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History & Exhibits

Creating Community: Simmons College Residence Life, 1902-1965

At first most students were commuters, but as the years passed, more chose to live on campus and larger dormitories were built. To both protect students, and reassure parents, Simmons maintained a strict code of student conduct.  Students enjoyed a wide variety of activities on campus, ranging from afternoon teas to participation in dormitory governance to many annual, traditional events.

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Notable Women of Simmons College Digital Scrapbook Collection

The Notable Women of Simmons College Digital Library captures and makes accessible the lives of early college women through their scrapbooks and other memorabilia. These records not only offer insights into a student's college experiences, but also provide an entrée into understanding the social conditions and historical period in which these women lived, the first half of the 20th century. The collections aim to portray the lives and times of these pioneers, highlighting their intellectual achievements and leisure activities, as well as the cultural and historical context of their experiences while attending Simmons.

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The Buildings of Simmons College: The Main College Building and Academic Campus

The Massachusetts Legislature granted the charter to incorporate Simmons Female College on May 24, 1899, and extensive studies were carried out to help plan the College's curriculum and courses of study.   After much planning, Simmons College opened its doors on St. Botolph Street October 9, 1902 to its first class of 146 students.

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John Simmons and the Presidents of Simmons College

The College Archives is pleased to present this retrospective on Simmons College's legacy of leadership. 

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News from the Archives

Women Leaders Library Display

In honor of "Brave Women, Bold Ideas, Big Change," the Committee of 200's conference being held at Simmons on Tuesday, the College Library has prepared several exhibits celebrating women leaders and entrepreneurs.  Just inside the Library's entrance, books about women...

History of Convocation Exhibit at the College Archives

The Convocation ceremony at Simmons College has traditionally served as the official welcoming of students and faculty into the new academic year. Simmons Convocation began as a dedication to the College's founder, John Simmons. In honor of this year's Convocation...

College Archives Display of Early Children's Books

The College Archives invites the Simmons Community to visit a display of selections from the Archives' collection of historical children's books. Books by Lewis Carroll, Louise May Alcott, Beatrix Potter, and others--many dating back to the 1800s--are prominently featured, as...

College Archives Display of Historic Simmons Spring

The College Archives invites the Simmons Community to Think Spring and learn more about some of the College's most fun annual events!  The Archives has prepared an exhibit--complete with vintage photographs--on the history of Spring Spree and the Simmons Cup...

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