Alumnae Oral History Project
Smith Digital Collections
From 2010 through 2017, the Smith College Archives has conducted interviews with alumnae returning for Reunion week. In these videotaped oral histories, now part of the permanent collection of the Smith College Archives, alumnae recall memories of their years at Smith, from Opening Convocation and Friday teas, to life-changing Junior Year Abroad events, and Senior year reality-checks. They reflect on their experiences and the political and social issues that affected them, as well as the influences of national and global issues on their time at Smith. Speaking candidly, they reflect on their first encounters with classmates of different backgrounds, of the friendships that have grown and lasted long after graduation, and the accomplishments they have attained. These alumnae, whose histories were recorded during 30-minute sessions in Alumnae Gymnasium, home to the Smith College Archives and the Sophia Smith Collection, take their return to campus as an opportunity to express how they believe Smith has changed over the years, as well as meaningful ways in which it has remained the same—all through the lens of their personal experiences.
Click here to view the Alumnae Oral History Project's finding aid.
Class Decades
Select the class year to view transcripts and full video.
1940-1949
1950-1959
1960-1969
1970-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-2009
2010-2019
About the Alumnae Oral History Project
The Alumnae Oral History Project is coordinated by Kelly Anderson, oral historian for the Special Collections, and the interviews are conducted by her students in the Archives Concentration. This project has been generously funded over the years by the Office of the President, and the Smith College Libraries. For more information about the project, please contact Kelly Anderson: kpanders@smith.edu All oral history interviews on this webpage are copyrighted. They cannot be copied or downloaded. To request a video copy or transcript of an interview, please contact College Archivist Nanci Young: nyoung@smith.edu