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Weathervane Newsletter Fall 1996
Smith College President Ruth Simmons visited Historic Northampton on August 14th. Her tour of the collections served to highlight the collaborative partnerships that continue to develop between the two institutions. President Simmons viewed a portion of the costume and textile collection, the rare book collection, and examined early studies of Northampton landscapes in the Charles Burleigh, Jr. collection.
Smith faculty regularly serve as board members, researchers, consultants and lecturers at Historic Northampton. Smith students benefit from internship programs and collaboration on courses in local history and American Studies.
President Simmons was especially interested in two items that Historic Northampton will donate to the Smith College Archives in a special ceremony later this fall. A book of exquisite photographs depicts the house and grounds of F.N. Kneeland, whose home stood on the site now occupied by Smith College's President's house. Accompanying that book is Kneeland's garden diary from 1888 to 1912, which details extensive plantings and landscaping on that property which extends from Elm Street to the Mill River. Aside from their historical value and significance, these records will provide vital and timely information for a grounds study now underway at Smith.
Contents Historic Northampton.