Smith College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Smith College

Motto	Ἐν τῇ ἀρετῇ τὴν γνῶσιν (Greek)
Motto in English	To Virtue, Knowledge (2 Peter 1:5)
Type	Private liberal arts women's college
Established	1871; 154 years ago (1871) (opened 1875; 150 years ago (1875))
Accreditation	NECHE
Academic affiliation	COFHE Seven Sisters
Endowment	$2.4 billion (2022)
President	Sarah Willie-LeBreton
Academic staff	285
Students	2,873 (2022-23)
Undergraduates	2,523 (2022-23)
Postgraduates	401 (fall 2018)
Location	Northampton, Massachusetts , U.S. 42°19′3″N 72°38′15″W / 42.31750°N 72.63750°W / 42.31750; -72.63750
Campus	Small-town
Colors	Blue with gold trim
Nickname	Pioneers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – NEWMAC

Smith College is a private college for women in Northampton, Massachusetts. It focuses on a wide range of subjects, known as liberal arts. The college was started in 1871 by Sophia Smith and opened its doors in 1875.

Smith is part of the historic Seven Sisters colleges. This is a group of older women's colleges in the Northeastern United States. It is also a member of the Five College Consortium. This means students can take classes at nearby colleges like Mount Holyoke College and Amherst College. On campus, you can visit the Museum of Art and the beautiful Botanic Garden. The famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the garden.

Smith College offers many different subjects and programs. Students choose a main subject, called a major. They also take a writing class in their first year. Smith was the first women's college to offer a degree in engineering. The college welcomes women for undergraduate studies. It also offers graduate degrees for all genders. Smith was the first women's college to join the NCAA. Its sports teams are called the Pioneers.

Many famous women have studied at Smith College. These include writers, journalists, activists, and politicians. Two First Ladies of the United States also attended Smith. Graduates have won many awards, like the Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award.

History of Smith College

How Smith College Started

A view of Smith's campus around 1900

Smith College began in 1871 because of a gift from Sophia Smith. She was 65 years old when she received a large inheritance. She decided to use her money to create a college for women. She wanted women to have the same education opportunities as men. The college first opened in 1875 with 14 students and 6 teachers.

In the 1890s, the college campus was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. He was a famous American landscape architect. He planned it like a botanical garden with many different plants. By 1915, Smith had 1,724 students and 163 teachers. Today, the campus is 147 acres. It has over 1,200 types of trees and shrubs. Smith is the largest private college for women in the United States.

LTJG Harriet Ida Pickens and ENS Frances Wills, first African-American WAVES to be commissioned. They were members of the final graduating class at USNR Midshipmen's School (WR) Northampton, Massachusetts on December 21, 1944.

During World War II, Smith College was a training ground for women officers. These officers were part of the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Naval Reserve. The training school was even called "USS Northampton." On August 28, 1942, 120 women started their training there.

Smith College in the 21st Century

In 2015, the college decided to make its research available online for free. This is called an open-access policy.

On September 15, 2022, the college announced a new president. Sarah Willie-LeBreton became the 12th president of Smith College on July 1, 2023.

Leaders of Smith College

Smith College has had 11 presidents and two acting presidents. Since 1975, most of Smith's presidents have been women.

• Laurenus Clark Seelye 1875–1910
• Marion LeRoy Burton 1910–1917
• William Allan Neilson 1917–1939
• Elizabeth Cutter Morrow 1939–1940 (acting president)
• Herbert Davis 1940–1949
• Benjamin Fletcher Wright 1949–1959
• Thomas Corwin Mendenhall 1959–1975
• Jill Ker Conway 1975–1985
• Mary Maples Dunn 1985–1995
• Ruth Simmons 1995–2001
• John M. Connolly 2001–2002 (acting president)
• Carol T. Christ 2002–2013
• Kathleen McCartney 2013–2023
• Sarah Willie-LeBreton 2023–Present

Academics and Learning

Smith's campus as it appears today

Smith College has 285 professors and 50 different subjects to study. There is one teacher for every nine students. Smith was the first women's college in the U.S. to offer its own engineering degree. The Picker Engineering Program teaches students about many types of engineering.

In 2008, Smith made SAT scores optional for college applications. This means students do not have to submit their SAT scores if they do not want to.

Studying Abroad

Smith has its own study abroad programs in four European cities. These are Paris, Hamburg, Florence, and Geneva. Students in these programs must speak the local language. Many students live with local families. Almost half of Smith's junior students study in another country. They can use Smith's programs or choose from over 40 other places worldwide.

Special Programs

The Center for Women in Mathematics invites math students from other colleges to study at Smith for a year. This program helps young women improve their math skills. It also offers a special year of math study for women who did not major in math.

