Founder's Day dance

Morris dancers performing at Founder's Day
1,414 plates
Images of plays, skit shows, dance performances, and musical events comprise the largest series in the Wolven collection. Junior and sophomore parties were generally skit shows written by students. These events included racist and stereotypical costumes and performances, including use of blackface. The major dramatic productions ("Hall" plays) include previously produced pieces as well as material written by students, faculty, and alumnae, including Edna St. Vincent Millay.
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
Morris dancers performing at Founder's Day
Pageant in honor of the Walt Whitman centennial entitled "At the Call of the Bird". The event was part of an "American Day" themed Founder's Day and included scenes from the country's past, present, and future. This scene includes enslavers and enslaved people and the performers are wearing
One of a number of plays and dances put on for Founder's Day
One of a number of plays and dances put on for Founder's Day
One of a number of plays and dances put on for Founder's Day
One of a number of plays and dances put on for Founder's Day
The Turtle Dove by Margaret Scott Oliver, featuring stereotypical Chinese costuming and set design. Burges Johnson (wearing solid black) played the "Property Man"
An Alice in Wonderland skit featuring featuring professors Editha Underhill as Alice, Mary Bell Cochran as the Duchess, and George Coleman Gow as the King of Hearts. The walrus and white rabbit are unidentified
Treasure Island
The Turtle Dove by Margaret Scott Oliver, featuring stereotypical Chinese costuming and set design. Burges Johnson (wearing solid black) played the "Property Man"
Joint Owners in Spain, the third of three one-act plays
Treasure Island
Mme Guillotine, the second of three one-act plays
Treasure Island
Lima Beans, the first of three one-act plays
Treasure Island
Joint Owners in Spain, the third of three one-act plays
Treasure Island
Mme Guillotine, the second of three one-act plays
Treasure Island
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.