The Papers of Alice Van Vliet - Pratt Institute

PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE ARCHIVES
1
Creator: Alice Van Vliet, 1874-1935
Title: The Papers of Alice Van Vliet
Inclusive Dates: 1905-1927
Bulk Dates: 1924-1927
Quantity: 1 box, 52 folders
Call No.: not applicable
The Papers of Alice Van Vliet
1905-1927
Repository
The Packer Collegiate Institute
170 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 250-0266
Custodial History
It is unclear when the papers of Alice Van Vliet were deposited at Packer Collegiate
Institute. They were contained in an envelope addressed to Kate M. Ward, who is
mentioned in series 3, folder 5.
The archival materials are currently at the Packer Collegiate Institute and are the sole
property of this institution.
Access Restrictions
The collection is closed for research; permission to access the collection must be obtained
from the Packer Collegiate Institute.
Copyright
Not applicable
1 Van Vliet, Alice, Poems (Mount Vernon: By the author) 1937.

Preferred Citation
Not applicable
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
The majority of material in this collection dates from 1924 to 1927. Other than this
collection, there is not much information available on the life of Alice Van Vliet. She was
American, born on January 11, 1874 and died at age 61 on September 6, 1935. The first
available reference to Alice Van Vliet is from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2 newspaper,
which reported that in 1898 Van Vliet was a teacher at the Berkeley Institute (now the
Berkeley Carroll School), an all-girls school started in 1886 in Brooklyn, NY. Following
this, she was a Latin teacher at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, NY from 1901 to
1905. Packer, which still exists today, is the oldest independent school in Brooklyn. Since
its founding in 1845, Packer has been located at 170 Joralemon Street in the historic
district of Brooklyn Heights. 3 Series 3, Folder 5 mentions a Packer Collegiate Institute
reunion Van Vliet hopes to attend. The last known teaching position that Van Vliet
occupied was in 1926 and 1927 at the Katherine Branson School in Ross, California.
Currently called The Branson School, it is an independent college preparatory high
school. The Katharine Branson School—named after the headmistress, who Van Vliet
refers to in a letter in Series 3, Folder 13—opened on September 6, 1920, with 51
students in grades 1 to 11. 4
A book of Van Vliet’s poetry entitled Poems was published in 1937, two years after her
death. The dedication reads, "in memory of Alice Van Vliet, January 11, 1874 -
September 6, 1935, from her friends, to her friends". 5 This dedication illustrates an
overarching theme in the life of Van Vliet: her fondness for her friends and their fondness
for her. Series 3, Folder 1 consists of a list of all the people who received Alice Van
Vliet’s letters while she was in Europe from 1924 to 1927. The copyright for Poems notes
that "this edition is limited to one hundred copies, copyright 1937 by Kate M. Ward.” 6
Kate M. Ward is mentioned throughout Van Vliet’s papers, and a letter in Series 3, folder
5 is addressed to her, as well as the envelope that contained the entire collection.
The bulk of material in this collection dates from 1924 to 1927, when Alice Van Vliet
studied and received honors in Classical Moderations at Oxford University in England
and toured post-WWI Europe. Van Vliet documented her experiences in a travel journal
and letters that she composed to a large group of friends back in America.
2 “Miss Alice Van Vliet”, Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online, 1841 to 1902, 17 Sept. 1898: 10, 6 May 2006
3 Wikipedia contributors, “Packer Collegiate Institute,”Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 April 2006,
18:45 UTC,
[accessed 7 May 2006]
4 Wikipedia contributors, "The Branson School," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 May 2006, 00:09
UTC, [accessed 7
May 2006]
5 Van Vliet, Alice, Poems (Mount Vernon: By the author) 1937.
6 Van Vliet, Poems.

