Age 17. Oak Lane, Moylan, PA. Born on 12/31/1924, in Philadelphia, PA. Died of burns (death certificate). Freshman at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA (resided at Homestead House). Was known as "Peg." Was also sometimes known as "Mary." "Wellesley College authorities reported...that four students who had checked out Saturday night with permission to be absent until 1 a. m. Sunday had not been heard from and that their families had been notified..." (The Boston Post, 11/30/1942). Attended the club with Harvard sophomore Arthur Silberberg, age 18, of New York, NY, dead. A visiting friend of Mr. Silberberg, Columbia University undergrad David Hillman, age 17, also of New York City, also perished with his Wellesley College companion Miss Sadie Fors, age 17, of Worcester, MA. Parents in Pennsylvania learned on Sunday morning their daughter was missing from reading newspaper accounts. Father went to Boston, identified her remains on Monday at Northern Mortuary with Miss Edith Adams, head of Homestead House. "Whitson, bowed in grief, knelt beside the body of his daughter on the floor...examining an initialed metal disk attached to a bracelet the girl was wearing when death claimed her" (Boston Traveler, 11/30/1942). "Physicians said Miss Whitson...died of suffocation" (Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/01/1942). Was a graduate of Wesstown High School, Wesstown, PA, 1942. One of 28 persons age 17 or younger known present when the blaze broke (14 dead, 14 survived). Was the youngest of seven Pennsylvania citizens taken, tied (with Alabama) as the fourth-most from any state after Massachusetts (406), New York (15) and New Hampshire (9). Was the 12th-youngest fire casualty overall (of 490) at age 17 years and 11 months. Parents Mr. and Mrs. T. Barcley and Elizabeth (Pennell) Whitson, same Moylan, PA, address. Burial at Middletown Friends Meeting Cemetery, Lima, PA. Middle name Anna.

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