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Smith College. Alumnae Association

 Organization

Biography

The year was 1881 and members of the class of 1880 had gathered on campus to celebrate their first-year reunion. As they watched the new group of graduates, the young alumnae were overcome with a sense of pride in Smith's educational legacy and immediately felt responsible for instilling those same feelings in future classes. Before the end of that reunion weekend, the idea had been hatched to found their own group-an association-that would continually revitalize the connection they felt to Smith and to each other. The class of 1880 invited the new graduates, as well as the class of 1879, to join them in their venture, and together they drew up a constitution that laid the groundwork for a world-class organization. Their purpose was simple:"To further the well-being of the college and its graduates by increasing the interest of members in the college and in each other."

Forty-seven alumnae first pledged to uphold that mission, and to this day the Alumnae Association of Smith College, which was officially incorporated in 1931, has never strayed from it. Originally conceived as a dues-paying organization, the association is now all-inclusive and boasts a worldwide membership of well over 40,000. It has grown and prospered into a vital organization that continually meets the needs of alumnae and the college community. While remaining true to the time honored traditions that alumnae treasure, the Alumnae Association provides innovative programs and services which respond to the interests of our diverse alumnae population. Online publications, services, volunteer resources, and educational opportunities in addition to live programs that connect alumnae with current students, fellow graduates and faculty members, all provide avenues for alumnae to remain close to Smith in ways that are most meaningful to them.

Found in 18 Collections and/or Records:

Alumnae Association records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-01048
Abstract

The Alumnae Association was founded in 1880 and officially incorporated in 1931. Its records consist of Director's files, Board of Director's minutes, Director of Clubs files, LGBTQ Alumnae Alliance records, honorary degree files, reunion files, Alumnae House files, Alumnae Fund files, and class letters.

Dates of Materials: 1877 - 2019

Alumnae College records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-00306
Abstract

The Alumnae College records document an event that takes place during commencement and includes brochures, lecture notes, speeches, reading lists, memos, correspondence, minutes, schedules, press releases, newspaper clippings, photographs, and video recordings.

Dates of Materials: 1933 - 2001

Alumnae Groups records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-01014
Abstract

The collection contains records of the Alumnae Association and Smith Clubs.

Dates of Materials: 1887 - 2009

Capen, Jane (Photo album), 1934-1941

 File — Box 1: [Barcode: 310183630013273]
Scope and Contents

Photo album of Jane Capen, Class of 1938, containing photographs of her family, years at Smith, and travels after college.

Dates of Materials: 1934-1941

Class of 1956 50th Reunion Book, 2006

 File — Box CA Shared 162: [Barcode: 310183631051538]
Scope and Contents From the Series:

The Class of 1956 Records contain materials describing the history and activities of the Class of 1956, including materials from commencement, reunions, and other important events. Types of materials include photographs, invitations, songs, newspaper clippings, programs, letters, and other memorabilia.

Individual biographical files are also available, and often include photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters and correspondences, and class notes.

Dates of Materials: 2006

Class of 1960 50th Reunion Book, 2010

 File — Box CA Shared 162: [Barcode: 310183631051538]
Scope and Contents From the Series: The Class of 1960 Records contain materials describing the history and activities of the Class of 1960, including materials from commencement, reunions, and other important events. Types of materials include photographs, invitations, songs, newspaper clippings, programs, letters, questionnaires, and other memorabilia. Individual biographical files are also available, and often include photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters and correspondences, and class...
Dates of Materials: 2010

Class of 1970 50th Reunion Book, 2020

 File — Box CA Shared 161: [Barcode: 310183630052123]
Scope and Contents From the Series:

The Class of 1970 Records contain materials describing the history and activities of the Class of 1970, including materials from commencement, reunions, and other important events. Types of materials include photographs, invitations, songs, newspaper clippings, programs, letters, and other memorabilia.

Individual biographical files are also available, and often include photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters and correspondences, and class notes.

Dates of Materials: 2020

Class of 1974 15th Reunion Book, 1989

 File — Box CA Shared 161: [Barcode: 310183630052123]
Scope and Contents From the Series:

The Class of 1974 Records contain materials describing the history and activities of the Class of 1974, including materials from commencement, reunions, and other important events. Types of materials include photographs, invitations, songs, newspaper clippings, programs, letters, and other memorabilia.

Individual biographical files are also available, and often include photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters and correspondences, and class notes.

Dates of Materials: 1989

Class of 1982 15th Reunion Book, 1997

 File — Box CA Shared 161: [Barcode: 310183630052123]
Scope and Contents From the Series:

The Class of 1982 Records contain materials describing the history and activities of the Class of 1982, including materials from commencement, reunions, and other important events. Types of materials include photographs, invitations, songs, newspaper clippings, programs, letters, and other memorabilia.

Individual biographical files are also available, and often include photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters and correspondences, and class notes.

Dates of Materials: 1997

Elizabeth Crocker Lawrence papers

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-00393
Abstract

Alumna. President of the Alumnae Association. Contains correspondence, diaries, journals, news clippings, photographs and publications documenting the life of Elizabeth Crocker Lawrence (Clarke), Class of 1883.

Dates of Materials: 1840 - 2008; Majority of material found within 1880 - 1945

Elizabeth Kemper Adams Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-00372
Abstract

Contains photographs, newspaper clippings, syllabi and published articles related to the professional life of Elizabeth Kemper Adams.

Dates of Materials: 1899 - 1915

Jane Mead von Salis papers

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-01230
Abstract

This collection contains the records of Jane Mead von Salis, relating to her experience as a student at Smith College in the 1940s and an alumna active with the Class of 1948 and the Alumnae Fund. von Salis studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland during her junior year. As an alumna she founded the Smith Europe Network in 1979.

Dates of Materials: 1935 - 2010

Katherine Thompson Cowen papers

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-00387
Abstract

Alumna. General Secretary of Alumnae Association. Contains a photograph album documenting the student life of Katherine Cowen as well as photographs, correspondence, news clippings, and a scrapbook relating to her professional life.

Dates of Materials: 1899 - 1980; Majority of material found within 1916 - 1980

Reunion photo albums, 1958-1993

 File — Multiple Containers
Scope and Contents

6 photo albums from the 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1993 reunions

Dates of Materials: 1958-1993

Reunion Themes and Parade Signs, 1960-2015

 Series
Identifier: Accession 2018-A-0093
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The Alumnae Association records contain a broad range of material, from departmental files like those from the Director, the Board, Alumnae Council and Alumnae Fund to material that relates to the alumnae themselves, such as the Centennial Archives files and reunion files. Of particular interest, for their culture-of-the-time revelatory nature, are the multiple decades of reunion class letters and correspondence from alumnae in the early part of the twentieth century.

Dates of Materials: 1960-2015

Smith Alumnae Quarterly records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-01119
Abstract

Smith Alumnae Quarterly is the alumnae magazine of Smith College. The collections contains files and records from the magazine's editors and staff relating to its creation and publication, the conception and writing of articles, and photographs and artwork.

Dates of Materials: 1857 - 2020

Smith Club of Philadelphia records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-MS-00319
Abstract

The Smith Club of Philadelphia records contain minutes, membership directories, programs, financial records, and correspondence documenting the club's activities.

Dates of Materials: 1924 - 1997

Wallis, Sarah (Sas) Stevens (Scrapbook), 1934-1938

 File — Box 1: [Barcode: 310183630013273]
Scope and Contents

The personal scrapbook of Sarah (Sas) Wallis Stevens, Class of 1938, containing photographs and clippings from her years at Smith.

Dates of Materials: 1934-1938