Stepsinging Then and Now

Stepsinging, Houghton Memorial Chapel, 1939

Stepsinging is a tradition that evolved from informal social gatherings at the college center. With the dedication of beautiful Houghton Memorial Chapel in 1899, students began to assemble on the chapel steps, and a new tradition was born.

Today, students are given songbooks and assemble by classes to try to out-sing and out-cheer the other classes. There are four stepsinging events a year and students come out in full force and rally behind the elected songmistresses for each class. Dressed in their respective class colors--red, yellow, purple, and green--the rainbow of colors serves as a reminder that despite differences, Wellesley students form a cohesive and dynamic community of scholars.

 

Stepsinging with the Class of 1985