Celebrating Smith’s 150th

In September of 1875, Smith College opened its doors to 14 students and six faculty members. Ever since then, we’ve been pushing the world forward in profound ways. Smith—and Smithies—have been a force for change, transforming our society, our history, and the lives and leadership of women. Smith’s impact on the greater good has been undeniable.

Read President Sarah’s letter to the community launching our sesquicentennial. 

A Look Back at 150 Years

 

150 Years, 150 Stories

Smith College has an inspiring and complex story. Over the course of the year, we collected stories of the people, places, ideas, and initiatives—some new, some taken from our archives—that provide a rich, nuanced portrait of Smith’s place in the world, its influence on culture, and the powerful ways it has evolved and responded to the big issues of the day.

150th Anniversary

1909: Debating Women's Right to Vote

In this essay for the first issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Ada Comstock, class of 1897, expla...

  • 150th Anniversary
  • January 10, 2025
150th Anniversary

1942: When Smith Went to War

In this Quarterly profile, Burton, who began his presidential duties in 1910, is described as a “man...

  • 150th Anniversary
  • January 10, 2025
A male soldier salutes female soldiers as they march across the lawn carrying an American flag and a Smith College flag
150th Anniversary

1914: Student Ways and Means at Smith

English department lecturer Mary Lewis, class of 1894, addresses the question, “Is it true that Smit...

  • 150th Anniversary
  • January 10, 2025
150th Anniversary

1909: President Marion Le Roy Burton

In this Quarterly profile, Burton, who began his presidential duties in 1910, is described as a “man...

  • 150th Anniversary
  • January 10, 2025
Archival black and white of Marion Le Roy Burton sitting in a chair
Little Love Stories

Smith Allowed Me to Dream Bigger

Inspired by a book from a public library, Christy Hardin Smith ’91 found a whole new world at Smith.

  • Little Love Stories
  • January 9, 2025
150th Anniversary

Expanding Sophia Smith’s Dream

President Willie-LeBreton reflects on Smith’s history and how the college keeps moving forward.

  • 150th Anniversary
  • January 7, 2025
Sarah Willie-LeBreton smiling outdoors and sitting on a bench.

Lessons in History

Events throughout our sesquicentennial year offered unique looks into Smith’s long history. Dive into a couple that take you all the way back to the beginning.

150 Years of Smith College & Northampton

Smith President Sarah Willie-LeBreton and Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra ’96 hosted “150 years later—Smith + Northampton: A History of the College’s Founding” on Saturday, March 8—International Women’s Day and the college’s first Founder’s Day.

Laurie Sanders, Historic Northampton’s co-director and Smith College alumna ’88, took a closer look at the important connections between Northampton history and Smith College’s founding. Watch the recording.

Celebrating 150 Years of Student Life

On display on the ground floor of Neilson Library throughout 2025, this exhibit offered a glimpse into the social, academic, and athletic lives of Smithies over the last 150 years. Check out an astronomy class from the 1800s, a protest in 1956, a dance rehearsal from 1990, and more in this exhibit curated from the Smith College Archives.

Learn more about the display.

A group of Smithies walking away from the Grécourt Gates, smiling

1968 September
Washington, D.C.-area Smith students in front of the Grécourt Gates.
Grounds subject files, CA-MS-00137, box 264.1, folder 23

Game Changer

Smith has always been a place for “Game Changers”—people who challenge the status quo and make a real difference in the world. Their stories show how one person can spark big change.

Explore more profiles of Smith’s Game Changers.

Ann Baumgartner Carl ’39

In October 1944, Ann Baumgartner Carl ’39 became the first woman to fly a US Army Air Forces jet plane. Initially inspired by a school visit from Amelia Earhart, Carl was an aviator through and through. As a child, she’d often accompany her father to Newark Airport in New Jersey to watch the planes come in at night. After studying pre-med at Smith, she joined the public relations department at Eastern Airlines and began flying lessons at a nearby airport. Later, she joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) class of 1943 and was stationed at Camp Davis in North Carolina as a tow pilot. Multiple assignments followed, including stints as a test pilot. Then in March of 1944, she was assigned to the fighter test division at Wright Field in Ohio. Seven months later, she was in the cockpit of America’s first jet aircraft, the Bell YP-59A, making history. Later in life, Carl taught flight instruction for United Airlines and also became a respected science journalist.

Celebrate in Style

In honor of our sesquicentennial, we’ve put together a collection of gear ranging from mugs to T-shirts to notebooks. Let everyone know you’re proud to celebrate 150 years of Smithie magic.

Shop the 150th Collection