The collection consists mostly of correspondence which is arranged chronologically. Marie’s correspondence with friends and family includes materials relating to teaching such as lists of students and teachers from Garden, fliers of school supplies, and teaching information. Among her correspondents is Darius Olmsted, who lived in Medora, Billings County, N. D. Their increasingly warm correspondence includes the sending of hugs, kisses, and her near demands that he avoid playing baseball and risking hurting himself. Their correspondence runs from August 1891 to July 1898. The rest of the correspondence includes descriptions of family and social life in Washtenaw County and Garden. Also included is an autograph album given to her on her 12th birthday, July 16, 1886. Miscellaneous materials are filed at the back of the box.
Biography:
Mary J. “Marie” Forsyth was born circa July 12, 1874. She lived in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan, with her family including a sister, Ruthie, brother, Fred, and their mother. Marie taught high school in Garden, Delta County, Michigan, from 1891 to 1894. She had earned a second grade teacher’s certificate by 1892 and another certificate by 1895. A letter of reference from the Garden City High School principal stated that she had attended the State Normal School in Ypsilanti for three years, and had taught for two years in various schools, all this by January 1892. (This information is from the collection.)