The letters and drafts of correspondence that make up the majority of material in this
collection document a happy and productive period of time for Van Vliet. In Series 3,
Folder 3 for example, she mentions that studying at Oxford and traveling around Europe
is the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Being a Latin teacher and student of Classics, she
describes the beauty of the landscapes she passes through and expresses unabashed
delight at seeing historic locations where famous writers and notable figures lived and
died. There is clearly a romantic tone to her letters and diary entries, and she is not afraid
to brag to her friends. This romantic, boastful tone can best be seen in the draft of a letter
from March 15, 1925 in Series 3, Folder 6 entitled On the Train between Paris and
Lucerne.
Van Vliet’s correspondences and diaries give a clear sense of her time spent at Oxford
and in Europe, revealing a snapshot into the author’s daily life. She is an incredibly
detailed writer, who chose to highlight the small minutiae of daily life. This collection
provides great insight into the every day thoughts and rituals of a professional, educated
single woman in Roaring Twenties Era Europe. Although it was only a few years after
WWI and the Spanish Flu epidemic that claimed so many lives and decimated Europe,
there is no mention of either of these events in Van Vliet’s papers. The tone of these
letters is chatty and conversational, revealing personal experiences and the thrill of
traveling and studying Classical Moderations at Oxford —referred to as “Mods” in many
of her letters and diaries.
The Papers of Alice Van Vliet chronologically conclude with a final letter dated January
17, 1927 in Series 3, Folder 13. Written by Van Vliet, the letter describes her new job
post-Oxford teaching Latin at the Katherine Branson School in Ross, California.
Although she speaks effusively about her students and teaching, the tone of the letter is
not happy, and she complains of being depressed and in a “slump”, overwhelmed by the
demands of being in a new place and a new job.
Van Vliet died eight years after this final letter, but it is not clear what transpired during
those years. As the Papers of Alice Van Vliet demonstrate, Roaring Twenties Era Europe
was a fascinating time period for an educated woman to be traveling and we are fortunate
that Van Vliet documented her experiences with honest candor and in such detail.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Papers of Alice Van Vliet were kept onsite at the Packer Institute and while most the
materials should be handled with care, for the most part the collection is in very good
condition.
The Papers of Alice Van Vliet add valuable resources to the study of 20th century
women’s history and Europe during the post-WWI, Roaring Twenties Era as seen
through the eyes of an American woman, poet and teacher. These papers offer a rare

glimpse into the world of a single, independent woman in the 1920s, relying upon the
merits of her intellect, education, and the close companionship of friends to succeed.
The collection consists mainly of handwritten drafts and typescripts of correspondence
and manuscripts, along with a smaller quantity of poems and plays by the author. There
are five Series in this collection: Manuscripts 1905-1910, Travel Journal and Drafts of
Correspondence 1924-1927, Travel Correspondence 1924-1927, Correspondence May
15, 1903, and the envelope that contained the collection. Series 3, Folder 1 consists of a
list of all the people who received Alice Van Vliet’s letters during the bulk dates of the
collection, 1924-1927.
COLLECTION OUTLINE
Series 1. Manuscripts 1905-1910. 8 folders. Arranged by subject, chronologically and
then alphabetically.
Series 2. Travel Journal and Drafts of Correspondence 1924-1927. 28 folders. Arranged
chronologically by date.
Series 3. Travel Correspondence 1924-1927. 14 folders. Arranged chronologically by
date.
Series 4. Correspondence. May 15, 1903. 1 folder.
Series 5. Envelope. No date. 1 folder.
SERIES STATEMENT
Series 1: Manuscripts 1905-1910. Written by Alice Van Vliet. 8 folders. Arranged by
subject, chronologically and then alphabetically.
This series contains 4 poems, 2 plays, miscellaneous manuscripts and a collection of
handwritten copies of Ovid poems. They are all in good condition, though the
handwritten material from the early part of the 20 th century shows signs of brittleness and
age, and can be difficult to read.
Series 2: Travel Journal and drafts of correspondence 1924-1927. 28 folders.
Arranged chronologically by date.
This series contains 31 folders of travel journal entries and drafts of letters written
between 1924 and 1927. Most of the material was written while Van Vliet intermittently
studied Classics at Oxford and traveled throughout Europe from 1924-1926. They
conclude with correspondence from her time as a teacher at the Katherine Branson
School in Ross, California. Several of the letters were composed while on trains or boats
and later typed. They are all in good condition; none are brittle, though some are difficult
to read. In many instances Van Vliet would write on both sides of the paper in ink and it
would seep through to the other side, thus making the letters almost completely illegible.

