Browse Items (43 total)

Margaret's desire was to go to Vassar for college. Her parents decided that she should go to Wheaton, so they took her to visit there. To convince her, Margaret's parents bargained with her that she could go to the girls' summer camp again if she…

Margaret recalls her first semester at Wheaton as a very happy one. She remembers going back to Evanston with other girls for her mother's birthday.

It was easy to make friends and there was so much going on. One night Margaret heard music outside just as she was ready to go to bed, and her friend Muriel urged her to come out. There was a group of boys serenading them that night.

Margaret recalls the coming of J. O. Buswell to the presidency at Wheaton College, replacing interim President Welsh who wanted to keep the position. She tells how Buswell's involvement in College Church split the congregation. Buswell himself was…

Margaret tells of Grace Van Hough who came to live with them and persuaded Adelle to let her buy a grand piano.  Adelle's piano went out but when Grace was leaving she took her piano with her and didn't bother to replace Adelle's piano. 

Kenneth reads from his journal about Easter morning at the Mortensons that he attended, and the service and his walk with Margaret to join a group of students. He recalls Mrs. Mortenson coming to them driving her new Buick car. 

Margaret reads letters from her mother about building a house and selling it for profit. One letter mentions the people she trusted for the buying of a lot and the building of the house. It turned out that she entrusted her resources and her projects…

Margaret tells of hospitality at the Mortensons. There was always someone living at their home for a year, or two, or more. That was normal and had become part of their life.

Miss. Torrey arranged with Margaret's mother to spend the day at her home because she lived too far from the college. This was good for Adelle to enjoy some company, especially after the death of her husband. 

Margaret tells about her mother Adelle trying to start a Café (it was very hard to find a place to eat in Wheaton). But the owner of the bakery where she wanted to do it would not spend the money needed, so Adelle gave up the idea.

Following Grandmother Mortenson's death Adelle sold the family's house in Evanston and moved to Wheaton. Lois came to live with them and Kenneth visited often.

Margaret's mother living on capital, possible life insurance, after her husband's death. She was still at 610 Irving Avenue in Wheaton.

Margaret tells again of Rufus Park, who took her father on an evangelistic tour in 1925. The goal was to reach with the Gospel people who were living in out-of-the-way places.

Margaret's father went back to work after some ten months of interruption for illness. He was the Curtis Publishing Company's credit manager. The company had very high standards and a lot of strain was involved in A.D.'s position there.

Margaret reads two December 1924 letters from Kenneth about her father's illness and him stopping working again. She describes her father as very melancholic and unable to sleep or work, though he was able to get around.

Margaret remembers her father's death, his first stroke, a mild one. She shares about his sad letters to her. He died at 50 years of age. 

Margaret tells about the beginning of the end of her father's life. A.D. had his first stroke during of after one the many football games to which he would take Margaret. His health began to decline steadily after that and working became a struggle…

Margaret reads a memo from her father about the sale of their house at 2400 Harrison St., Evanston. It was a comfortable house, well-maintained and clean.