Sophia Smith — Hatfield, Northampton, and the Founding of Smith College
A Presentation by Laurie Sanders, co-director of Historic Northampton
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 6 pm
First Congregational Church, 41 Main Street, Hatfield, MA
Co-sponsored by the Hatfield Historical Society, the Hatfield Public Library and Smith College
Co-sponsored by the Hatfield Historical Society, the Hatfield Public Library and Smith College
Sophia Smith, 1858
Smith College Special Collections |
2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Sophia Smith’s decision to found Smith College in Northampton. To honor this milestone, Historic Northampton and the Hatfield Historical Museum will offer a special presentation about Sophia Smith's life and her decision to fund a women's college. Laurie Sanders, co-director of Historic Northampton, will discuss the factors that influenced her decision to locate the college in Northampton and not as she initially planned in her beloved hometown of Hatfield.
Prior to the talk, the Hatfield Historical Society will be open from 4 t0 5:45 pm to reveal its latest exhibit, Sophia Smith At Home, which features artifacts from Smith's private life. The society is located on the 2nd floor of 39 Main Street in Hatfield, near the First Congregational Church where the lecture will take place. Reserve your place. Walk-ins welcome. Sliding scale admission: $5-20. Presented by the Hatfield Historical Society in partnership with Smith College, the Hatfield Public Library, and Historic Northampton. Register |
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Mementos from the life of Sophia Smith
Founder of Smith College Hatfield Historical Society, Hatfield, MA |
This 1790s homestead was the birthplace and home
of Sophia Smith for nearly 20 years. 22 Main Street, Hatfield, MA |
