Martha Gerrish to Keyes Metcalf, 1911-12

This series represents a fairly complete record of a courtship between two typically well-educated middle-class individuals. The letters document the growth of a relationship which evolved from friendship into affection during the years between their senior year in high school (1907) and their marriage in June, 1914. Keyes and Martha corresponded on a nearly daily basis, and much of the content contains routine correspondence but also includes topics such as current events, education and work after Oberlin, government and politics, their traditional ideas regarding marriage, and Martha’s poor health. The letters follow their work in different locations after graduating from Oberlin, mainly Martha in Cleveland, Ohio, and Keyes in New York City. They are arranged chronologically. Generally, each folder contains one month of letters written by one of the correspondents—Keyes to "Mart" comes first, followed by ''Mart'' to Keyes. Postcards are placed together in each folder, preceding the letters. Undated letters are placed at the beginning of the series.