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November 15, 2002
Alumnae
Association of MHC: Keeping Connections Strong for 130 Years
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The
College's newest alumnae were among those carrying
signs celebrating the Alumnae Association's 130th anniversary
in May's laurel parade.
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More
than eighty years before women had the right to vote, own property
after marriage, or enroll at Harvard College, Mary Lyon urged
women to "attempt great things, achieve great things."
Mount Holyoke alumnae have been glad to oblige, presiding over
banks, courtrooms, and railroads; becoming U.S. cabinet members,
congresswomen, ambassadors, and state governors; and winning Oscars,
Emmys, Pulitzers, and Olympic gold medals. They have also achieved
great things collectively, thanks again to the foresight of Lyon,
who established the first alumnae organization through which they
could join forces for the good of themselves and their alma mater.
When she founded Mount
Holyoke Seminary in 1837, Lyon also established the Memorandum
Society, whose purpose was to focus on the permanence of the institution,
the future well-being of its students, and graduates' solidarity.
In 1872, by agreement of the alumnae, the Memorandum Society became
the National Association of Holyoke Alumnae (later the Alumnae
Association of Mount Holyoke College), expanding its mission to
include financial support of the school. This year marks the 130th
anniversary of the Alumnae Association, which now connects more
than 30,000 alumnae in work that nurtures relationships among
alumnae and between alumnae and the College, maintains cherished
traditions, and provides opportunities for alumnae to work on
behalf of Mount Holyoke and the Alumnae Association.
A success since its
inception, by 1906 the Alumnae Association boasted thirty-two
alumnae clubs throughout the United States, Europe, and China,
all working diligently to raise funds for dorm furnishings, memorials,
and campus building projects. With the outbreak of World War I,
association members labored not only for themselves and the College
but for the country, raising money for the Red Cross and other
relief efforts, sending volunteers to France, and sowing a war
garden that produced 2,000 bushels of potatoes and 17,400 jars
of canned vegetables. At the same time, they established the Alumnae
Quarterly, held Graduate (now Alumnae) Councils, raised funds
for student scholarships, and celebrated the association's
first fifty years. Even when formal meetings were postponed during
World War II, the association continued its work, nominating alumnae
to the College's board of trustees, organizing regional conferences,
and keeping alumnae informed of association and College activities.
Today the Alumnae
Association still supports MHC alumnae in numerous ways, including
coordinating reunions and educational conferences, offering fellowship
and career networking opportunities, leading educational tours
around the globe, building affinity group networks, publishing
the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Quarterly magazine, and supporting
a speakers' bureau of outstanding faculty, administrators,
and alumnae. The association also supports prospective and current
students through recruitment and admission efforts, the facilitation
of mentoring relationships, and the donation of funds for special
projects, such as construction of new campus buildings."What
the association has is an astounding legacy that continues to
foster alumnae bonds to each other and their alma mater for life.
There aren't many institutions that can claim more than 2,500
alumnae volunteers," says Sally J. Lemaire '68, executive
director of the Alumnae Association.
A timeline and photo
essay documenting important people and events of the association's
history are posted at www.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu/130.cfm,
and new photos will be added at the beginning of each month through
December. In addition, the Alumnae Association and the College
are launching the Lyon Lecture Series, an initiative honoring
the Alumnae Association's 130 years and the College's
successful achievement of goals set forth in The Plan for Mount
Holyoke 2003. Alumnae across the country will be invited to
attend thought-provoking lectures by MHC faculty in New York City,
Boston, southwest Florida, the greater Palm Beaches, Naples, and
Washington state, as well as northern and southern California.
Look for more details about the lectures at www.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu/item.cfm?id=231.
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