Club History

Despite its physical distance from campus, the City of Chicago has a lot in common with Mount Holyoke College. Both were founded in the same year (1837), have storied histories, foster a strong sense of community, and elicit deep pride from those who are members.

The National Association of Holyoke Alumnae—the precursor to what we now know as the Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College—was founded in 1872. Chicagoan Emily White Smith, class of 1858, was elected its inaugural president. Five vice presidents assisted her from around the country in California, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. According to meeting minutes, the alumnae organizers intended “that state and local associations be formed whenever practicable, all members of such societies being considered members of the National Association.”

In 1874, just three years after the Chicago Fire, a small group of alums formed the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Association of the Northwest. This was the second alum club to be formed; its membership extended all the way to the West Coast and included Puget Sound and Portland. In 1877, Chicago alums split off from the Association of the Northwest to form their own club.

Emily White Smith, while still serving as president of the National Association of Holyoke Alumnae, became the first chair of the Chicago Club. To honor her, the Club founded a scholarship in her name for a first year from Chicagoland; the scholarship remains active to this day and the Club continues to raise funds in order to meet the financial needs of local incoming students.