Geology and Geography are subjects that have been taught since the early days of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Until the 1895/1896 academic year, Geology was listed under the more general heading of "Science." In 1895/1896, the Geology and Mineralogy Department was established. The following year, however, it became simply the Geology Department. In the 1904/1905, Geography first appeared as a topic within the Geology Department. More courses in Geography were added over the next twenty-five years, and in 1930/1931, the department expanded to become the Department of Geology and Geography. The last change occurred in 1974/1975 when it was renamed the Department of Geography and Geology.
The Mount Holyoke College Geography and Geology Records consist of a page from the Llamarada, the College yearbook; a page from the Course Bulletin; articles; memoranda; some correspondence; proposals; press releases; clippings; brochures; flyers; reports; examinations; an invitation; and photographs. Correspondence is limited to faculty letters regarding daily occurrences in the department and memoranda regarding combinations of courses in the department leading to war work written during World War II. Information regarding curriculum and courses, including suggestions and proposals, can be found in the records. Course records include one examination used in a course. Materials pertaining to special events in the department including lectures and projects are contained in the records. Information pertaining to the department in general can be found in articles and brochures included in the records. The annual reports of the department to the President of the College are present in the records. These reports consist of information pertaining to changes in personnel; gifts received by the department; course statistics including the number of hours taught by professors, the number of students taught, and the number of major, minor, and honor students; faculty activities and research; course descriptions; field trips; departmental policy; lectures; department alumnae; and opportunities for women in the field. Photographs are mainly of students, faculty, and staff in the classrooms, in the laboratories, and in the field.
Records restricted to use by office/department of origin for 25 years from date of record creation.
Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Geography and Geology Department Records, Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collection, South Hadley, MA.