Rally Day Files, 1885-
General International Standard for Archival Description
Smith College Archives Northampton, MA
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-06-03
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
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Rally Day Files
Smith College.
Biographical History for: Rally Day Files
Biographical Note "The origins of Rally Day can be traced to a series of annual celebrations for George Washington's birthday, the first of which was held at Smith College in February 1876. Over time, these celebrations evolved from essentially social dinners or receptions into daylong college events. The addition of a 'rally' to the day in 1894 was eventually reflected in the name Rally Day, first used in 1906. The celebration is now held annually on the third Wednesday in February. Through the years, students have sponsored and participated in a range of activities: rallies, debates, basketball rivalries, dramatic presentations, singing and dancing. The current tradition of sponsoring an event to benefit a charity began in 1918 when the Rally Day Show was held to raise funds for the Smith College Relief Unit serving in World War I France. The Smith College Medal has been awarded to outstanding alumnae at Rally Day since 1973. The medalists have become an important part of the program, speaking prior to convocation in classes and afterward in conversations with students. Dress at Rally Day has evolved as well. In 1944, the senior class began wearing its graduation caps and gowns to the convocation. The day still marks the first time the seniors publicly wear their gowns. In recent years, however, the caps have been replaced by inventive hats of the students' choosing (and sometimes of their own making), in keeping with the 'rallying' and spirited nature of the day." (From the Rally Day Convocation Program February 23, 2000)
Scope and Contents of the Collection The majority of the material is composed of convocation programs, texts of speeches, photographs, newspaper clippings, press releases, show programs and scripts. The files also include dance programs, tickets, and class songs. There are only a few items documenting Rally Day before 1896. All of the materials are arranged chronologically except the general files which are arranged alphabetically. Additional materials located in the Audio Visual Collection include videos of Rally Day shows, long playing recordings of songs and shows, one digital audio tape of the Glee Club, and audio cassettes of convocation speeches, shows, and a few Smith College Medalists panel discussions. Refer to the audio visual catalogue for more information and locations. Student scrapbooks may also contain materials on Rally Day.
Smith College--Rally Day.
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series
Series I General (1885 -)
The subseries convocation programs 1911 - the present makes up the bulk of this series. The convocation programs 1962 and later contain a brief history of Rally Day. Other materials included are a list of Rally Day speakers 1894 - 1988, dance programs 1891-1892, odes to George Washington written by students, a chronology of the history of Rally Day, 1875 - 1926, the script for a Rally Day stunt, and memorabilia. The earliest item in the Rally Day files is in the Memorabilia folder of this series. It is a small handmade card from 1885 with a list of famous men such as George Washington and some of their wives.
Alumnae invitations 1990-
Committee memorandums 1989-
Convocation programs 1911-
Convocation speakers list 1894-1988
Dance programs 1891-1892
Flyers handed out at Rally Day events 1934-
History
Invitations to attend luncheon 1989-
Memorabilia 1885-
Memorandums to the faculty 1972-
Odes 1911-1932
Programs for basketball games and the crowning of the Freshman President 1948-1962
Schedule of events 1971-
Rally Day stunt n.d.
Series II Newspaper clippings and press releases (1894 - )
There are press releases and newspaper clippings for most, but not all years 1895 - the present. This series contains newspaper clippings, handwritten and typed press releases, biographical information on Rally Day speakers, short advances of speeches, and lists of Rally Day committees, crews, and performers. The newspaper clippings and press releases cover all aspects of Rally Day including speeches, Smith College Medalists, basketball games, shows, convocation, Rally Day committee members and performers, and dances. Newspaper articles are from national, local, and college publications. Most of the clippings are from Boston, New York, Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and Smith College newspapers. Press coverage is heaviest in the 1930s and dwindling in the 1950s. After the 1950s, press coverage is mostly limited to local papers such as the Hampshire Gazette and Smith College publications. The full texts of speeches are located in SERIES VI. CONVOCATION TEXTS. Additional information on speakers after 1965 can be found in the Honorary Degrees Files.
Newspaper clippings and press releases 1894 -
Series III Photographs (1894 - )
They primarily feature the Rally Day shows, convocation, basketball games, students dressed up in costumes, and convocation speakers. Many of the early photographs feature Alumnae Gym where most of the Rally Day events took place. There is an early photograph of a student dressed up as George Washington (1896) and another dressed up as George Washington's slave (1895). Many of the newspaper clippings in SERIES II. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND PRESS RELEASES feature photographs.
Photographs 1894-1959
Photographs 1960 -
Photographs n.d.
Series VI Convocation Texts (1930 - )
Not every year's speech is included in the files. The biggest gaps are between 1951 and 1970, and 1972 and 1991. This series also includes the texts and a program for the 1970 Rally Day Symposium, "Is Today's Environment Tomorrow's Inheritance?"
Convocation texts 1930 -
Series V Rally Day Shows and Songs (1893 - )
Most consist of programs, scripts for skits, scores and texts of songs sung at Rally Day shows. Although the Rally Day benefit shows did not start until 1918, concert programs and the texts of songs sung at Rally Day pre-1918 are included in this series. Many of the songs are written to the tunes of popular songs. The text of one Rally Day stunt, undated, is in SERIES I. GENERAL. See also Students, Dramatics 1880-1881 for the script and photographs of a Tertiumm Quid play Pinafore of the Revolution performed February 23, 1881.
Shows and songs 1887-1945
Shows and songs 1946-1959
Shows and songs 1960-1989
Shows and songs 1990-
Shows and songs n.d.