Evening star., 1937-05-02
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

educational opportunities today so
freely offered to women, that little
over hundred years ago Mary Lyon.
whose intrepid spirit and stout heart
envisioned school for the girls of her
generation which should in some wise
be commensurate with those set up
for the opposite sex, should have been
considered somewhat, II not entirely,
mentally unbalanced.
Undeterred, with her little green
velvet bag swinging from her wrist,
she went from door to door, up and
down New England's midst, securing
subscriptions for such an educational
institution. The amounts she COL
lected ranged from 1000 to cents.
On May 7 and Mount Holyoke
College, direct successor to Mary
Lyons Mount Holyoke Seminary, will
focus attention on this hundredth
milestone in the history Of higher edu-
cation for women At this time Presi-
dent Mary E. Woolley. some 300 officers
Of administration and instruction and
over 1000 students will do honor to
the vision and courage OF Mary Lyon,
who, 100 years ago, on November g.,
1887, opened Mount Holyoke Seminary
with q class Of 80 young women and
with herself as the entire admins
trative stan. Thus began new chap
ter in educational history Of the Eng
disappearing world.
Campus to Be Crowded.
Colleges, universities and learned so
cieties throughout this country and
abroad will send delegates. and several
thousand alumnae, undergraduates
and friends of Mount Holyoke will
crowd her campus for the two-day pro-
gram. Dean Mary Ashby Cheek Of
the college and her volunteer commit
tee have been at work for months to
find accommodations In nearby towns
and cities for the huge gathering Of
oficial guests and alumnae.
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins,
first woman cabinet member, a Mount
Holyoke graduate and president OF
the class of 1902, will come from
her official duties in Washington to
join with her fellow-alumnae in doing
honor to her alma mater and to speak
Of the role played by college women
in our communities and national life.
Mrs. Mary r. Beard, as an outsider,
wife Of Charles A. Beard the his
torian, and a noted historian in her
own right, will discuss the future Of
womens education in its broader
aspects.
Mount Holyoke's record during the
past 100 years will be presented by
DR.. Woolley. Signally honored In many
educational fields, hers is the distinc-
ton Of having been the only woman
delegate chosen to represent America
at the Reduction and Limitation Of
Arms Conference at Geneva. This will
be one Of the last public pronounce
ments of DR.. Woolley as president
of Mount Holyoke College, from which
post she retires this June. after 81
years Of service so distinguished that
it has been acclaimed far and wide
in the United States, as well as
abroad The late Will Rogers, writ
ing his famous, Nation wide syndi-
Gated column. home from the Geneva
Conference, frequently and af1ec-
tionately referred to Mount Holyoke's
president as DOC Woolley."
Medals to Be Given.
Medals are also to be conferred
upon a group of alumnae for meritori-
Gus service to their alma mater.
Exhibits in the various academic
halls are to be on display in all Of
the college departments and a special
choral program by the four vested
choirs Of the college has been planned
for May 7.
OF especial interest to all lovers Of
Americana will be farnous collection
Of 100 first editions OF American
authors.
An elaborate dance recital. Chang
ing America" composed for the occa-
sion by Assistant Prof Marie Heginian
Of the department of physical educa-
ton. featuring additional Holyoke stu
dents, President Wooley's reception on
Mandelle terrace and q student sere-
made on Lower Lake will constitute
other high lights OF this centenary
observance Of the enlistment Of
Mount Holyoke SeminA.y, the first
institute designed exclusively for the
higher education Of women In America.
Before Mary Lyons day 1t is true
there were in existence certain occa-
sional private schools for young
females. To her belongs the credit for
the vision and the courage which
brought about an institution Of learn
ing for women patterned after that
which for two centuries America had
made available to men, founded on
the college system Of endowment by
public gifts, managed by trustees.
Task Was Hard One.
How incredibly hard was her task
it is difficult for us of this century
to visualize. Everywhere she was