The Louise W. and Edmund J. Kahn Liberal Arts Institute supports special research projects. These projects bring together different subjects and ideas. Students can become Kahn Fellows and work with teachers and visiting experts.

Smith also has a leadership program called the Phoebe Reese Lewis Leadership Program. Students learn public speaking, teamwork, and how to be good leaders.

The "Praxis: The Liberal Arts at Work" program helps students get internships. All undergraduate students are guaranteed one college-funded internship. This helps students get experience in many fields, like arts, media, and health.

Popular Subjects to Study

Based on 2021 graduates, these were the most popular subjects:

• Research & Experimental Psychology
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Political Science & Government
• Engineering Science
• History
• English Language & Literature
• Mathematics
• Economics
• Computer Science

Ada Comstock Scholars Program

Ada Comstock, class of 1897

The Ada Comstock Scholars Program is for students who are older than typical college age. About 100 women, from their mid-twenties to over sixty, are part of this program. Ada Comstock Scholars take the same classes as other students. They can study full-time or part-time. They can live on or off campus. Financial help is available for those who need it.

This program started in 1968 and became official in 1975. It is named after Ada Louise Comstock Notestein. She graduated from Smith in 1897. She was a professor and dean at Smith. Later, she became president of Radcliffe College. Ada Comstock believed that learning is a lifelong journey.

Graduate Studies

Smith's graduate programs welcome applicants of any gender. Students can earn master's degrees in teaching, fine arts, and social work. They can also get a Master of Science in biology or exercise studies. There are also Ph.D. programs in social work.

The Smith College School for Social Work is well-known for its focus on clinical social work. This means it teaches students how to work directly with people. The school offers a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree. It also has a Ph.D. program for social workers who want to be leaders in research and practice.

Smith also works with other colleges in the Five College Consortium for some Ph.D. programs.

Admissions and Rankings

How to Get In

U.S. News & World Report said in 2022 that Smith is a "most selective" college. This means it is hard to get into.

For the class entering in fall 2023, Smith received almost 10,000 applications. It accepted about 19% of applicants. About 630 students enrolled. Smith's applications went up a lot. This is because the college decided to offer "loan-free" financial aid. This means students get grants instead of loans.

College Rankings

Smith College is ranked highly among liberal arts colleges.

• U.S. News & World Report ranked Smith tied for 15th best liberal arts college in the U.S. in 2021.
• It was also ranked 8th for "Best Value."
• Forbes ranked Smith 81st overall among 650 colleges in 2019.
• Kiplinger's Personal Finance placed Smith 16th for best value liberal arts colleges in 2019.
• Washington Monthly ranked Smith 23rd among liberal arts colleges in 2020. This ranking looks at how colleges help the public good.

Smith College is officially approved by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Traditions and Campus Life

Living on Campus

Most undergraduate students at Smith live in houses on campus. This helps students feel like they are part of a community. Smith College does not have typical dorms. Instead, it has 41 different houses. These houses have many different styles, from old 18th-century homes to modern ones.

A fun tradition at Smith is eating Sophia Smith's molasses cookies. These cookies are often served at the Friday afternoon tea in each house. Students, teachers, staff, and alumni gather to chat.

There are also special places for students of color to gather. The Mwangi Cultural Center and Unity House help students build their community. Mwangi was first opened in 1968. Unity House is home to 11 cultural groups on campus.

The Julia McWilliams Child '34 Campus Center at Smith College.

New buildings on campus include the Julia McWilliams Child '34 Campus Center. This is a place for students to gather. The Olin Fitness Center is a modern gym. Ford Hall is a science and engineering building. It helps students and teachers work together on new ideas.

The campus also has a beautiful botanic garden. It has many special gardens and old glass greenhouses from 1895.

Smith College Houses

Smith College has many different houses where students live. Each house has its own student government. Students can stay in the same house all four years or move to different ones. The houses used to collect dues, but this stopped in 2019. This was to help students who might not be able to pay.

The houses are grouped into four main areas: Upper and Lower Elm Street, Green Street, Center Campus, and the Quadrangle. In 2019, the college started using new names for these areas: Ivy, Paradise, Mountain, and Garden. These new names group houses by size, not just location.