Series 3. Travel Correspondence 1924-1927. 14 folders. Arranged chronologically by
date.
The Series consists mainly of handwritten drafts and typescripts of correspondence. This
includes drafts of letters written by Alice Van Vliet and letters she received while she
studied Classical Moderations at Oxford University, England and traveled throughout
Europe during the post-WWI period, 1924-1927. The tone of these letters is chatty and
conversational, revealing personal experiences and the thrill of traveling and studying
Classical Moderations at Oxford —referred to as “Mods” in many of her letters and
diaries. The material in this Series is in good condition; most are not brittle, though some
are difficult to read. Because many of these letters are drafts, the paper is sometimes
thin, the handwriting informal, and Van Vliet would often write on both sides of the
paper in ink, which would seep through to the other side, thus making the letters almost
entirely illegible.
Series 4. Correspondence. May 15, 1903. 1 folder.
This series contains an invitation addressed to Mr. & Mrs., Wm. L. Van Vliet to the
Golden Jubilee at Packer Collegiate Institute, May 15, 1903. It is possible this is Alice
Van Vliet or a relative. It is in fine condition.
Series 5. Envelope. No date. 1 folder.
This series contains the envelope that enclosed the papers of Alice Van Vliet. It is
addressed to Kate M. Ward, who published Poems after Van Vliet’s death and is
mentioned in Series 3, Folder 5. The envelope is addressed from W.T. Busch.
CONTAINER LIST
Series 1. Manuscripts 1905-1910. Written by Alice Van Vliet. 8 folders. Arranged by
subject, chronologically and then alphabetically.
Folder 1: Poem. The Nations of Antiquity. 3 pages. Note at top reads, “teacher at Packer
Collegiate Institute, about 1902-1905. Note the Alliteration.”
Folder 2: Poem. Dies Gotter Griecheylands (Schiller). Written in English, 1910.
Handwritten on lined notepaper. 6 ½ pages.
Folder 3: Poem. Roman Virgil. Written in Latin. No Date. Handwritten on lined
notepaper. 4 pages.
Folder 4: Poem. A Vision of Heroes. 2 copies: 1 typed, 1 handwritten on lined notepaper.
Handwritten: 2 pages. Typed” 3 pages, Alice Van Vliet address handwritten at the
bottom: Alice Van Vliet: 28 Pierrepout St. Brooklyn, NY. Paper yellowing and brittle.
Folder 5: Handwritten Copies of Ovid poems: Orpheus, Deucaliouy, Atalanta, Phileuioy
& Baucis, Medea. Each 2 pages.
Folder 6: Play. Frays Potions on cover. “Vergil Eclogue I, VII, and IX”. Handwritten on
lined notepaper.
Folder 7: Play. The Schoolboy’s Dream. 4 typed pages.
Folder 8: Pro Sestio, 22. Handwritten. 3 pages.

Series 2. Travel Journal and drafts of correspondence 1924-1927. 28 folders.
Arranged chronologically by date.
Folder 1: Shrewsbury, dated June 29, 1924. Handwritten. 9 pages.
Folder 2: Shrewsbury, dated June 30, 1924. Handwritten. 7 pages.
Folder 3: Oxford, Monday August 17, 1924. 5 pages
Folder 4: September 8 th 1924. Handwritten. 8 pages.
Folder 5: Oxford, dated September 19, 1924. Handwritten. 4 pages.
Folder 6: 11 Jeffery Road dated October 5 and was bundled with the September 19, 1924
letter. Handwritten. 7 pages.
Folder 7: 11 Jeffery Road dated October 29, 1924. Written to, “All my dears,”.
Handwritten. 11 pages.
Folder 8: Allasio, dated December 18-22, 1924. One version is 4 typed pages. There are
also two handwritten versions of the same entry. Addresses to “Dear children” on the
third typed page. They are both 7 pages.
Folder 9: Rome (Next door to the Barberini Gardens) dated January 10, 1925.
Typewritten. 3 pages.
Folder 10: Oxford, dated January 15, 1925. One version is 2 typed pages. There is also
a handwritten version, 4 pages.
Folder 11: Oxford, dated February 7, 1925. Handwritten. 6 pages.
Folder 12: Rome, dated May 11, 1925. Handwritten. 9 pages.
Folder 13: Rome, dated May 29. Handwritten. 6 pages.
Folder 14: Genoa, June 19- on the way from Italy. Handwritten 9 pages.
Folder 15: Paris, dated July 6, 1925. Handwritten. 2 Pages.
Folder 16: York, dated August 2, 1925. Handwritten. 8 pages.
Folder 17: Winchester, dated October 2, 1925. Handwritten. 9 pages.
Folder 18: June 5, 1926. This letter mentions Packer Institute. Handwritten. 5 pages.
Folder 19: The Katharine Branson School, September 26, 1926. Handwritten. 16
pages.
Folder 20: “English Twilight” - Clapstow, July 9, year unidentified. Handwritten. 5
pages.
Folder 21: Longwall, Oxford, September 6, year unidentified. Handwritten. 4 pages.
Folder 22: London, July 12, 1925. Handwritten. 1 page.
Folder 23: “2 Kingston Road, Oxford”, March 20 th , year unidentified. Handwritten. 10
pages.
Folder 24: Pompeii, March 26 th , year unidentified. Handwritten. 12 pages.
Folder 25: London, Tuesday July 7, year unidentified. Handwritten. 5 pages.
Folder 26: Athens, April 22, year unidentified. Handwritten. 11 pages.
Folder 27: Cambridge, Saturday August 4, year unidentified. 5 pages.
Folder 28: 5 unidentified pages. Handwritten.
Series 3. Travel Correspondence 1924-1927. 14 folders. Arranged chronologically by
date.
Folder 1: List of Readers of A.V.V.’s letter. No date. Written by M.E.W, lists the
recipients of Alice Van Vliet’s letters. Handwritten. 1 page.
Folder 2: At Sea. June 15, 1924. 2 copies. 1 handwritten and 1 typed. Each 6 pages.

