{"value"=>"<p>Alfred Emerson, 1859-1943, was an archaeologist who excavated sites in Greece and North Africa. He was educated at the University of Munich and Princeton University, and then was a fellow at Johns Hopkins University. After holding professorships at Lake Forest University in Illinois and Miami University in Ohio, he went to Cornell University where he held a chair in classical archaeology from 1891-1898. He also served as an assistant director of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was an art advisor to Phoebe Hearst.</p> <p>Alice Edwards Emerson, 1862-1933, was born in Maine, the daughter of a music teacher. She became a pianist and writer and married Alfred Emerson in 1887. They had four children, Edith, an artist who settled in Philadelphia; Gertrude Sen, an editor of Asia magazine who lived in India; Willard, a banker and soldier during WWI; and Alfred, an entomologist.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>This series contains the correspondence, writings, diaries, school notebooks, and memorabilia of Alfred Emerson and his wife Alice Edwards Emerson. Alfred's correspondence ranges from 1876-1943, beginning with Alfred's studies in archaeology and the year he spent studying and doing fieldwork in Greece. Many of these earlier letters are written primarily in shorthand, will illustrations and occasional English words. The letters then follow his career in America as an archaeologist and professor at several different universities, including Johns Hopkins, Princeton, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Cornell. He writes about expeditions he is sent on, such as one in 1866 to Apache County to investigate burial mounds, where his group stayed with an early Mormon community in Arizona on their way west.</p> <p>Alfred also talks about the struggles his wife, Alice, had with jaundice, and the birth of their children - Edith, Gertrude, Willard, and Alfred Jr. He writes frequently to members of the family about the doings and accomplishments of the children, and makes frequent plans to visit or be visited by the family. By the time his children were born, Alfred and his wife had settled at Cornell, in Ithaca. Alfred wrote about the uncertainties and financial strains of being a professor, and the social obligations and life of living on a college campus.</p> <p>By the early 1920's, Alfred had taken up a post as a translator for the U.S. Army, which he served for several years during WWI. He then returned to New York City and Ithaca, where he continued to work as a professor. He writes a great deal about real estate prices in New York as compared to other places in the country, and the world, and international money exchange. He writes about his then grown children and their doings, and also about his grandchildren.</p> <p>The writings section contains poetry and essays by Alfred Emerson which were printed. It also includes translations by Alfred and some writings on the ancestry of the Emerson family. There are extensive lesson plans from Alfred's career as a professor, which cover classical Greek culture, art, and mythology. The memorabilia section contains Alfred's PhD thesis and grades from 1881, his marriage license, a booklet of travel expenses, and the Adolf Gerber Memoirs.</p> <p>Alice's correspondence contains letters to Alfred before and after their marriage. Alice wrote of her career as a musician and music professor and of her travels to Europe. She writes often to her children of family matters, including her worry for her daughters during the influenza outbreak in New York City in 1920. Alice also talks about living in Berlin during the political strife of the 1920's and the conditions which were imposed upon the residents.</p> <p>There is a carbon copy of \"Tale of Troy\", a book written by Alice. The memorabilia contains several programs from lectures and recitals given by Alice, some with pictures of Alice, along with newspaper clippings with reviews and mentions of her performances. There is also a 1928 passport belonging to Alice which was used in Europe.</p>"}