Centre County Library & Historical Museum - Mary E. D. Wilson Composition Collection

About This Collection

Compositions on abstract concepts created by a young Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA and written while attending the Lawrenceville Female Seminary in New Jersey circa 1851 and 1852. Concepts include: twilight, intemperance, ignorance, falsehood, liberty, peace, sad and dreary, friendship, sunset, evening, childhood, night, love, the importance of a well-spent youth, the life of man, sadness and mirth, and home. Also includes daguerreotype and B&W photographs of Mary E. D. Wilson and several of her report cards from the school.
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Image - B&W Photograph of Mary E. D. Wilson
19th Century Women
B&W image of Mary Elizabeth Davis Wilson (1834 - 1907)
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Image - Daguerreotype of Young Mary E. D. Wilson with her Mother
19th Century Women
Daguerreotype image of Mary Elizabeth Davis Wilson (1834 - 1907) as a young teenager with her mother, Mary H. Roberts Benner Wilson (1795 - 1850).
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School Composition on 'Childhood'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'What strange fancies rush upon the mind in childhood, when it is free from the cares of the busy world and trouble is unknown; when the imagination is vivid, and susceptible feelings pervade the breast.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Evening'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'What is more pleasant than after the toils and cares of a day are over and the sun has sunk beneath the horizon, and the stars are beginning to come forth, to sit down…and review the conduct of our past lives.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Falsehood'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Among the many traits which constitute an imperfect character, falsehood stands as one of the worst kind.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Friendship' (Version 1)
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'A man without a single requisite assumes the character of a faithful and long tried friend.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Friendship' (Version 2)
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'An envious man sees a rival in every one, who excels him, his friends not excepted.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women. This is a second version of the same abstract theme.
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School Composition on 'Home'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'What falls upon our ear with more loveliness and tenderness of feeling than the word "Home"?' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Ignorance'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'A person who is ignorant, is generally despised by those who possess a vast amount of understanding.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Intemperance'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Intemperance is one of the greatest vices which prevades our country.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Liberty'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Whose heart does not overflow with gratitude to our forefathers for the liberty which they purchased for us, by sacrificing their lives, and all that was dear to them on earth!' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Love'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Love is an affection excited when anything is seen that is beautiful or pleasing to the eye.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Night'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'All around is calm & still, the labors of the day are over, and the business man has returned from his daily occupation and is now indulging in silent repose.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Peace'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'And if contentment exists, peace generally reigns with it, so that if persons wish to live in peace they should endeavor to possess a contented spirit.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Sad and Dreary'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Sad and dreary are the feelings of persons when they are under the impression that they are performing certain duties for the last time.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Sadness and Mirth'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Sometimes the heart will overflow with sadness, and then amid the smiles of the countenance a tear will be seen trickling down the fair cheek, which plainly tells that sadness reigns within.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Sunset'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'Behold you bright luminary sinking beneath the horizon and spreading his beams over the vast universe.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'The Importance of a Well-Spent Youth'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'The man who spends the days of his youth in idleness and profligacy of all kinds, cannot enjoy the days of his old age in a manner which would accord with his desire.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'The Life of Man'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'The life of man is so very, very short, that it is indeed a matter of thankfulness that the power to do good does not cease with the close of life.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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School Composition on 'Twilight'
Women in 19th Century Higher Education
'How many sad and pleasing recollections steal upon our minds at this sad yet lovely hour.' Composition written by Mary E. D. Wilson of Bellefonte, PA at the age of 17 or 18 years of age while at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, a private educational institution for women.
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