Caroline DiOrio papers (MSS-0031)

The collection consists primarily of letters written by Clare Gomnes, superintendent of the Sophia Little Home from 1948-1955, to her friend, Caroline DiOrio. In her letters, Gomnes describes everyday life in the home, which was a residence for unmarried mothers.

Gomnes frequently mentions her administrative duties as superintendent, including writing reports, preparing for board meetings, and hiring nurses and housekeepers, as well as her caregiving duties, such as accompanying expectant mothers or sick babies to the hospital in the middle of the night. She describes special events including Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas pageants, and everyday group activities in the home. She also shares anecdotes about the personal lives of residents.

In several letters, Gomnes expresses her affection and concern for the residents and their babies, as well as her sense of fulfillment in her work. She leaves the home to return to Boston in 1955.