L. Clark Seelye, d. 1924

L. CLARK SEELYE (Laurenus) First President of Smith College b. September 20, 1837, Bethel, CT d. October 1924 Seeyle was the first President of Smith College from the date of its founding in 1873 until 1910. In the course of his term, Dr. Seeyle saw Smith develop from an institution with 14 students and four faculty members, in addition to himself, to a college with an enrollment of 1635 students and a faculty of 105. His vision for Smith College from the beginning was that it should be "a college that should give as liberal an education of as high a grade for women as is furnished by the colleges for men, without any sacrifice of womanly character; and at the same time to perfect in them those innate capabilities which have ever been the glory and charm of true womanhood." Smith's humanities main building is named Seeyle Hall, in his honor.

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