Committee on Buildings and Grounds Records, 1929-1996: Scope & Contents of the Collection

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Records of the Committee on Buildings and Grounds date from 1929-1996 and concern the purchase and sale of property by Mount Holyoke College, improvements to the campus, and the construction and renovation of buildings at the College. Documents are arranged in three series: Meeting Minutes and Records Concerning New Facilities and Renovations; Reports; and Architectural Plans and Proposals and Meeting Minutes. Meeting Minutes and Records Concerning New Facilities and Renovations (1929-1981) contain minutes and agenda, reports, architectural plans, correspondence, financial records, memoranda, and lists. Many of the records concern the purchase or sale of property by the College and the construction of or improvements to buildings, including dormitories, science facilities, and Kendall Hall (the gymnasium). There are also references to improving walkways and caring for trees on campus, adding parking spaces, and maintaining or extending water and sewer lines. Reports (1954-1977) contain information about the funding new construction efforts and the acquisition and sale of property as well as progress reports on the design and construction of facilities. These documents include information about the development of the Jewett Lane area for faculty housing. Architectural Plans and Proposals and Meeting Minutes (1978-1996) concern maintenance and construction of buildings and improvements to the grounds, including work that was done part of Mount Holyoke's Master Plan that began in the early 1980s. These records include information about the creation of a student center in Blanchard Hall; expansion and renovation of library and physical education facilities; energy conservation efforts on campus; and construction of the Equestrian Center. Some of these records also concern the development of the Village Commons shopping complex in South Hadley Center.