Views from Wellesley College

History

Sometimes when I am out at a show, looking for new material, I'll run across something so extraordinary that is from another college that I can't resist adding it to my collection. While not Mount Holyoke related, they still are charming and I thought at least some of you would like to see them.

The Images

All cards are available with both front and back scans, and comments about what is written on the front or back, either by the user or by the publisher, are included below.

Tree Day at Wellesley College

front "Tree Day at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass." A striking parade of seniors.

back Divided back, stamp box, unused. Published by G. T. Abell, Wellesley, Mass. #522

Tree Day at Wellesley College

front "Tree Day at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass." A parade of women dressed in white, before the seniors.

back Divided back, stamp box, postmarked Jun 10, 1907 7pm in Wellesley. Flag cancel, indecipherable transit mark. Published by G. T. Abell, Wellesley, Mass. #521. "Shall wirte you at least a note soon and tell you my idea about the flowers. Shall I expect you down to "Float"? If so, I want to get a room for you, as you will hardly want to go to Andover or Melrose that night. Let me hear from you. Lots of love, Grace. 10 June, 1907."

Class of 1915, Wellesley College

front Untitled image of students in white, sitting in pairs to spell "1915" on a hillside. A building in scaffolding is near them.

back Divided back, postmarked May 20, 1915 in Wellesley. "Can your recognize your only daugher? I am in the tail (front) of the nine. Tell Hallie She'd find a friend of hers hear! [sic] This was on May Day morning, after Chapel. Love, Olive"

Class of 1909, Wellesley College

front Untitled image of students in white, sitting in pairs to spell "1909" on a hillside. A building, and some observers, are behind them.

back Divided back, postmarked Jun 9, 1909 in Wellesley. "These are the Sophomores making the numerals on May-day. Next year we'll be doing that. Aff. Sister."

Class of 1909, Wellesley College

front Untitled image of students in regular clothing, sitting single file to spell "1909" on a hillside. A building, and some observers, are behind them. Back is labelled: "1909 - Forming Senior Numerals May Day"

A 1911er's Class Schedule, Wellesley College

front Mary W. Sawyer, class of 1911, turned a Wellesley College seal card into her first semester freshman year's class schedule by blocking it out with a ruler and penning in the classes and times. She went to school from Tuesday to Saturday; her first class was at 9am, and her last class of the day started at 2:25pm.

back Undivided back, postmarked Oct 16, 1907 9:30am in Wellesley. Flag cancel. Published by Charles O. Tucker, Boston. Written to Alfred P. Sawyer, Esq. - her father?

Freshmen, 1902, Wellesley College

front A smiling group of six women sitting on a stone wall in front of a residence. Back is hard to read in a scan; it says "Gertrude Francis Houghton. Showing Freshman styles in 1902." A sticker added later says "Wellsley [sic] College in 1902."

Wellesley College, circa 1895

front A group of women in dramatic clothing. Part of a set of four, one of which is labelled "Wellesley College '95." This one is labelled "Bisbee, H. M. Freeport, Maine" on the back. Photographer is G. Waldon Smith.

Wellesley College, circa 1895

front A group of women in dramatic clothing. Part of a set of four; one of which is labelled "Wellesley College '95." What a windy day - the white banner is whipping in the wind, and there are a half dozen toppled chairs in the background.

Wellesley College, circa 1895

front A group of women in graduation and street clothing by Lake Waban. Part of a set of four; this one is labelled "Wellesley College '95." Photographer is Partridge.

Wellesley College, circa 1895

front A group of women in dramatic clothing. Part of a set of four, one of which is labelled "Wellesley College '95." Photographer is Hearn.

Three Wellesley Photos

photo #1 These three photos were found together; none of them have labels, but the Wellesley College archivist was helpful with identifications. This photo is a nice grouping of women, several in cap and gown. Photo by Partridge (Boston and Vicinity). The archivist at Wellesley College tentatively identified this on 8/1/00 as a photo of the students who lived in Eliot House, a dormitory in the village of Wellesley; she said the two older women look like women pictured in those group shots.

photo #2 This is a Wellesley Tree Day scene; the shovel has an "81" on the handle, an "86 A. S." on the blade, and what looks like an "88" on the handle near her hand. Photo by Partridge (Boston and Vicinity). The shovel is used every year for Tree Day, and is still in use. The Wellesley archivist told me on 8/1/00 that they have the identical photo in their collection; it wasn't dated, but it was owned by Ione Morrison 1906.

photo #3 The Wellesley College archivist told me on 8/1/00 that this is Tree Day 1907.

Class of 1892, Wellesley College

front A group of women graduates in a wooded area. Photographer was G. Waldon Smith & Co., Portland, ME, although he also had a Boston office in the 1890s. Unlabelled, but identified on 7/31/00 as the Wellesley class of 1892 by the Wellesley College archivist.

Fencing Team, Wellesley College

front A group of women identified as the fencing team in a Wellesley College scrapbook, circa 1910.

May Day 1927, Wellesley College

front Students spell out the word "Wellesley" with their bodies. On the back is the following identification from World Wide Photos: "A Silent Cheer for Wellesley. Wellesley Freshmen form the name of their college on the campus during the annual May Day festivities and the Senior Class Day celebration. 5-10-27"

May Day 1913, Wellesley College

front Students form the numbers 1913 on the lawn near College Hall. The last class to do so; College Hall burned down 10 months later.

