The Lesley University Archives

Loyal Lesley Daughters
An Oral History of Massachusetts' Women Teachers, 1925-1965
This exhibition features interviews with 12 Lesley alumnae, detailing their experiences at an all women's institution, the teaching techniques they learned, and the challenges they faced building careers in the Massachusetts public schools. Accompanying the exhibition, is a documentary film, produced by award-winning filmmaker, Meryl Perlson, outlining the cultural, economic, and political climate the women faced each decade. View invitation.

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
Oxford & Mellen Streets
May 26 to July 1, 2010

Opening Reception and Panel Discussion with Narrators
June 4, 2010
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Marran Gallery

Free Oral History Workshop
June 19, 2010
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Sherrill Library

Join Lesley University Archivist, Alyssa Pacy, for a free workshop on how to conduct oral history interviews. The workshop will cover an introduction to oral history, interviewing techniques, the use of a digital recorder, and methods to preserve the recording. Digital recorders will be provided and participants will conduct a short interview that day, listen to the recording, and receive practical tips and advice.

The exhibition and workshop are funded in part by Mass Humanities.  Mass Humanities is the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) and supports programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life throughout the Commonwealth.

Portraits
Revealing Lesley University's History through Senior Class Pictures
In the spring of 1924, Lesley University students published the inaugural issue of their yearbook, The Lesleyan, and therefore, began to participate in one of the most well-known college traditions in the twentieth century:  the senior portrait. 

Senior portraits, a right of passage for the college graduate, are deceptive in their ordinariness.  Thousands of Lesley senior portraits have been taken over the years, showing students who either dress up or down for the occasion.  Yet these senior portraits reveal so much more about Lesley’s history, one that mirrors the cultural, political, and economic realities of the past 100 years. Read Lesley News article (February 5, 2010).

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
Oxford & Mellen Streets
February 4 to March 1, 2010

Opening Reception
February 4, 2010
4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Marran Gallery  

"The Ideal of Gracious Living"
A Historic Look at the Architecture of Lesley University in Cambridge
The Lelsey University Archives presents the second in a series of archival exhibits honoring the University's centennial celebration.  This exhibition looks at the architectural history of Lesley's three Cambridge Campuses:  Porter Square, and Brattle Square. View invitation.

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
Oxford & Mellen Streets
November 24, 2009 to January 4, 2010

Opening Reception
December 2, 2009
4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Marran Gallery
Gallery Talk with William Doss Suter, Lesley University's Campus Planner

Archives Awarded Grant from Mass Humanities
Over the past two years Lesley's archivist, Alyssa Pacy, conducted over 40 oral history interviews with Lesley's first alumnae, those who graduated 50 or more years ago. The interviews detail the alumnae's experience at an all women's institution, the teaching techniques they learned, and the challenges they faced as women building careers in Massachusetts public schools. The exibit, Loyal Lesley Daughters: An Oral History of Massachusetts' Women Teachers, 1925-1965, will highlight twelve narrators and will feature photographs, listening stations, and a short film.

The exhibit and film are supported by a generous grant that Lesley has just received from Mass Humanities. Mass Humanities is the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) and supports programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life throughout the Commonwealth.

100 Years of Progressive Education
A Collaboration with Lella Gandini and Davis Publications
The Lesley University Archives in conjunction with Dr. Lella Gandini (Reggio Children Liaison in the U.S. for the Dissemination of the Reggio Emilia Approach and Adjunct Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst) and Davis Publications (an indepedent publisher of materials for teachers and students of the visual arts) created an exhibit highlighting the progressive pedagogies that influenced the founding of the University to its current support of early childhood education practices, such as the Reggio Emilia approach. Part of the exhibition displays Dr. Gandini's research from her book, Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia, which was recently published by Davis. Conceived of as a travelling exhibit, it will follow Dr. Gandini around the United States as she presents seminars and gives talks on the Reggio Emilia Approach. This exhibit was created with the support of the Provost's Office.

Lesley University
Atrium Gallery
University Hall, 2nd Floor
1815 Massachusetts Avenue
Exhibit opens September 21, 2009

"A Child's Garden"
The creation of kindergarten and the founding of Lesley University
In honor of Lesley University's centennial year, the Lesley University Archives is proud to present an exhibition highlighting our founder, Edith Lesley Wolfard, and the influence of Friedrich Froebel, architect of the kindergarten movement, on the early teachings at Lesley. View invitation.

