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“Smithies! Celebrating 150 Years of Student Life” on Display in Neilson

Exhibits

1968 Students at Grecourt Gates

Published February 14, 2025

Neilson Library
Ground Floor Gallery Wall
On display through 2025

As part of Smith College’s 150th celebration, the Libraries present “Smithies! Celebrating 150 Years of Student Life at Smith,” a compilation of photos curated from the Smith College Archives.

The sixteen photos chosen for the exhibit give viewers a glimpse of just a few of the thousands of Smithies through time, both at work and at play. The exhibit spans the 1880s through 2018 and includes moments such as dorm life, campus protests, astronomy classes, and even one of the world’s first women’s basketball games.

The College Archives document the life of the college by collecting materials created by students, faculty, and administrative and departmental staff during the course of their time at Smith. Learn more about the College Archives or visit the Special Collections reading room on the third floor of Neilson Library to view materials from the College Archives in person.
 

Celebrating 150 Years of Student Life at Smith

1880s Smith students taking the noon altitude in astronomy class

circa 1880s
Smith students taking the noon altitude in astronomy class.
Department of Astronomy records, CA-MS-00072, box 1229, folder 6 
The Smith College class of 1897 basketball team

1895
The Smith College class of 1897 basketball team playing in their sophomore year.
Athletics subject files, CA-MS-00167, box 1345, folder 17
Students socializing in Hubbard House

1924
Students socializing in the Hubbard House room of Betty Lewis and Charlotte Murray, both class of 1926.
Buildings records, CA-MS-00104, box 216, folder 7
International students at Smith College in 1928

1928
International students from China, England, France, Germany, India, Poland, and Russia. Photograph by Eric Stahlberg.
Student Clubs and Organizations records, CA-MS-00022, box 3015
Students in ecology class at a collecting trip to Lake Bray with Professor Ernest Driver

1934 November
Students in ecology class at a collecting trip to Lake Bray with Professor Ernest Driver.
Department of Biological Sciences records, CA-MS-00075, box 1257.1
Members of the Smith College Flying Club 1942

1942
Members of the Smith College Flying Club pose against the background of the Bird of Paradise, a Taylorcraft monoplane owned by the club members, in which more than thirty Smith students earned their pilot wings that year. 
Flying Club records, CA-MS-00024, box 3004.01
Students marching through campus and into Northampton 1956

1956 December
Students marching through campus and into Northampton before holding a mass meeting in John M. Greene Hall in support of the Hungarian Revolution. 
Student Demonstrations Collection records, CA-MS-00317, box 3023 
Rally Day show 1962

1962
A scene from the sophomore class Rally Day show. 
Rally Day Files, CA-MS-00030, box 3085.3
Washington, D.C.-area Smith students in front of the Grécourt Gates, 1968

1968 September
Washington, D.C.-area Smith students in front of the Grécourt Gates.
Grounds subject files, CA-MS-00137, box 264.1, folder 23
Students studying for Art 100, 1970

circa 1970
Students studying for ART 100.
Department of Art records, CA-MS-01070, box 1139
A demonstration at Smith as part of the nationwide anti-war student strike, 1970.

1970
A demonstration at Smith as part of the nationwide anti-war student strike.
Student Strike of 1970 collection, CA-MS-00031, box 3024, folder 22
Members of the Lesbian Alliance with their banner for the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, 1987

1987 October
Members of the Lesbian Alliance with their banner for the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Alliance records, CA-MS-00112, box 3016.1
A rehearsal of students in the Celebrations dance company, 1990

1990
A rehearsal of students in the Celebrations dance company.
Student Clubs and Organization records, CA-MS-00022, box 3003
Ada Comstock Scholars standing together near the Ada Comstock Center, 1992

1992
Ada Comstock Scholars standing together near the Ada Comstock Center. 
Ada Comstock Scholars Program records, CA-MS-01052, box 46
Smith Leadership Program students in the computer lab, 1994

1994
Smith Leadership Program students in the computer lab. Photograph by Jim Gipe.
Office of College Relations records, CA-MS-01050, box 168
Student leadership team for the Bridge Pre-Orientation Program, 2018

2018
Student leadership team for the Bridge Pre-Orientation Program.
Smith College Office for Equity and Inclusion records, CA-MS-01034, CA shared box 5

Contact

specialcollections@smith.edu