May Day 1923, Wellesley College

front Students form the numbers 1923 on a hillside. Inscription on the reverse: "Wellesley Girls Form Living 1923. Members of the sophomore class of Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., pay a tribute to the departing seniors by forming the numerals 1923 on the Tower Court Green. Dressed in white, with caps of daffodil yellow, the human letters sang, and cheered the upper classmen. This ceremony was part of the exercises held annually by the Wellesley students. Copyright the Keystone View Co."

Hoop Rolling, Wellesley College

front Inscription on the back: "Wellesley Seniors Forget Dignity To Roll Hoops" "Wellesley, Mass.....Temporarily casting aside the dignity that is considered synonymous with their status as seniors, fourth year girls at Wellesley College participate in the annual May Day hoop-rolling contest. The race was won by Miss Louise Schmidt of McKeesport, PA." An International Newsreel photo.

Celebrating May Day, Wellesley College

front Inscription on the back: "Wellesley College, the leading Women's University of America, celebrated May Day with great festivities and sports, and one of the chief contests was a Hoop Race, which was won by Miss Ann Fairfax Porter of Baltimore, Md. O.P.S. Girl Graduates who took part in the Hoop Rolling contest form a Guard of Honour for their fellow graduates, who received thier degrees on May Day." A Keystone View photo.

Wellesley Celebrates the May, 1927

front Inscription on the back: "Wellesley Celebrates the May. -- Wellesley, Mass. - Undergraduates marching to chapel between two rows of seniors in the annual Wellesley College May Day pageant. 5-8-27" From Wide World Photos.

The Egyptian Princess, 1908

front Inscription on the back: "The Egyptian Princess/Junior Barnswallows 1908"

The Pillar and the Plaything, 1910

front Inscription on the back: "The Pillar and the Plaything/Freshman Barnswallows 1910"

Lady Ursula, 1909

front Inscription on the back: "Lady Ursula/Soph. Barn. 1909."

Prince Charlie, 1906

front Inscription on the back: "Prince Charlie/Senior Barnswallows"

Junior Barnswallows, 1907

front Inscription on the back: "Junior Barnswallows 1907"

Class Picture, 1909

front Inscription on the back: "1909 Class Picture"

Tree Day, circa 1906

front Inscription on the back: "Tree Day 1906?"

Tree Day, 1907

front Inscriptions: "Tree Day 1907" "Mrs. Durant, President Hazard. and Miss Hill."

Lady Ursula, 1909

front Inscription on the back: "Lady Ursula/1909. Soph. Barn."

Tree Day, 1906

front Inscription on the back: "Tree Day 1906/1909's Freshman year"

Sophomore Class

front Inscription on the back: "Sophomore Class" "Ruth Hanford President"

The Winner of the May Day Hoop Rolling Race, 1925

front Inscription on the back: "The Winner of the May Day Hoop Rolling Race Wellesley, Mas......Above is pictured Miss Louise Owen of Detroit, Mich., with her bridal bouquet, presented to her after she had won the annual May Day hoop rolling cintest [sic] at Wellesley College. It is tradition at Wellesley that the senior winning the race will be the first of the class to be married. 5-4-25"

Students in their room, circa 1934

front No inscription on the back, but it was found in a Wellesley yearbook from 1934.

May Day 1925, Wellesley College

front Students form the numbers 1925 on a hillside in white caps and gowns. Stamped by Wellesley Studio, Wellesley, Mass. #8.

Wellesley Crew, circa 1886

front Eight women and their oars. Inscription on the back: "Wellesley College - Ellen Ropes Ladd Allen upper right hand corner." According to the Wellesley College Bulletin, 1875-1912, Ellen was a student at Wellesley from 1885 to 1887.

Wellesley Hoop Day, circa 1900

front Women chasing their hoops downhill. Photo by G. L. Abell of Wellesley.

Wellesley Hoop Day, circa 1900

front Women posed with their hoops in front of College Hall.

Wellesley students, 1894

front Six students attacking a platter of turkey. Inscription on the back: "After mid years 1894" Names of the students are listed as: E. Dunley, E. Meade, K. Holmes, M. Starr, M. Dimmick, A. Stevens.

Wellesley Crew, 1892

front Ten women in '92 sweaters, with oars.

Wellesley Crew, 1889

front The back has a faint inscription identifying this as the freshman crew, 1889. Names are included, but too faint to identify conclusively. Photo by Patridge of Boston.

College Girls Stereoview

front "College Girls" A stereoview published by Popular Series. No inscription or title.

1897 Graduate

front A woman in cap and gown. Inscription on reverse: "Mary Esther Tebbetts '97. Lynn Mass." Photo by Emily Stokes, Pelham Studios, 88 Boylston St., Boston.

1897 Graduate

front A woman in cap and gown. Inscription on reverse: "Sydna Ellen Pritchard Wellesley '97." Photo by Emily Stokes, Pelham Studios, 88 Boylston St., Boston.

Phi Sigma, 1896

front Inscriptions on the back identify this as Phi Sigma, 1896. All the women in the photo are identified. Katharine Lee Bates, writer of "America the Beautiful," is in the second row from the front, second from the right, in a light-colored striped dress with dark cuffs and belt.