Emma arranged her collection inside her own house. She showed interest in decorating her own space from her times at Mount Holyoke. Her roommate, Isabella Thomas, describes Emma’s purchases of rugs and such in letters written to her husband.
Frank Moore, who was the executor of her estate to President Woolley at Mount Holyoke, wrote in his letters that he did not see anything of value left at Emma’s house after the City of Pasadena took some of her collection first, though he would still be willing to send President Woolley the rest if she so desired.
Her early collected works were most likely reminders of her trips across the world and carefully chosen.
(Information extracted from Emily Wazlak’s paper on Emma Dickinson)
Fun fact: Emma’s collection is currently owned by Mount Holyoke College!