in 1923.
Folder 8: Memoirs of Joyce Froelicher Keyser, daughter of Hans Froelicher Jr., 1994.
Folder 9: German manuscripts and letters relating to Froelicher family, 1790-1836.
Folder 10: Correspondence to Frances Mitchell, 1867 – 1887.
Folder 11: Correspondence to Frances M. Froelicher, 1930 – 1942.
Folder 12: Correspondence to Hans and Frances Froelicher, 1894, 1902 –1915, including references to his work on the Baltimore City Board of Education, 1910-6
1911; and correspondence with Goucher President Van Meter and Board of Trustees about the possibility of his leaving Goucher, 1912.
Folder 13: Correspondence, 1917-1927, including copy of Froelicher’s letters to the Board of Trustees regarding his dismissal, Apr-May 1918, and correspondence with the Carnegie Corporation regarding an application for Arts Teaching equipment.
Folder 14: Correspondence, 1928-1929, until his appointment as Acting President of Goucher in May 1929, including the creation of the Hans Froelicher Alumnae Professorship.
Folder 15: Correspondence 1929-1930, while Hans Froelicher was serving as Acting President, including congratulatory letters on his appointment. Also includes correspondence with the Carnegie Corporation, including a form describing the Goucher College library, and correspondence with the Judicial Board of Student Organization and others related to lifting of college ban on smoking.
Subseries B. Condolence Correspondence on Hans Froelicher’s death (1930)
*Arranged by author’s last name
Box 2
Folder 16: Condolence Letters, B
Folder 17: Condolence Letters, C
Folder 18: Condolence Letters, D
Folder 19: Condolence Letters, F
Folder 20: Condolence Letters, G
Folder 21: Condolence Letters, H
Folder 22: Condolence Letters, J
Folder 23: Condolence Letters, K7
Folder 24: Condolence Letters, L
Folder 25: Condolence Letters, M
Folder 26: Condolence Letters, N
Folder 27: Condolence Letters, O
Folder 28: Condolence Letters, P
Folder 29: Condolence Letters, R
Folder 30: Condolence Letters, S
Folder 31: Condolence Letters, T
Folder 32: Condolence Letters, U - V
Folder 33: Condolence Letters, W
Folder 34: Correspondence, 1946-1959, including Condolences for the death of Frances M. Froelicher.
Folder 35: Mixed Correspondence, undated.
Subseries C. Certificates and Memorabilia
Folder 36: Goucher College Song Book, 1914.
Folder 37: Memorabilia of Frances Mitchell Froelicher, ca. 1884-1887, including ephemera from Cornell University; the Friends’ Seminary in Easton, NY; and the University of Zurich.
Folder 38: Hans Froelicher’s transcripts and certificates from Solothurn in German, and an information book on Solothurn.
Folder 39: Materials relating to Hans Froelicher’s studies at the University of Zurich.8
Folder 40: Certificates for Hans Froelicher including citizenship, delegacy, appointment to the Baltimore Board of Schools, and his will.
Series II. Published Works and Curriculum Notes
Subseries A. Works by Hans Froelicher
Box 3
Folder 41: Published works, including thesis from University of Zurich (1889).
Folder 42: Personal writings.
Folder 43: Translation of Keller’s Eugenia.
Folder 44: Music manuscripts.
*For oversize music, see box 13*
Folder 45: Writings on art and art history.
Folder 46: Curriculum – Art History 1903 – 1904
Folder 47: Curriculum – History of Raphael Sanzio
Folder 48: Curriculum – History of Raphael
Folder 49: Curriculum – History of Italian Art
Folder 50: Curriculum – Art Criticism
Folder 51: Curriculum – Greek Architecture
Folder 52: Curriculum – Art Ideals, Old and New
Folder 53: Notes on Goucher College academics.
Folder 54: Notes on Goucher College, including commencement speeches.9
Folder 55: Notes on education.
Folder 56: Documents on Hans Froelicher’s involvement in professional boards.
Subseries B. Frances M. Froelicher
Folder 57: Writings and Thesis of Frances M. Froelicher
Series III. Diaries and Notebooks
Box 4
Folder 58: Notes taken from Froelicher diaries (unidentified compiler)
Subseries A. Diaries and Notebooks of Hans Froelicher
Folder 59: Diaries, 1889- 1894
Folder 60: Diaries, 1984, 1901
Folder 61: Diaries, 1910, 1911, 1913
Folder 62: Diaries, 1914, 1915, 1916
Folder 63: Diaries, 1917, 1918
Folder 64: Diaries, 1922, 1929
Folder 65: Record book, 1926
Box 5
Folder 66: Budget record, 1892
Folder 67: Budget record, 192110
Subseries B. Diaries and Notebooks of Frances M. Froelicher
Folder 68: School notebook, 1873
Folder 69: Diaries, 1887, 1891, 1892
Folder 70: Diaries, 1893, 1895, 1896
Folder 71: Diaries, 1898, 1899, 1900
Folder 72: Diaries, 1901, 1902, 1904
Box 6
Folder 73: Diaries, 1904, 1905
Folder 74: Diaries, 1906, 1907
Folder 75: Diaries, 1908, 1910
Folder 76: Diaries, 1911, 1912
Folder 77: Diaries, 1913, 1914
Box 7
Folder 78: Diaries, 1915, 1916
Folder 79: Diaries, 1917, 1918
Folder 80: Diaries, 1919, 1920
Folder 81: Diaries, 1921, 1921
Folder 82: Diaries, 1922, 1923
Box 8
Folder 83: Diaries, 1934, 1925 11
Folder 84: Diaries, 1926, 1927
Folder 85: Diaries, 1928, 1929
Box 9
Folder 86: Diaries, 1930, 1931
Folder 87: Diaries, 1932, 1933
Box 10
Folder 88: Diaries, 1934, 1935
Folder 89: Diary, 1936, 1937, 1938
Subseries B. Diaries of C. Mitchell Froelicher
Folder 90: Diaries, 1897, 1899
Folder 91: Diaries, 1902, 1907
Series IV. Photographs and Scrapbooks
Box 11
Folder 92: Photographs of Hans and Frances Froelicher and children, including 1950 photographs of Hans, Jr. and son at cornerstone laying for Froelicher Hall.
Folder 93: Photographs – snapshots, most undated and unidentified.
Folder 94: Photographs – formal portraits, some identified, most undated.
Folder 95: European Vacation Photo book, 1910.
Folder 96: Photograph album of the Froelicher family.12
Box 12
Folder 97: Scrapbook of photographs, memorabilia, and writings of Frances Mitchell Froelicher on her family history and personal life, collected for her son.
Folder 98: “Memoranda” notebook of Frances M. Froelicher, 1899 – 1929.
Folder 99: Two copies of Sherwood by Alfred Noyes annotated heavily by Hans Froelicher.
Series V. Oversize Materials
Box 13
Folder 100: Original documents of photocopies contained in Folders 38-40.
Folder 101: Sheet music for Reinecke’s operetta Schneewittchen, 1899.
Folder 102: Red Star Line Cruise scrapbook, 1910.