Sophia Smith — Hatfield, Northampton, and the Founding of Smith College

With Laurie Sanders, co-director of Historic Northampton

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.