Salve! to the 21st Century

Silent promotional slideshow film produced by Seven Seas Cinema, Inc. for the Vassar Press and Information Office. Photography by Stuart Math, Sharon Schuster, John Foraste, Ben Rayfield, and Dixie Sheridan
Silent promotional slideshow film produced by Seven Seas Cinema, Inc. for the Vassar Press and Information Office. Photography by Stuart Math, Sharon Schuster, John Foraste, Ben Rayfield, and Dixie Sheridan
President Sarah Gibson Blanding on Edward R. Murrow's CBS news program "Person to Person." The scripted interview includes Blanding's comments on women's colleges, secondary education, and the liberal arts tradition. Includes an appearance by Blanding's sister Ellen (known as "Miss Ellen"), and a
1961 revision of the silent film written, directed, and shot in 1931 by Vassar graduate Marvin Breckinridge (VC 1927), a self-taught filmmaker. The original "She Goes to Vassar" was a silent film, following a freshman (Shirley Ewald, VC 1933) through the course of her first year at the college
Narrated film offering an overview and highlights of the inauguration of Virginia B. Smith. Featured speakers include Barbara Austin Foote (VC 1940), Winifred Asprey (VC 1938 and faculty), Barbara W. Newell (VC 1951 and Wellesley College), Martin Meyerson (University of Pennsylvania), and Elizabeth
Mary McCarthy (VC 1933) describes the college as it was when she was a student in contrast to Vassar in 1974. Includes a discussion with a group of students about the social and political climate of the 1960s and 1970s as well as McCarthy's analysis of Richard Nixon, Watergate, and the Vietnam War
Filmed description and display of Vassar professor Lewis Rubenstein's "time painting" technique which is centered around long horizontal scrolled pieces meant to be viewed in a special rolling frame. The artist shows students a number of paintings while demonstrating the process of creating and
Promotional film featuring Michael McCarthy, Vassar Professor of Philosophy. McCarthy discusses James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man with students in the classroom, then in a less formal session. His voice-over outlines some of his thoughts about the Vassar campus, its students and
Promotional slideshow film produced by Seven Seas Cinema, Inc. for the Vassar Press and Information Office. The soundtrack consists of short statements and opinions about the college by faculty, administrators and students. Written and produced by Valerie O'Brien, directed by Michael Elwin Smith
Professionally edited film commemorating the 75th anniversary of Vassar College. The bulk of the film centers on the weekend of commencement, but it begins with the dedication of Baldwin Infirmary. People visible at the dedication include President Henry Noble MacCracken and Jane North Baldwin
Roughly chronological series of historical images and film clips set to music from the respective eras of Vassar College history. The soundtrack also includes readings from early Vassar letters. Many or most of the clips came from other films available in the Digital Library. The film was made by
Silent film with title cards featuring members of the Class of 1915 at their 18th reunion. Events featured include the Alumnae Parade and Class Day exercises. The Class of 1873 lead the parade from Rockfeller Hall to the President's House where President H. N. MacCracken and his wife Marjorie Dodd
Panel discussion interspersed with clips of interviews with faculty, administrators, and students. The film was produced by Management Television Services (MTS) for Vassar two years after the college became coeducational. It was broadcast on October 4, 1971, to Vassar Clubs across the country via
Personal camera footage likely taken by a member of the Class of 1940. The original film was transferred to cassette before being gifted to the library; thus, the image quality is poor. Includes scenes of the college in winter and spring, the Athletic Circle gardens, Sunset Lake, the Shakespeare
Personal camera footage taken by Margaret (Loose) Krell, Class of 1939, and her friends and family. There are many scenes of campus during winter, including Taylor Gate, Thompson Library, Sunset Lake, Skinner Hall, the Vassar Chapel, Main Building, the Residential Quad, and Alumnae House, as well as
Personal camera footage shot by Frances White Field (VC 1936) including winter scenes of the college, students smoking, convocation, an anti-war protest, and the 1936 commencement
Archival footage taken by Elizabeth S. Brooks (VC 1935). The first 2.5 minutes is footage of the Vassar campus from approximately 1931-1933, including a trolley running on Raymond Avenue, Vassar Lake, and views of the exteriors of various college buildings. The following 30 seconds are likely Brooks
Archival footage taken by Elizabeth S. Brooks (VC 1935) and her family. Begins with the Class of 1935 walking in the commencement processional, followed by a brief clip of Brooks feeding goldfish with a Vassar friend. Next is footage of the 1935 Alumnae Parade beginning with the Class of 1885 and
Personal camera footage of Vassar campus in spring 1949. Includes footage of Skinner Hall, the Shakespeare Garden, and Class of 1951 Daisy Chain
Personal camera footage of campus and the academic processional on commencement day, 1934, followed by scenes of a senior and her family. The family could be the Pogues of Cincinnati, Ohio. Virginia Pogue Weinland graduated in 1934, and her sister, Margaret Pogue Macneale, graduated in 1936
Personal camera footage from Founder's Day 1931 and 1932 as well as Class Day 1932. Scenes from Founder's Day 1931 begin with a treasure hunt, followed by the faculty-student baseball game, the hoop-rolling contest (won by Marcia Wheelock, VC 1931), and dancing the Virginia Reel to a performance by
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.