SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
RECORD GROUP NUMBER
RG 133
Massasoit Hall Records,
1957-
Written by
Amanda DiPaolo
December, 2009
Revised by
Jeffrey Monseau
June, 2012
Shelf space occupied .25 linear feet
Number of boxes 1 box Massasoit Hall Records Page 2
Archives and Special Collections
Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
INFORMATION ON USE OF THE COLLECTION
TERMS OF ACCESS AND USE
Unrestricted
PREFERRED CITATION
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information (in addition to any other information required by the citation style being used):
RG133 – Massasoit Hall Records, box #, folder #, Archives and Special Collections, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
HISTORY OF THE COLLECTION
There was no formal acquisition of the materials for this collection. The collection is artificially created. Materials were received from different places at different times. The Acquisition sources and dates of the materials are unknown.
Collection arranged by Amanda DiPaolo, December, 2009.
Collection revised by Jeffrey Monseau, June, 2012
ARRANGEMENT
Since this is an artificially created collection there is no original order. The collection is organized as follows as follows; floor plans, news articles, and photographs and slides. Other than digitized items, there is no particular order within the folders.
Massasoit Hall Records Page 3
Archives and Special Collections
Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
RELATED MATERIALS
In Archives and Special Collections, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.:
Digital Collections – For all Digital Images of Photographs and Documents
Springfield College Building and Grounds Records
Springfield College Trustee Records
Springfield College Marketing and Communication Records--Scrapbooks and News Clippings
Student Life—Photographs
Student Activities Records
RG138 - Reed Hall Records
RG128 - Lakeside Hall Records
SEARCH TERMS AND SUBJECTS
The following terms represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection.
Springfield College
Springfield College--Buildings
Massasoit Hall
South Hall
Resident Life
Resident Halls
Dormitories
Valentino
Massasoit Hall Records Page 4
Archives and Special Collections
Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
On November 26th, 1956, a proposal for a new men’s dormitory was submitted to the trustees. The dormitory was the first of a tri-pod of Resident Halls built between 1955 and 1960. A loan of $450,000 was secured in 1957, and in the fall of 1958 construction began.
The new dormitory was completed and opened for residents in September 1959. The dormitory remained undedicated and simply known as “South Hall” because of its location just south of Alumni Hall. The Springfield College Student said; “South Hall is nice- even luxurious- and as the general consensus has it, the biggest step Springfield College has made since the recent addition of the Beveridge Center.” Students said the furniture was modern and the new rooms “look almost too much like home” (October 2 1959).
On April 22nd, 1961, the Hall was to be named Dr. Allen Reed Hall, but on June 10th 1961, the college decided that the last dorm in the cultivation of this tri-pod should be named after the College’s founder, and so it was decided that South Hall be named Massasoit Hall, after the lake that it sits on.
Massasoit Hall originally functioned as an all-male dormitory, but in 1969 it was the first dormitory to change from a single sex hall to a co-educational dormitory. Separate floors were designated for men and women. Today, though students might not say that it “looks too much like home,” it houses all freshmen students, feeling and becoming like their home throughout the year. Massasoit retains its new and modern spirit with the many new first years residing in it each fall.
CHRONOLOGICAL
1957 Executive Committee voted that a loan be approved to construct the proposed Men’s Dormitory. Alderman-McNeish Architecture firm will complete the plans for the building.
1958 In the fall of 1958 construction began
1959 Dormitory completed and opened for residents.
1961 Voted that “South Hall” be named Massasoit Hall.
1969 First change of a single sex form to a co-educational dorm. Separate floors were designated for men and women.
Massasoit Hall Records Page 5
Archives and Special Collections
Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection documents the planning, construction, and completion of Massasoit Hall. The collection includes general information, floor plans and newspaper articles regarding the dormitory’s construction. Visual images of the dormitory include construction photographs, including a photograph of Springfield College Alum Thomas Waddell, class of 1959, inspecting an unfinished room, undated exterior photographs of the front, and rear-views of the completed dormitory. In addition there is a proposed drawing of Massasoit Hall signed by Valentino, which look to have been part of the original Architect sketches of the building.
Massasoit Hall Records Page 6
Archives and Special Collections
Babson Library, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Folder List
BOX
FOLDER
CONTENTS
DATE
DIGITAL
1
1
General Information
N/A
No Digital Files
1
2
Floor Plans
Undated
No Digital Files
1
3
News Articles
1959
No Digital Files
1
4
Architect Drawing (signed by Valentino)
1958?
Digital Files
1
5
Photographs: Construction
1959
Digital Files
1
6
Photographs: Exterior – Front
1970-2001?
Digital Files
1
7
Photographs: Exterior – Back
1961-1990?
Digital Files
1
8
Photographs: Exterior – Side (West)
1961-1980?
No Digital Files
1
9
Photographs: Interior
1961?
Digital Files
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