Augusta County: "FAIR WOMEN AT THE CENTENNIAL," by unknown, 1897
Summary: Announcement of reunion for alumni of the Mary Baldwin Seminary in Nashville in 1897.
The "Old Dominion" will be represented by the fair women in the Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the Revolution, and the Daughters of the Confederacy, and, too, the Alumnae Association of the Mary Baldwin Seminary. It will hold its reunion with the Tennessee Alumnae, as queens of the occasion.
The Augusta Female Seminary, in Staunton, Va., was chartered in 1842. Miss Baldwin assumed charge in 1863, and four thousand girls have been blessed by her example and training. Great was the rejoicing when the dear alma mater was named the "Mary Baldwin Seminary" in her honor. The officers of the Association are: President, Bettie Guy (Mrs. Winston); Treasurer, Miss Janet K. Woods; Recording Secretary, Miss Augusta Bumgardner; Corresponding Secretary, Nellie Hotchkiss (Mrs. S. T. McCullough), all of Staunton, Va. Each State has one or more Vice Presidents. The Tennessee Vice Presidents are: Max Overton (Mrs. J. M. Dickinson), of Nashville; Tempie Swoope (Mrs. George W. Darrow), of Murfreesboro; Mrs. Reba Metcalf McNeil, of Mhiis; assisted by Clara May Erwin (Mrs. Walter G. Coleman), Vice President at large. These ladies serve as Chairmen of the Nashville Committee.
On June 15 a special car will leave Washington, D. C., over the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, collecting passengers alogn the route and passing the famed battlefields of 1861-65; Monticello and the University of Virginia; Staunton, the well-known home of schools; the famous White Sulphur Springs and other summer resorts, down through the beautiful New River Canyon, and the rich Kenawa Meadow, the blue grass region of Kentucky, arriving at Nashville June 16. The Cedar Room in the Women's Building will be headquarters for all Seminary girls, but the reception of June 17 will be in the assembly room of the Women's Building. There the further programme will be announced. Every former pupil is asked to attend all the meetings to help make the reunion a success. All who wish to take the special car will notify Mrs. Walter G. Coleman at Staunton, Va., before June 1. Special rates have been given the party; while the day coach will have every comfort, there is no extra charge for it, and a sleeper will be from $1.50 to $2 extra. Those who expect to attend the reunion will please notify Mrs. J. M. Dickinson at Nashville. The Maxwell House will be the central point, but private board at reasonable rates can be secured in Nashville. There will be another meeting in October. A special car will leave Norfolk over the Norfolk and Western railroad on October 4, taking passengers at the junctions of Petersburg, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. The grand mountains and rich pastures of Southwestern Virginia, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge will be enjoyed en route.
October 7 and 8 will again see the Alumnae Association in session in the Assembly Room. The social pleasures promise to be many, but are such personal affairs that they will only be announced to those present at the meetings.
These lines carry a greeting to all old "Seminary girls," with the hope that those who are not already members will write to Mrs. Walter G. Coleman, 346 East Beverley Street, Staunton, Va.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Confederate Veteran, Vol. 5, 1897, p. 183