Green Street Houses

• Hubbard House – This house is famous because a fictional president lived there on a TV show. Julia Child, a famous chef, also lived here.
• Lawrence House – The poet Sylvia Plath lived in this house.
• Morris House – Built in 1891, it is named after Kate Morris Cone.
• Tyler House – Named after William Seymour Tyler, an early college trustee. Former First Lady Barbara Bush lived here.
• Washburn House – Named for former trustee and senator William B. Washburn. During World War II, it was a Spanish-speaking house for students.
• 44 Green Street
• 54 Green Street

Center Campus Houses

• Cutter House
• Chapin House – The author Margaret Mitchell lived here. The staircase in Chapin House inspired the staircase in her famous book, Gone With the Wind.
• Haven/Wesley Houses
• Hopkins House
• Park Complex
  • Park Annex – One of two new houses for students with minority identities.
• Sessions Complex – This is the oldest house on campus. It has a secret passageway.
• Tenney House
• Ziskind House

Upper Elm Street Houses

The Botanic Gardens at Smith College

• Capen House – Built in 1825, it is designed in the Classical Revival style. It is named after Bessie Talbot Capen.
• Gillett House – Connected to Northrop house. It has the only vegan/vegetarian dining hall on campus.
• Lamont House – Built in 1955, it was the first house built after the Quad houses. It is named for Florence Corliss Lamont.
• Northrop House
• Parsons Complex
  • Parsons Annex – One of two new houses for students with minority identities.
• Talbot House – Built in 1909. Its mascot is the moose. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan lived here. It is also named for Bessie Talbot Capen.

Lower Elm Street Houses

• Albright House
• Baldwin House – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin lived here.
• Chase House – This house used to be a school for girls. It is now a substance-free residence. It is named after Mary Ellen Chase, a writer and English professor.
• Conway House – This house is for Ada Comstock Scholars and their families. It is named after Smith President Jill Ker Conway.
• Duckett House – Built in 1803, it is one of the oldest buildings on campus. It is the smallest traditional house. Residents are called "Ducks," and there is a "duck shrine" in the common room. It is named for Eleanor Duckett, an English professor.
• 150 Elm Street

East Quadrangle Houses

• Cushing House – Named for math professor Eleanor P. Cushing. Gloria Steinem lived here.
• Emerson House
• Jordan House – Built in 1922, named for Mary Augusta Jordan, head of the English Department.
• King House – Named for Franklin King, who managed buildings and grounds for 50 years.
• Scales House – Named after Laura Woolsey Lord Scales, the college's first dean of students.

West Quadrangle Houses

• Comstock House – Named after Ada Comstock, a former dean and president of Radcliffe College.
• Gardiner House
• Morrow House – Named after Elizabeth Cutter Morrow, a former acting president.
• Haynes House – This house was renamed in 2024 to honor mathematician Euphemia Haynes.
• Wilson House – Named after Martha Wilson.
• Paradise Apartments – Each apartment complex is named after a notable Smith alumna.

Campus Stories

Smith College has many old stories and ghost tales about its historic buildings. Some people say it is the most haunted college in America. One story is about Sessions House. People say it is haunted by Lucy Hunt, who died of a broken heart. The house has a secret staircase where Lucy supposedly met her lover.

Clubs and Sports

Smith College has 11 varsity sports teams. There are also more than 120 clubs and organizations for students.

Athletics

Smith's sports teams are called the Pioneers. This name started in 1986. It shows the spirit of Smith students and the college's important role in women's sports. The first women's basketball game was played at Smith in 1893.

Smith was the first women's college to join the NCAA. The new team logo connects Smith's early women athletes to today's competitive students. Smith athletes won early national intercollegiate women's tennis championships.

Smith College's official color is white with gold trim. The college logo is blue and yellow. Sports teams usually wear blue and white or blue and yellow uniforms. Other club sports can choose their own colors and mascots.

Smith has a system of class colors that changes each year. These colors are yellow, red, blue, and green. Incoming students get the color of the previous year's graduating class. They keep this color until they graduate. Alumni also use their class color at reunions.

Cultural Groups

There are 11 official cultural organizations at Smith. They are part of a group called UNITY. These include groups for Asian, Black, Chinese, South Asian, Indigenous, International, Korean, Latin American, Multiethnic, Caribbean, and Vietnamese students. The Black Students’ Alliance is the oldest of these groups. In 2012, the Weaving Voices Archives Project started. It helps record the history of students of color at Smith.

Yearly Events

Convocation is the start of the fall semester. It is a chance for new students to experience Smith's traditions. Returning students also enjoy it as a welcome-home party. Students dress up in creative ways. Seniors wear special "senior hats" for the first time.

Mountain Day happens early in the fall. The college president chooses a sunny autumn day. Classes are canceled when bells ring at 7:15 AM. Students look forward to this day. Many go on trips or enjoy outdoor activities. The college provides packed lunches. Many houses go apple-picking together. It is now common to wear flannel on Mountain Day.

