1996 Founder's Day Features Expanded Festivities to Hail Mary

Each November, on the Sunday closest to the day that Mount Holyoke Female Seminary first opened its doors to students in 1837, the College community gathers to commemorate the vision of its founder, Mary Lyon. This year's celebration is particularly significant, for November 10 is exactly one hundred days before Lyon's 200th birthday (February 28, 1997).

The tradition of eating ice cream at Lyon's grave (at 6 am!) will continue, and several new aspects are being added to the celebration this year. The Founder's Day ceremony has been moved to the evening, so students may enjoy "gracious dinners" (festive food served by candlelight in a decorated dining room) in their residence halls before gathering in Abbey Chapel at 8 pm to hear a talk on "Mary Lyon's Vision and the Shaping of Our Priorities" by M. Elizabeth Tidball '51.

"My intent is to honor Mary Lyon and to show how her vision lives today as we redefine our mission into the new century," Tidball explained. An accomplished scientist, she is nationally acclaimed for her pioneering research into the effects of women's education. A former MHC trustee and recipient of seventeen honorary degrees, Tidball is currently lead author of a book entitled Taking Women Seriously: Lessons and Legacies from Women's Colleges.

Winners of the Sarah Williston prizes (awarded to the top five students in the upper classes) and new members of the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa will also be recognized at Founder's Day. In addition, astronaut Dan Barry will present to President Creighton a key (a replica of one to the original Mount Holyoke seminary building) which he took on his January space shuttle flight. After the ceremony (weather permitting), there will be a candlelight procession to Mary Lyon's grave site. A wreath will be placed on her grave, and the alma mater will be sung.