Vassar College Digital Library

Vassar College Archives Film and Video Collection

The Vassar College Film and Video Collection is part of the holdings of the College Archives. It consists of several thousand items in a variety of formats which together provide important documentation for the history of the college in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The examples available here date from the 1920s to the 1990s. Topics include the campus, reunion, commencement, inauguration, lectures, events, and other aspects of life at Vassar.
Digital Library

Vassar College Archives Film and Video Collection

The Vassar College Film and Video Collection is part of the holdings of the College Archives.  It consists of several thousand items in a variety of formats which together provide important documentation for the history of the college in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.  The examples available here date from the 1920s to the 1990s.  Topics include the campus, reunion, commencement, inauguration, lectures, events, and other aspects of life at Vassar.

A Vassar Notebook, 1970

Image
A Vassar Notebook, 1970
Date
1970
Description

Made by professor and founder of the Film Department James Steerman and his students, "A Vassar Notebook" comprises a series of twelve student pieces on life at Vassar in 1970. The pieces are: (1) "Remedial Film Making 1A" - students setting up and using a movie camera in front of Main Building with

View

Baccalaureate service, part 1

Image
Baccalaureate service, part 1
Date
1991 May 25
Description

First part of the 1991 baccalaureate service held in the Vassar Chapel, sponsored by the Black Commencement Committee. Includes the procession; an opening prayer by Rev. Richard Thompson; welcome by President Frances Fergusson; a performance by the Martin Luther King Choir; a scripture reading by

View

Baccalaureate service, part 2

Image
Baccalaureate service, part 2
Date
1991 May 25
Description

Second and final part of the 1991 baccalaureate service. Includes the end of Jesse Jackson's address; a second performance by the West Point Gospel Choir; and an address by Ria Grosvenor (VC 1991), Chair of the Black Commencement Committee, accompanied by committee members Yolanda Hill (VC 1991) and

View

Ceremony for a New Planet

Image
Ceremony for a New Planet
Date
1972
Description

Short film directed by James B. Steerman. Includes images from "Time Paintings," a series of scroll paintings by Lewis W. Rubenstein, and poems by Nancy Willard Lindbloom. Music, composed by Alexander Scriabin, was performed by Todd Crow. Additional footage of Rubenstein sketching water plants was

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 1

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 1
Date
1986 June 6
Description

The Class of 1951 at a welcome reception in Noyes Hall, followed by a lecture by physics professor Morton Tavel in the Powerhouse Theater [Audio and video quality varies]

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 2

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 2
Date
1986 June 7
Description

Annual Meeting of the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC) at Walker Fieldhouse. Recording does not include complete footage of the entire meeting. The next segment is a Nancy Graves exhibit and reception for the Class of 1951 in the Jade Room and the Art Gallery in Taylor Hall. [Audio and

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 3

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 3
Date
1986 June 6
Description

The Class of 1951 at a welcome reception in Noyes Hall, followed by a lecture by physics professor Morton Tavel In the Powerhouse Theater. (The first minute is from Saturday night at Noyes.) [Audio and video quality varies]

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 4

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 4
Date
1986 June 6-7
Description

The Class of 1951 attending a lecture by physics professor Morton Tavel In the Powerhouse Theater. The next segment is the Annual Meeting of the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC). It does not include footage of the entire meeting. [Audio and video quality varies]

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 5

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 5
Date
1986 June 7-8
Description

President Virgina Smith speaking at end of the Annual Meeting of the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC). The next segment is a reception for the Class of 1951 in the Jade Room and the Art Gallery in Taylor Hall. The reception is followed by views of the work of Nancy Graves (VC 1961) and a

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 6

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 6
Date
1986 June 7-8
Description

The first 11 minutes are the Class of 1951 leaving reunion on Sunday. The next 35 minutes are of a gathering in Noyes Hall on Saturday night. The rest switches back to folks leaving on Sunday. [Audio and video quality is poor]

View

Class of 1951's Reunion, part 7

Image
Class of 1951's Reunion, part 7
Date
1986 June 6-8
Description

Edited clips of the Class of 1951 arriving at Noyes Hall, physics professor Morton Tavel's lecture, the Annual Meeting of the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC), and a Nancy Graves exhibit and reception in the Art Gallery in Taylor Hall [Audio and video quality varies]

View

Commencement

Image
Commencement
Date
1989 May 28
Description

Scenes from the 1989 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession; welcoming remarks by President Frances Fergusson; presentation of the class gift by Trina Allen and Rolesia Butler; further remarks by President Fergusson and her introduction of television news anchor and

View

Commencement

Image
Commencement
Date
1998 May 24
Description

1998 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (10 minutes); welcoming remarks by President Frances Fergusson; presentation of the class gift by Kelly McMasters; further remarks by President Fergusson; remarks by Dean of the Faculty Norman Fainstein; the address by President

View

Commencement Weekend, 1930

Image
Commencement Weekend, 1930
Date
1930 June
Description

Personal camera footage taken the weekend of commencement, 1930. Consists mostly the Alumnae Parade but also includes graduates exiting the chapel after Commencement, as well as a survey of buildings and grounds, including Cushing, Taylor, Kendrick, Vassar Lake, Main Building, the Library

View

Commencement, part 1

Image
Commencement, part 1
Date
1986 May 25
Description

First part of the 1986 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (23 minutes); introduction of President Virginia Smith by Chair of the Board of Trustees Mary Janney (VC 1942); remarks by President Smith, and an an address by the President of the Class of 1986, Lorin

View

Commencement, part 1

Image
Commencement, part 1
Date
1988 May 20
Description

[first 3 minutes have no sound] First part of the 1988 commencement ceremony, held in Walker Field House. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (19 minutes); welcoming remarks by President Frances Fergusson; presentation of the class gift by Mary Beth Cashetta and Denise Schipani, introduction

View

Commencement, part 1

Image
Commencement, part 1
Date
1990 May 27
Description

First part of the 1990 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (19 minutes); welcoming remarks by President Frances Fergusson; presentation of the class gift by Bruce Mendelsohn, Ashley Meise, and Abra Rothberg; further remarks by President Fergusson; remarks by Dean of

View

Commencement, part 1

Image
Commencement, part 1
Date
1991 May 26
Description

First part of the 1991 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (20 minutes); welcoming remarks by President Frances Fergusson; presentation of the class gift by Lisa Larson, Barbara Garcia, Kirk Lange, and Timothy Decker; further remarks by President Fergusson; remarks by

View

Commencement, part 1

Date
1987 May 24
Description

First part of the 1987 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (23:00); welcoming remarks by President Frances Fergusson and her introduction of Board of Trustees Chair Mary Janney; presentation of the class gift by Jacqueline Paradee; further remarks by President

View

Commencement, part 1

Image
Commencement, part 1
Date
1983 May 22
Description

First part of the 1983 commencement ceremony. Includes the Daisy Chain and the procession (30 minutes); welcome remarks by President Virginia Smith; President of the Class of 1983, Angel Marvin; the commencement address by Meryl Streep (VC 1971); and the president's conferral of the degree. (Film

View
Subscribe to Vassar College Archives Film and Video Collection