The papers comprise the following: a file containing letters, photographs and an ADC programme (1); a volume of poetry (2); and a file containing a scan of a 1952 dance card and a 1953 letter home (3), as follows:
1) The file contains chiefly photocopies of letters written by Shirley Wright to her parents during her first year at Girton, 1950-51: the letters are dated October 1950; December 1950 (x2); January 1951; February 1951 (x2) and May 1951 (x2). They refer to lectures and other academic work, with occasional mention of Alison Duke; Girton events; financial matters; and domestic and social matters. S W often asks her parents to send various items from home, including rationed food items. Specific Girton events referred to include a College dance in December 1950; Founder's Memorial Lecture February 1951; and the College Feast May 1951. She also mentions a trip to Oxford with a friend in February 1951 and a punting trip in May 1951. The file also contains the following:
i) modern copies of two photographs of a punting trip on the Cam, June 1952, showing Shirley Wright, Dorothy Killick of Girton, and Hugh Bowden of St John's College, together with a related letter from Shirley Stanley [no date];
ii) photocopy of a photograph by Stearn & Sons of Girton Table Tennis Players 1950-51, together with partial key to names, including Shirley Wright, Naomi Macleod, Anne Peter, Brenda Sheail, Isabel Woodhead, Pauline Crispin, Jo Shipley, Lesley Donnison and Joan Kerr;
iii) photocopy of programme for John Barton's 'That's All One', a production at the ADC, October 1950, to which S W refers in her letter of 22 October 1950.
2) 'The Queen's Garland: Tudor poems collected in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II' compiled by M C Bradbrook, 1953. This copy was given as a prize to Shirley Wright when she and her future husband, Michael were dancing a 'spot' waltz at the College's Coronation party, 1953. During the dance a spotlight rotated and when the music stopped the couple on whom the light shone got a prize. Michael, then a student at Pembroke College was also given a copy.
3) File containing scans of the following: dance programme for a Girton College Ball held on 29 November 1952, signed by various including Michael [Stanley]; and a letter to her parents, June 1953, in which Shirley mentions a visit to Hughes Hall and the purchase of items off ration at Sainsbury’s, with which she made a meal for herself and Michael, and says she will let them know about Degree Day soon.