Commencement

Faculty and trustees in the commencement procession
This collection includes more than 3,500 glass plate negatives created by photographer Edmund Wolven. Most of the images are of Vassar College people, events, buildings and grounds, but there is a subset that relates to other local educational institutions and Poughkeepsie. Wolven, born in Poughkeepsie in 1876, worked for many schools and colleges in the area. He began taking photos for Vassar College in the late 1890s, and became the official college photographer between approximately 1900 and 1910. The latest photographs in this collection are from the 1940s.
Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Faculty and trustees in the commencement procession
Class of 1924 in the commencement procession
Students passing diplomas at Commencement
Faculty and trustees in the commencement procession
Alumnae in the commencement procession
A member of the Class of 1929 with family
Class of 1922 in the commencement procession
Class of 1921 in the commencement procession
Class of 1932 in the commencement procession
In the first half of the 20th century, Vassar's commencement and reunion were part of a 4-5 day long celebration that included a variety of events and traditions. Steady events included Baccalaureate Sunday, the alumnae parade, Class Day exercises, and commencement. Other activities changed over the
Group of women who either spoke or attended an unidentified conference at Vassar College
Group of women who either spoke or attended an unidentified conference at Vassar College
Group of women who either spoke or attended an unidentified conference at Vassar College
Stained glass window depicting the Lady Elena Lucretia Cornaro-Piscopia
Unidentified group in costume outside the chapel
Unidentified group in costume outside the chapel
One of a set of five seventeenth century tapestries depicting the story of Cupid and Psyche
One of a set of five seventeenth century tapestries depicting the story of Cupid and Psyche
One of a set of five seventeenth century tapestries depicting the story of Cupid and Psyche
One of a set of five seventeenth century tapestries depicting the story of Cupid and Psyche
Here you will find digitized archival collections, oral histories, and more. We are continually expanding the collections and improving access. You may find additional digital resources that reside outside the digital library here, and a selection of Online Exhibitions here.
Collections Overview
The Archives & Special Collections Library is part of the Vassar College Libraries system. It holds the rare book, manuscript, and archival collections of the college. It collects, preserves, and makes available rare and unique collections, and also engages in teaching and outreach activities. This collection of finding aids describe items in both the Virginia B. Smith Memorial Manuscript Collection and the College Archives.
The Vassar College herbarium holds over 8,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae. Holdings are primarily from northeastern North America, and include collections made by several notable 19th century botanists. To learn more about this project visit the website here.
Vassar College's institutional repository reflects the research and scholarly output of the Vassar College community. It provides access to senior theses, peer reviewed open access articles, and projects from a wide range of disciplines.