MHC Alumni
The first known African American and person of color to graduate from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.
HORTENSE PARKER
"The Creation of Adam", part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling was done by
Michelangelo
The first woman to be appointed to a presidential cabinet?
Frances Perkins class of 1902
Empire State
New York
What is MHC’s nickname and why was it chosen?
The Lyons, chosen in tribute to the College's founder
An American lesbian feminist and socialist who has played a significant role in building and sustaining Black Feminism in the United States
BARBRA SMITH
MHC alumnae and producer of the movie "Harriet" (2019).
Debra Martin Chase
Who did the chores (cooking, cleaning, etc.) when Mount Holyoke Female Seminary first started?
The student themselves!!!
Aloha State
Hawaii
What is MHC’s oldest tradition?
Mountain Day
An artist and graphic designer from the class of 1975 who designed many of the icons for the original Macintosh operating system.
SUSAN KARE
Mount Holyoke class of 1847, known as the “mother of the American valentine”
Esther Howland
Name at least two of the oldest dorms that are still used as dorms today?
Brigham, Safford, Porter, Pearsons (Built in 1897)
First State
Delaware
A tradition where students and faculty gather in the amphitheater before the first day of classes to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year.
Convocation Day
A chemist known for developing the first useful antifungal antibiotic, nystatin while doing research in the New York State Department of Health
RACHEL FULLER BROWN
The first woman producer to win an Oscar for best picture.
Julia Phillips
What was MHC’s must-have desserts on Founder’s Day?
Deacon Porter’s Hat
Bluegrass
Kentucky
The four mascots that represent class animal and color are:
Red Pegasus, Yellow Sphinx, Green Griffin, and Blue Lion
An American anesthesiologist, famously known for developing the Apgar score, which evaluates the health of newborns.
VIRGINIA APGAR
Margaret Ruth Richter (Class of 1939) donated about 200 Japanese netsuke from the collection of William Richter known as
Richter Collection of Netsuke
What president never actually made it to Mount Holyoke?
Mary Brigham
Gem
Idaho
Debuted as a MHC's tradition celebrating the “total world of women.”
Pangy Day