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
Oxford & Mellen Streets
September 4 to October 13, 2009

Opening Reception
September 23, 2009
4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Marran Gallery
Gallery Talk with Dr. Lisa Fiore
Lesley University Associate Professor and Director of Lesley University Early Childhood Education will discuss the history of kindergarten.

"A Cabinet of Curiosities"
Treasures and Mysteries from Our School's Past
Tessa Updike, an intern in the Lesley University Archives, curated this exhibit as a kickoff to the University's Centennial year. Read Lesley News article (July 28, 2009).

Foyer of Alumni Hall
Lesley University
29 Everett Street
Exhibit opens August 3rd, 2009

"As Time Passes"
An exhibition of archival photographs from the classes of 1959 and 1984
The classes of 1959 and 1984 graduated during significant milestones in the history of Lesley University: the celebration of the University's 50th and 75th anniversaries. Grand parties were held for both events, reflecting on the University's past achievements and future goals. View invitation.

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
Oxford & Mellen Streets
May 26 to June 14, 2009

Lesley University: Now and Then Exhibit
A Visual Representation of our shared past and current lives
Jennifer Zanolli, a senior at Lesley College majoring in not-for-profit management with a minor in history, curated this exhibit as part of her internship at the Lesley University Archives. Read Lesley News article (April 9, 2009).

McKenna Student Center
First Floor
Lesley University
April 1, 2009 to May 18, 2009

Crossing Paths: Historical Photo Exhibit of Lesley College and the Art Institute of Boston
How much do you know about Lesley University's History?  In honor of American Archives Month, this exhibit is sponsored by the Ludcke Library and the Office of the Provost. View invitation.

Foyer of Alumni Hall
Lesley University
October 7, 2008 to December 17, 2008

1958 - 2008: The Changing Face of Lesley University, A Reunion Exhibit
2008 marks a milestone for the class of 1958 who is celebrating its 50th reunion. The Changing Face of Lesley University commemorates the Lesley student with photographs from the past fifty years. View invitation.

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
June 3 to June 6, 2008

Art Institute of Boston: A Journey through the School's Past
Roy Davidson founded the School of Practical Art (later renamed the Art Institute of Boston (AIB)) in 1912 when he converted his studio, three small rooms in Boston's Back Bay, into a classroom, charging a $15 tuition per semester. The school was one of the first private, co-educational nonaffiliated studio schools in the United States. Cathy Durso, a senior at AIB majoring Fine Arts with a minor in Art History, curated this exhibit, which was the final project of her Fall '07 internship at the Lesley University Archives. View invitation.

The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University
700 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215
December 10, 2007 to February 28, 2008

Lesley founder's life and legacy explored during Focus on Faculty Series
As part of the School of Education's Focus on Faculty Series, Lesley faculty administrator and historian Cindy Brown recently led a presentation, "Serve and Persist: Edith Lesley Founds a School." Read Lesley Today article.

Lesley Today
December 7, 2007

Lesley Archivist presents research on the Holocaust in Israel
Alyssa Pacy, Lesley University Archivist, presented her latest research on gender and the Holocaust at the Fourth International Conference on Women and the Holocaust, sponsored by Beit Berl Academic College in Israel. View PDF.

Beit Lohamei Haghetaot
Israel
October 31, 2007

Living Legacies: Reunion Exhibit
Living Legacies celebrates the Lesley student throughout the years with photographs from some of the earliest graduating classes to the present, chronicling changes in attitude, dress, and lifestyle. The exhibit is dedicated to President Margaret McKenna, whose twenty-two year tenure comes to a close in June 2007, and announces the official opening of the Lesley University Archives. View invitation.

Lesley University
Marran Gallery
June 4 to June 18, 2007

Lesley's History Comes to Life: The Lesley University Archives Officially Opens
"It was foggy with intermittent showers, I am told, that Wednesday morning, September 17, 1909, when Miss Edith Lesley welcomed her first class in the living-room of her home at 29 Everett Street, Cambridge," writes Dr. Trentwell Mason White, Lesley's first president, in the introduction of the 1955-1956 student handbook. Read Lesley Today article.

Lesley Today
May 1, 2007

2009 Centennial: The Lesley University Archive Opens
"It couldn't be 7:15 AM. already! Why it feels as if I just turned off the lights an hour ago," exclaims Ann, a Lesley College freshman, the protagonist of a short piece written for the 1958-1959 student handbook by Susan Jaffee, one of the editors. Read article.

Lesley Magazine
Spring, 2007
p.8