This week we opened up an envelope stuffed with postcards from the early 1900s. All of the cards were written to William M. Chase, Class of 1858 and College Trustee, from Samuel C. Beale, Secretary to the Class of 1858. Each card simply records the death of another classmate. Most are terse:
Grafton 30 Sept 1911or
Classmate Livingston died at Peacham, Vt in Aug 1911.
Sam'l C Beane
Classmate Hayes. B.S. died Sept 28 1915 at his summer home in Madbury, N.H.A few show a little more emotion:
S. C. Beane
Sec 1858
Our beloved classmate Chadwick died at his home Sat 11 of pneumonia. Funeral tomorrow, Tuesday. I have been asked to take part in the services.The matter-of-fact reportage of these and the sheer number is profoundly odd. Reported by one classmate, and saved as a packet of death by another, as each measured their days.
Sam'l C. Beane
Grafton 13 March 1911
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