Mount Holyoke's commencement history
By: Xiaowen Wang
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Perspectives
Think commencement. What images first come to your minds? White dresses, black gowns or the glorious moment of receiving a diploma? To many Mount Holyoke students, commencement is the most memorable moment in their academic lives; one that they have longed for four years. While the actual commencement ceremony itself is the crowning moment of any Mount Holyoke student's college career, the stories behind the traditions of commencement are just as memorable.
The first 1938 commencement at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary took place on Aug. 23. Leading up to the occasion was a debate on whether the event should be held at all since Mary Lyon didn't want to make the awarding certificates too much of a ceremony. After consultations with the Board of Trustees, however, Mary Lyon went ahead and agreed to the ceremony. That year, four seniors were handed diplomas by Rev. Joseph Condit, the secretary of the Board of Trustees.
In 1938, exams had to be taken in order to graduate. The exams were considered public events that lasted for three days, and ended on the Thursday morning of graduation day. They were oral exams that involved debates and long memorized essays interspersed with singing, musical compositions and calisthenics. In 1988, however, this tradition began to disappear when Mount Holyoke Female Seminary officially became Mount Holyoke College. As required by the Association of New England Colleges, the public oral exams were replaced by written final exams.
The tradition to honor Mary Lyon's grave with a laurel wreath was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century. The first laurel ceremony was reported by The Springfield Republican on June 19, 1900: "[The president and the vice-president] each carried an enormous wreath of laurel leaves and the other members of the class marched behind them, the first twenty-two wearing cap and gown. The seniors gathered about the iron fence which surrounds the grave and the college song was sung. Then the two wreaths were hung one on either gate post." In 1902, the laurel wreath became a chain and seniors twined it about the iron rail. This tradition became shaky when, in 1923, the laurel chain was replaced by a daisy chain because of the decreasing supply of laurel. Yet the laurel chain ceremony proved resilient and was reinstated by the class of 1925.
The first 1938 commencement at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary took place on Aug. 23. Leading up to the occasion was a debate on whether the event should be held at all since Mary Lyon didn't want to make the awarding certificates too much of a ceremony. After consultations with the Board of Trustees, however, Mary Lyon went ahead and agreed to the ceremony. That year, four seniors were handed diplomas by Rev. Joseph Condit, the secretary of the Board of Trustees.
In 1938, exams had to be taken in order to graduate. The exams were considered public events that lasted for three days, and ended on the Thursday morning of graduation day. They were oral exams that involved debates and long memorized essays interspersed with singing, musical compositions and calisthenics. In 1988, however, this tradition began to disappear when Mount Holyoke Female Seminary officially became Mount Holyoke College. As required by the Association of New England Colleges, the public oral exams were replaced by written final exams.
The tradition to honor Mary Lyon's grave with a laurel wreath was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century. The first laurel ceremony was reported by The Springfield Republican on June 19, 1900: "[The president and the vice-president] each carried an enormous wreath of laurel leaves and the other members of the class marched behind them, the first twenty-two wearing cap and gown. The seniors gathered about the iron fence which surrounds the grave and the college song was sung. Then the two wreaths were hung one on either gate post." In 1902, the laurel wreath became a chain and seniors twined it about the iron rail. This tradition became shaky when, in 1923, the laurel chain was replaced by a daisy chain because of the decreasing supply of laurel. Yet the laurel chain ceremony proved resilient and was reinstated by the class of 1925.