Does the archives represent Mount Holyoke College as a community?

Anne K. Meade

Ignoring Bauman’s discussion of the actual definition of community, and going with my own beliefs on the subject, I suggest that the archives do represent Mount Holyoke as community. The primary sources found there link all of us together. Many traditions and activities discussed are the same as the current, perhaps with some modifications. There may be parts of the old Mount Holyoke that we wish would be reestablished again or there may be things that we are happy they got rid of. Regardless, it is important that we acknowledge every part of our school’s history as a part of our community because that is what makes Mount Holyoke the school it is today.

In the letters written by the alumni of Mount Holyoke it is easy to construct an opinion of what a particular woman was like. Through these, as well as their files containing demographic and other personal information, we begin to see women similar to ourselves in their strive towards leadership and success. Being able to see the things that are common (and also those that are not) enables current students to look at every woman who was ever at Mount Holyoke as a part of her own family. Although all experiences here are admittedly different, we all have had the same experience of attending this wonderful institution. We have found shoulders to lean on during our stay, as have those who came before us. In Mount Holyoke, most of us have found a comfortable, warm space that we are happy to call home for at least 4 years (maybe more!). The archives are able to represent these aspects and in turn we are able to define ourselves as an ever-growing community.