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Sylvia Plath: A life in photographs: 1942-1950

Wellesley was an improvement from life in Winthrop for the Plath's. The quality of life and education were much improved in this western suburb of Boston. Plath spent a portion of each summer from 1943-1949 away at various camps. She began writing poetry and short stories too, publishing her works in school newspapers. In addition to creative writing, Plath began writing a diary. In the summer of 1950, Plath worked at a farm in nearby Dover. The next photograph gallery covers the period of 1950-1955, when Plath was an undergraduate at Smith College in Northampton.

Please contact me regarding use of the photographs on this website. No photographs may be used without my consent.



Caption:
Elmwood Road
Wellesley, Mass.

Reference:
A quite suburban street off Weston Road.


Caption:
26 Elmwood Road
Wellesley, Mass.

Reference:
Plath's primary home from 1942 to 1950.


Caption:
The breezeway

Reference:
Plath set a scene of The Bell Jar in the breezeway. See Chapter 10.



Caption:
Alice L. Phillips
Junior High School
Wellesley, Mass.

Reference:
Plath attended from 1944 to 1947. Now called Wellesley Middle School.


Caption:
Wellesley High School
Wellesley, Mass.

Reference:
Formerly called the Gamaliel Bradford Senior High School.
Plath attended from 1947 to 1950.


Caption:
Oceanic Hotel
Star Island, N.H.

Reference:
Plath attended a Unitarian conference here in June and July 1949.
Plath's journals and letters from this time are at the Lilly Library.


Caption:
Lookout Farm
South Natick, Mass.

Reference:
Plath worked at Lookout Farm during the summer of 1950.
See Plath's Journals, pages 10-12


Caption:
Lookout Farm
South Natick, Mass.

Reference:
The barn which features prominently in Plath's Journals. See pages 10-12 specifically.


Caption:
The grave of Aurelia Plath
Woodlawn Cemetery
Wellesley, Mass.

Reference:
Aurelia Plath passed away in 1994, the same year as Wilbury Crockett.


Caption:
The grave of Frank & Aurelia Schober
Woodlawn Cemetery
Wellesley, Mass.

Reference:
Plath's maternal grandparents. Aurelia passed away in 1956, during Plath's first year at Cambridge. See Letters Home.