Cromwell Day is named after Otelia Cromwell, Smith's first African-American student. It also honors her niece, Adelaide Cromwell, Smith's first African-American faculty member. This day started in 1989. Afternoon classes are canceled. Students can attend talks, workshops, and cultural events. These events focus on topics like racism and diversity.

Rally Day started in 1876 to celebrate George Washington's birthday. In 1894, a "rally" became part of the event. It focused on patriotism and women's education. In 1944, seniors started wearing their graduation caps and gowns for the first time on Rally Day. Now, they wear funny, homemade hats instead of mortarboards. Today, Rally Day has a historical theme. A special speaker gives a talk, and Smith College Medals are given to successful alumni.

Reunions and Graduation Events

The Alumnae Association of Smith College holds class reunions every five years. All alumni are welcome to return any year.

Reunion and Commencement events are connected. They celebrate the strong ties between Smith alumni and graduating students. After final exams, most younger students leave campus. Seniors stay in their houses for a week to celebrate. Alumni arrive for reunions later in the week. Many alumni stay in the campus houses with the seniors.

Ivy Day

Ivy Day is the day before graduation. It is a big event for alumni and seniors. Junior students lead a parade. They carry ivy vines for the graduating seniors to plant. This symbolizes their lifelong connection to the college. Alumni wear white clothes and sashes in their class color. They line up along the parade route. Seniors wear white outfits and carry a red rose. Everyone cheers for each alumni class as they pass. Then, they join the parade. Many alumni classes carry funny signs. Ivy Day ends in the Quad. Seniors plant their ivy, and speakers talk about the college.

Illumination Night happens the evening before graduation. It celebrates the campus and sends off the graduating seniors. Electric street lights are replaced with colorful Japanese paper lanterns. These lanterns glow softly along paths and buildings. Student singing groups and comedy groups perform. A jazz band plays for dancing. Seniors, alumni, teachers, and their families walk around the illuminated campus and Botanic Gardens. The main event is the Senior Step Sing. Seniors gather on the steps of Neilson Library. Younger students sing to them. Then, the seniors are gently pushed off the stairs. This symbolizes them being pushed "into the real world."

Until the early 1990s, all alumni reunions were held during graduation weekend. But too many alumni started coming back. So, reunions were split into two weekends. Important reunions (like 50-, 25-, and 10-year) are on the first weekend. Other reunions are on the second weekend.

Caring for the Environment

Paradise Pond with portion of athletic fields visible (center left)

Smith College works with Zipcar to reduce the number of cars on campus. This helps the environment. The college also teaches about sustainability in classes and through art.

All dining halls at Smith no longer use disposable "to-go" containers. Students are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers. Smith College gives all students a reusable drink container each year. Dining halls now use wax paper bags and recyclable utensils. In 2017, Smith dining halls started offering reusable plastic containers that students can borrow and return.

Smith received a high grade for its efforts in sustainability. It was praised for student involvement, green buildings, and transportation.

Notable Alumni

• 

  Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Margaret Mitchell

• 

  Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Sylvia Plath

• 

  Author Piper Kerman

• 

  Chef and television personality Julia Child

• 

  40th First Lady of the United States Nancy Reagan

• 

  41st First Lady of the United States Barbara Bush

• 

  Feminist activist Betty Friedan

• 

  Feminist activist Gloria Steinem

• 

  Feminist and legal scholar Catharine A. MacKinnon

• 

  Civil rights activist Yolanda King

• 

  U.S. Senator for Wisconsin and first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress Tammy Baldwin

• 

  Former U.S. Congress Member Jane Harman

• 

  Former U.S. Congress Member Niki Tsongas

• 

  U.S. Congress Member Becca Balint

• 

  Academy Awards-winning documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Here are some notable women who attended Smith College:

Notable Staff

Many talented people have taught at Smith College:

• Herbert Baxter Adams (1850–1901): A historian who taught history at Smith.
• Leonard Baskin: An artist who taught at Smith.
• Mary Ellen Chase: An educator and author who taught English.
• Emily Hale: A speech and drama teacher.
• Yusef Abdul Lateef: A jazz musician and composer.
• Sylvia Plath (1932–1963): An American poet who was an English professor.
• Kurt Vonnegut: A famous writer who was a Writer-in-Residence.

In 1960, some Smith professors were fired or asked to retire. This was because they were gay. This event was written about in a book and shown in a film. In 2002, Smith College created a lecture series and a scholarship to acknowledge this past wrong.

See also

In Spanish: Smith College para niños

• Cambridge School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
• College Archives (Smith College)
• SS Smith Victory – a cargo ship named after Smith College
• Tofu Curtain