Abbey Hall Cornerstone Ceremony, 1951

Abbey Hall Cornerstone Ceremony, 1951

Abbey Hall; Abbey-Appleton Halls; International Young Men's Christian Association College; Springfield College; Springfield College--Buildings; Springfield College--Faculty; Springfield College--Students;

Dormitories; Dedications; Cornerstones; Merriam, Thornton; Evans, Ruth; Cooke, Nancy; Berry, Robert

A photograph of the cornerstone laying ceremony of Abbey Hall, Springfield College's first women's dormitory, which took place on January 18, 1951. The image depicts (from right to left) Springfield College Dean Thornton Merriam, Alumni Association President Robert Berry, accepted freshman for the upcoming fall Nancy Cooke and Springfield Public Schools Health and Physical Education Supervisor Ruth Evans placing several documents and papers telling of the college's full-scale coeducational beginning into the cornerstone. On June 10th, 1950, Springfield College voted to inaugurate a regular undergraduate program for women, ending its status as an all men's school since its founding in 1885. On July 20th, 1950 the ground breaking ceremony was held for a new women’s dormitory. Emily F. Abbey Gill, who donated the funds for the dormitory project, served as a member of the college corporation, but died on April 24th, 1950. After her death, the college suggested that the new dormitory be named Abbey Hall in honor of her dream of a women’s program at Springfield. The corner stone was laid on January 18th 1951 and in September of that year Abbey Hall was ready for occupancy. The formal dedication took place on May 9th, 1952, after the building was fully furnished and the interior decoration was completed. Today Abbey-Appleton Hall is a co-educational dormitory.

Processed;

George T. Silcott

Springfield College

1951-01-18

2012-03-01

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RG 112 Abbey/Appleton Hall Records

http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/1740

112

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06

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rg112-01-06-001