Only To Be There: Student Traditions at Wellesley

Celebrating Wellesley College's 150th anniversary, "Only To Be There: Student Traditions at Wellesley" opens February 6 at the Davis Museum, showcasing the beloved rituals that have connected generations of students through photographs and memorabilia from the Wellesley College Archives. The exhibition explores time-honored traditions like hooprolling—where seniors race wooden hoops down Tupelo Lane with the winner carried into Lake Waban—stepsinging on Houghton Chapel's steps where students sing college songs including "The Wellesley Composite," and Tree Day when classes plant trees using the same historic spade passed down through generations.

The exhibition also highlights forgotten traditions that reveal the playful and sometimes rebellious spirit of Wellesley students, including "forensic burning" where juniors threw graded exams into woodland bonfires, and "Float Night" featuring elaborate student pageants performed on decorated boats across Lake Waban. These community rituals, ranging from afternoon tea to seasonal celebrations, weave together generations of graduates while evolving to reflect the distinct eras in which they occurred. Co-curated by Lisa Scanlon Mogolov '99, Professor Jacqueline Marie Musacchio '89, Dr. Amanda Gilvin, and Sara Ludovissy, the exhibition demonstrates how these traditions foster belonging, mark important campus moments, and serve as touchstones that tie alumni together across 150 years. On view through May 24, the exhibition is supported by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, Wellesley College Archives, Wellesley College Friends of Art at the Davis, and the Constance Rhind '81 Fund for Museum Exhibitions.