Records of All-College Events and Programs, 1893- | Wheelock College Archives

The collection of All-College Events and Programs is organized into six series:

I. Convocation, Baccalaureate & Honorary Degrees.

II. Commencement.

III. Diplomas.

IV. Lectures, Talks, and Musical Programs.

V. Art Exhibits.

VI. Miscellaneous Traditions and Events.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

Series I:  Baccalaureate, Convocation & Honorary Degrees

This series contains programs from Baccalaureate services, the text of Convocation speeches, Convocation programs, and photographs, correspondence, biographies, programs, clippings, and speeches by and about Honorary Degree recipients.  This series also contains memoranda from the Honorary Degree Committee.

Series II:  Commencement

Contains invitations, programs, text of speeches/addresses, memoranda and clippings regarding Commencement services.  A folder at the end of this series contains a list of all Commencement speakers at Wheelock from 1889-2004, with the speakers whose text of address is available in the archives noted.

Series III:  Diplomas

This series contains the oversize diplomas for eleven individuals, dating from 1893 to 1936 and is arranged chronologically.  For more student materials, see Collection 16F, Alumnae Biographies & Collections.

Series IV:  Conferences, Lectures, Talks and Musical Programs

This series contains clippings, memoranda, flyers and announcements for events around campus.  The Saville R. Davis Series includes full-text pamphlets of the lectures. The materials regarding the lecture by Isaac Asimov, includes an article from Asimov’s 1970 book The Solar System and Back, entitled “Uncertain, Coy, and Hard to Please,” which could possibly be the lecture in a revised article format.

Series V:  Art Exhibits

This series contains memoranda, postcards and flyers announcing exhibits, as well as clippings regarding exhibits in the Towne Art Gallery at Wheelock.

Series VI:  Miscellaneous Traditions and Events

This series contains clippings and programs from various traditional events around campus, including programs from Candlelight Services and Christmas Vespers, Freshman/Parent’s Day, Ivy Day, and both programs and clippings about May Day and Queen of the May, among other things.  The program from the 1941 Senior Class Banquet includes sheets of lyrics for the “Wheelock Song,” the “Ivy Song” and the 1941’s “Senior Class Song.”  This series also contains Master Calendars of events for the school year.  (See Collection 13, Student Life and Activities for more materials on student events and traditions).

Lucy Wheelock founded the Wheelock Kindergarten Training School (Boston, MA) in 1888.  The first six students graduated on June 6, 1889 from the one year course.  In 1895 the one year program extended to two years, although the curriculum changed little.  In 1926 the two year curriculum was extended to three years to include the preparation of teachers for nursery, kindergarten and primary grades.  In 1930s, the name changed from Miss Wheelock’s Kindergarten Training School to The Wheelock School: A Training School for Teachers of Nursery School, Kindergarten and the Primary Grades.

In 1941, after incorporating the school, the curriculum changed from three to four years, and the name officially changed from Wheelock School to Wheelock College.  In 1943, Degrees of Bachelor of Science in Education are awarded to the first class completing a four year course.  The first Honorary Degrees were awarded at Commencement in 1969, the honors going to Dr. Fritz Redl and Dr. Alice Kelliher.