Personal Correspondence, 1964 - 1970

The Susan Korman Kahan Papers comprise 16 boxes and span the years 1963-1970. The collection is arranged in five series: the Cherub/National High School Institute (NHSI), Personal Correspondence, Northwestern Memorabilia, Other Memorabilia, and Course Materials.

The collection includes four scrapbooks, personal correspondence to and from Kahan, course notes, class programs, photographs, programs from dramatic and musical performances she attended, and newspaper and magazine articles dating to her time at Northwestern. Kahan documented her time and travel as a college student in detail, particularly in her freshman, junior, and senior years. The collection does not contain extensive material from the year 1966-67, her sophomore year.

The Cherub/National High School Institute (NHSI) series contains a scrapbook from Kahan’s time at this summer program, including memorabilia from the program, as well as a group photo and a personal essay titled “My Philosophy of Education.”

The Personal Correspondence series contains correspondence from her freshman year at Northwestern, correspondence with friends and family back in the U.S. during her year in France, and correspondence with the friends she met while in France (including letters in French). The outgoing correspondence contains a descriptive note written by Kahan. Of special note are letters written by Kahan to her high school boyfriend, Jon Horne, which provide insight into life as a woman and Northwestern student in the 1960s, and letters written by Kahan focusing on social and religious concerns.

The Northwestern Memorabilia series contains a sorority paddle, programs and fliers for Northwestern events (including the Waa-Mu show), as well as photos, magazines, and book covers related to Northwestern, and scrapbooks from her freshman and senior years at Northwestern. The scrapbooks contain calendars, ticket stubs, letters, postcards, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia.

The Other Memorabilia series contains programs, tickets stubs, photos, magazines, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia from Kahan’s college years but not directly related to Northwestern. This series includes a scrapbook and memorabilia from her junior year studying abroad in France. Some of the material from her time in France is in French.

The Course Materials series contains class notes and study materials, some of which are in French.