Embedded Files
Old SeminaryBuilding built in 1836 and
destroyed by fire in 1896.
Postcard circa 1905
Image from Donna Albino, MHC of 1983
Review of Reading
Review of Reading
Below are excerpts from the reading regarding the initiation of the saga. The initiation of the saga includes: 1a. A strong purpose, 1b. Introduced by a (wo)man (or small group with a mission), 2. Experience an organizational crisis, and that leads to 3. The Established organization.
While re-reading the excepts, keep in mind the following question:
How do these phases contribute to the development of the initiation of the saga?
What are different about the different phases?
After reviewing the excerpts, complete the Primary Source & Analysis activity outlined below.
Phase 1A: Strong Purpose
Phase 1A: Strong Purpose
"The saga is initially a strong purpose, conceived and enunciated by a single man or a small cadre (Selznick, 1957) whose first task is to find a setting that is open, or can be opened, to a special effort" (Clark, 1972, p. 180)
Phase 1B: Introduced by a [wo]Man (or small group) with a mission
Phase 1B: Introduced by a [wo]Man (or small group) with a mission
"The most obvious setting is the autonomous new organization, where there is no established structure, no rigid custom, especially if a deliberate effort has been made to establish initial autonomy and bordering outsiders are preoccupied. There a leader may also have the advantage of building from the top down, appointing lieutenants and picking up recruits in accord with his [her] ideas" (Clark, 1972, p. 180)
By Mary Lyon
Pamphlet outlining the mission and purpose of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. The goal was to solicit support both financial and in kind to help fund the seminary. Also, described the values and qualities of the women the institution hoped to education and the type of education they would receive.
Image from Donna Albino, MHC of 1983
Portrait of Mary Lyon
Steel Print, 1832
In S.D. Stow (1887) History of Mount Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Mass. During Its First Half Century, 1837-1887
Portrait of Mary Lyon
Oil painting by L. R. Jewett, 1906.
In H. Oxley Stengel (1922) The Story of Mary Lyon
Mount Holyoke College: The history behind the magic
Mount Holyoke College (January 9, 2017)
YouTube description: "After the devastating fire of 1896, the College took a series of actions that continue to resonate to this day. Magical and phoenixlike, key elements of Mount Holyoke’s unconventional and beautiful campus rose out of the ashes in an amazingly fast fashion. Yet with an equally impressive level of classic grandeur and detail."
Phase 2: Organization in Crisis
Phase 2: Organization in Crisis
"The second setting for initiation is the established organization in a crisis of decay...Deep crisis in the established organization thus creates some of the conditions of a new organization. It suspends past practice, forces some bordering groups to stand back or even to turn their backs on failure of the organization, and it tends to catch the attention of the reformer looking for an opportunity" (Clark, 1972, p. 180)
Old Seminary Building Postcard, circa 1905. Text: "Founded by Mary Lyon, 1836 Destroyed by Fire, Sept. 27, 1896"
Image from Donna Albino, MHC of 1983
Phase 3: The Established Organization
Phase 3: The Established Organization
"The third context for initiation is the established organization that is not in crisis, not collapsing from long decline, yet ready for evolutionary change. This is the most difficult situation to predict, having to do with degree of rigidity. In both ideology and structure, institutionalized colleges vary in openness to change"(Clark, 1972, p. 180)
Primary Source Activity & Analysis
Primary Source Activity & Analysis
"General View of the Principles and Design of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary"
by Mary Lyon, 1837
General View of the Principles and Design of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
General View of the Principles and Design of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
In 1837, Mary Lyon published the pamphlet, "General View of the Principles and Design of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary." The circular outlined the mission, purpose, and design of Mount Holyoke.
Read the introduction and 9 principles of design (pp. 1-5) here.
Then discuss the following questions:
What do this source reveal about the founding of Mount Holyoke?
What else was happening at the time this was created? What is the historical context?
What elements of the organizational saga are being displayed here?
Primary source: Lyon, M. (1837). General View of the Principles and Design of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hn54sw&seq=1
Image from Mount Holyoke Archives and Special Collections.
Bethiah A. Miller letter to Priscilla Maxwell
Bethiah A. Miller letter to Priscilla Maxwell
Dated January 16, 1837, Bethiah A. Miller Nichols wrote a letter to her friend Priscilla Maxwell about Mary Lyon visiting the town of Heath, MA to solicit support for the founding of the seminary. Bethiah went on to attend Mount Holyoke as one of the first students in the fall of 1837. Bethiah left Mount Holyoke in 1838 and married Reverend Washington Adams Nichols that same year.
Read pages 1-3 of Bethiah's letter to Pricilla here regarding her meeting Mary Lyon in Heath.
Then discuss the following questions:
How does this source describe Mary Lyon?
What elements of the organizational saga are being introduced in this letter?
Primary source: Miller Nichols, B. (1937, January 16). Letter to Priscilla Maxwell. Mount Holyoke College Special Collections and Archives. https://compass.fivecolleges.edu/islandora/object/mtholyoke%3A47226
Reflection Questions
Reflection Questions
What do these sources reveal about the founding of Mount Holyoke?
What do these sources reveal about the goals and purpose of education of women?
How does the sources presented here construct the organizational saga? What is the story that is being told?
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