Folder 3: Oxford at Last. Saturday, August 15, 1924. Addressed: 15 Longwall St. Oxford.
Handwritten. 5 pages doublesided.
Folder 4: Dear people, Flet Rd., Oxford. Nov.21,1924. Handwritten. 4 pages, doublesided.
Folder 5: Oxford-Still at Miss Meen’s. February 27, 1925. Addressed: “Dear Kate”.
Mentions a Packer reunion. 2 copies of letter. 1 handwritten: 13 pages, 1 typed: 4 pages.
Folder 6: On the Train between Paris and Lucerne. March 15, 1925. Addressed: “Dear
people”. Discusses places she has been: p. 5 between Bologna and Florence; p. 6
describes Pompeii; p. 6-7 describes Easter at Cava Dei Tireni. 2 copies. 1 handwritten: 7
pages, typed: 7 pages.
Folder 7: Dear Friends, Glenridding near Patterdale, England. July 12, 1925. Letter
written by Marjorie L. Nickerson, who is traveling with Alice Van Vliet and another
friend, Minnie Waite who is addressed in Series 3, Folder 13. Describes walking tour of
the Lake region of England. Handwritten. 5 pages.
Folder 8: Dear Friends in Circuit. August 2, 1925. “Finished in Oxford, August 11,
1925”. Written by M.E.W to friends/recipients of Alice Van Vliet’s letters. Describes
visit to Alice in England and a trip to Ireland. Handwritten. 2 pages, double-sided.
Folder 9: Dear M.E.W. September 1, 1925. Oxford. Mentions Perugia, Italy and
described daily life. Handwritten. 3 pages, double-sided.
Folder 10: Miscellaneous postcards. 2 postcards with lists of names. 1 calling card from
the Viscountess Astor. March 1, 1926.
Folder 11: Dear Miss Van Vliet. April 7, 1926. 1 Letter, from Christine M. E. Burrows. 1
postcard with attached newspaper clipping. Congratulations on honors, mentions
accompanied newspaper announcement. Handwritten. 1.2 pages.
Folder 12: Dear People. August 2, 1926. Describes getting the offer to teach Latin at
Katherine Branson School in Ross, California. Handwritten. 3 double-sided pages.
Folder 13: Dear Minnie. January 17, 1927. Written from the Katherine Branson School,
Ross, California, describes hard time adjusting to new job. Handwritten. 4 double-sided
pages.
Folder 14: Dear People. No date. Handwritten. 6 pages, double-sided.
Series 4. Correspondence. May 15, 1903. 1 folder.
Folder 1: Invitation addressed to Mr. & Mrs, Wm. L. Van Vliet to the Golden Jubilee,
May 15, 1903.
Series 5. Envelope. No date. 1 folder.
Folder 1: Envelope that contained the papers of Alice Van Vliet. Addressed to Kate M.
Ward, who is mentioned in series 3, folder 5. Addressed from W.T. Bush.