Roble Hall Matron: application of Mrs. H.E. Wright, acceptance and statement of rules, 1903

ReadAboutContentsHelp


Pages

Untitled Page 1
Indexed

Untitled Page 1

Pueblo, Colorado July 20th, 1903

Mrs. Jane L. Stanford, President of the Board of Trustees, Leland Stanford, Junior, University

Madame:

Understanding that the position of matron of Roble Hall, the girls' dormitory at Stanford University, is unfilled, I beg to submit my application for that place.

During a recent visit to my daughter, Irene Wright, a student there and resident in the Hall, I became acquainted in Roble Hall, and so realize somewhat the nature and duties of matronship. I feel that I could fulfil them to the satisfaction of the Board.

I am forty-two years old, and enjoy excellent health. I kept my own house until the death of my husband, in 1897, which broke up our home. For five years I owned and managed The Ballard Sanitarium, 811 East B Street, Pueblo, Colorado. I gained there an executive ability that will prove valuable to me should I be fortunate enough to secure the position I solicit.

Recently Clark's Wells, across the street, have put up a large Sanitarium which naturally took from my trade until now I find it more profitable to give up the Ballard Sanitarium and merely rent out the buildings, which I own. But this has cut my income considerably and I need such a place as this matronship would be.

I understand that the matron receives fifty dollars a month with

Last edit almost 2 years ago by ohnoimsam
Untitled Page 2
Complete

Untitled Page 2

board and room. I ask for that same salary. If you decide in my favor I can come to take charge of the Hall at once.

May I conclude by saying that I sincerely hope I may secure the position. I met the girls of Roble Hall, and I feel that our pleasant acquaintance may easily ripen into a friendship through which I could exercise over them the kindly control which is wanted in Roble. I have been a mother to my own girl long enough to know what the duties of motherhood are; no matron of Roble I should consider that for the time I stood in the place of the mothers of the girls under me. I should consider it my duty and my privilege to look to their comfort and their conduct, advise and guide them, at the same time bearing well in mind that Stanford allows its girls all the liberty that is compatible with true womanliness. I should endeavor never to chafe my girls with undue interference.

Trusting, then, to hear favorably from you in regard to this matter, I am,

Very respectfully, (Mrs) H. E. Wright

811 East B Street, Pueblo, Colorado.

Last edit over 2 years ago by shashathree
Untitled Page 3
Complete

Untitled Page 3

The Standford Sequoia Editor's Office July 23rd, 1903.

Dear Mrs. Stanford:

I don't know that I have any right to bother you with this matter at all, and if in doing so I make a misstep, I beg you to pardon me. Perhaps you will remember one day when Miss Kraft and I had the pleasure of talking with you (about the time that the Woman's edition of the Daily Palo Alto came out) we mentioned Roble Hall and you told us then what qualities you thought the matron of that Hall ought to possess. Now it happens that Roble is without a matron and at the same time my own mother who is alone in Pueblo, Colorado, - my father has been dead for years, and I am an only child, - is getting lonesome for her

Last edit over 2 years ago by shashathree
Untitled Page 4
Complete

Untitled Page 4

girl and would like to be with me at Stanford. She does not wish me to come home to her because that I should graduate from Stanford is her one ambition. So I suggested to her that we apply for the position of matron of Roble for her, because our financial affairs would not permit her to come otherwise. Now, Mrs. Stanford, I would not have the audacity to apply for the position for my mother if she were not thoroughly capable of filling it. I remember you said, - that you wanted a woman somewhat along in life, who would be a mother to the girls, guide them, advise them, caution them, and look to them with a mother's interest. My mother has been a good mother to me, and I can't help feeling certain she would be a good mother to the girls with whom my lot has been cast for some years, and that she would have at heart the interests of the Hall I look upon as about the best home I ever had, or any girl could have. My mother is forty-seven years old, a woman very domestic by nature; she would be happy with a hundred girls in one big family. At the same time the years she spent in managing the Ballard Sanitatium, which came to her at her own mother's death, and is now closed because a bigger one was put up by capitalists and spoiled the little business, gave her an experience in administration of a large establishment which will be of value to her if she assumes the matronship of Roble. To be sure there were only about thirty rooms in that Sanitarium, but thirty rooms full of sick people, together with their nurses and servants, developes a skill that could easily oversee seventy one rooms and a hundred merry girls.

Last edit over 2 years ago by shashathree
Untitled Page 5
Complete

Untitled Page 5

I understand that the filling of the position will come before you, as president of the Board of Trustees. When it does, Mrs. Stanford, please remember my mother, Mrs. H. E. Wright. I know she would give satisfaction; she visited me and met the girls who already know her and love her, - they would welcome her. And then, too, - frankly, we do not ask the place merely because my mother wants to see me, but things have not been going very well at home and we need it. If she can secure that place we shall get along all right; for the student body have made me editor of The Sequoia and that paper supports its editor, so I shan't be a burdern anyhow.

I hope I haven't been impudent to write to you, for that is very far from my desire.

2640 Sylvan Way, Yours gratefully, Berkeley, Cal. Irene Wright

Last edit over 2 years ago by shashathree
Displaying pages 1 - 5 of 14 in total