The Wellesley College 150th Celebration Community Fund was created to support innovative and impactful projects that embody the legacy and spirit of Wellesley. The selected initiatives include a film festival, a community-created graphic novel, and an archival exploration of Wellesley’s iconic Hooprolling tradition. Each project showcases the creativity, collaboration, and curiosity that characterize the College in honor of this milestone year.
Our projects
To Make a Difference in the World: The Wellesley Landscape at 150
This one-day symposium, organized by faculty in the Grace Slack McNeil Program for Studies in American Art, explores how Wellesley’s landscape design has shaped and been shaped by the College’s mission to educate women for leadership. Bringing together students, faculty, alumnae, and leading experts, the event will reflect on the evolution and meaning of Wellesley’s iconic campus.
Imagining Museums: The Next 150 Years of Stewarding Art at Wellesley
Hosted by the Davis Museum, this bilingual symposium in English and French will examine the future of ethical art stewardship. The event will reimagine museum practice while honoring Wellesley’s long-standing leadership in object-based learning and inclusive curatorial work through keynote lectures and panel discussions featuring global scholars, faculty, students, and alums.
Founding Members of Wellesley: Visual History Preservation
This project will bring Wellesley’s early visionaries to life through framed portraits and biographies displayed near the buildings named for them. Designed to foster historical awareness and deepen community connection, the initiative honors the individuals who helped shape Wellesley from the beginning.
Our Queer Stories: A Digital Timeline of LGBTQ+ History at Wellesley
This dynamic digital project will chronicle 150 years of queer and trans life at Wellesley. Created in collaboration with the College Archives and student researchers, the timeline will highlight community milestones, amplify underrepresented voices, and celebrate the College’s enduring LGBTQ+ legacy.
Sesquicentennial Film Festival
Our community will come together for a unique film festival honoring the remarkable contributions of Wellesley alumnae to the entertainment industry.
Chasing Gender Roles, Iconic Campus Traditions, and the Meaning of Community Across 131 Years of Hoop Racing at Wellesley College
Hooprolling is a beloved annual tradition at Wellesley College. A team from the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies will create a digital humanities StoryMaps website featuring historical photographs, news articles, and interviews with 22 past winners and will curate a public exhibition in the Humanities Lounge. With the support of student research assistants, the team also plans to develop an article based on its findings.
Cultural Houses at Wellesley College: A History
This graphic novel celebrates the histories of Harambee, Acorns, and Slater, honoring their legacies and their lasting impact on campus life.
Written by Wellesley: Composers and Lyricists Throughout the Ages
This concert will feature a selection of works that showcase the diverse musical contributions of our alumnae and will honor their rich legacy, from Katharine Lee Bates, class of 1880, and Katherine Kennicott Davis, class of 1914, to today’s students.