EVENTS CALENDAR
Sophia Smith — Hatfield, Northampton, and the Founding of Smith College
A Presentation by Laurie Sanders, co-director of Historic Northampton
First Congregational Church, 41 Main Street, Hatfield, MA
Co-sponsored by the Hatfield Historical Society​
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 6 pm
Sophia Smith, 1858
Smith College Special Collections
In April 1870, Sophia Smith, a lifelong resident of Hatfield, executed her will, ensuring that her future namesake college would be located in Northampton–not in Hatfield as she had initially envisioned. To mark the 150 year anniversary of this event, on Wednesday, April 16, the Hatfield Historical Society and Historic Northampton are collaborating:  

  • From 4 to 5:45 pm, the Hatfield Historical Society (2nd floor, 39 Main Street, Hatfield) will open a new exhibit, Sophia Smith At Home, which features artifacts from Smith's private life.
  • At 6 pm, Historic Northampton's co-director and Smith College alumna Laurie Sanders will give a presentation at Hatfield's First Congregational Church about Sophia Smith's life, her deep roots in Hatfield, her decision to fund a women's college, and the factors that influenced her decision to locate the college in Northampton.

Reserve your place. Walk-ins welcome. 
Sliding scale: $5-20.
All contributions jointly benefit the Hatfield Historical Society and Historic Northampton.

Learn More
Northampton Night Fest 2025
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 8 to 9:30 pm
(Rain/cloud date: Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8:00-9:30 pm)
On the Grounds of Historic Northampton
Join us for the third annual Northampton Night Fest in celebration of International Dark Sky Week 2025. Learn about the night sky from astronomer James Lowenthal, followed by a mix of stargazing and night-time exploring in and around Historic Northampton.

We will observe together the profound changes nature undergoes every 24 hours: the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of the temperature falling; the wind shifting; animals from birds to mammals to insects around us heading for sleep or waking up for a night’s activity; and, if weather permits, the stars coming out.

Special guest Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra will read the City’s proclamation recognizing April 21-28, 2025 as International Dark Sky Week 2025.

All are welcome, including families with children.
Rain/cloud date: Saturday, April 26, 8:00-9:30 p.m.
Free. No registration required.
​
Learn More
Join us on the grounds of Historic Northampton for Northampton Night Fest 2025 coordinated by ​​Northampton City Lights in partnership
​with Historic Northampton.​
Lesbians of Color Oral History Panel
Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Moderated by Erika Slocumb with participants from the Lesbians of Color Oral History Project
Historic Northampton is seeking a larger venue for this event.
Click here to be placed on the event waitlist
Subject Heading: Oral History Panel Event List
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 6 pm
In-person at Historic Northampton, 46 Bridge Street, Northampton, Massachusetts
​Marching with the banner for
​De Colores: Lesbians of Color Western MA, circa 1994.
Photo courtesy of Marcel Walters.
Join Erika Slocumb and members of Northampton's community of lesbians of color, Pippa Flemming and Marcel Walters, as they discuss the history of Northampton’s queer community and the historic organization, De Colores.

Historic Northampton will screen De Colores: Defining Kinship, Finding Peace, a short documentary film telling the story of the community created by Black lesbians who came to Northampton, Massachusetts, in the 1970s and 1980s to live, work, and love. Slocumb will then discuss Historic Northampton's recent Lesbians of Color Oral History project, followed by a panel discussion from participants in the project and an open Q&A with the community. Bookends Florence will be in attendance selling books on local lesbian history.

Free and open to the public.
Registration required. Limited to 60.
​
Learn More
Join our email list for the latest news and announcements.
I signed up to receive email messages, but I am not receiving them.