This dynamic digital project chronicles 150 years of queer and trans life at Wellesley, featuring materials from the College Archives and video recordings of oral histories from Wellesley Alums. Created through student research under the guidance of LGBTQ+ Programs and Services, the timeline highlights community milestones, amplifies underrepresented voices, and recognizes the College’s enduring and complex LGBTQ+ legacy.
The two would enter into a Boston Marriage, living together in the Ville.
Woolley would go on to become President of Mount Holyoke College, where the pair would live together.
Coman and Bates settled together permanently in a house they called "The Scarab."
Eleanor Blair writes home about a mock wedding she and her friends hosted in the Ville – a tradition for Wellesley students during this era.
Wellesley’s handbook for students began, in this period, to add more regulations on overnight guests, prohibiting students from “entertain[ing] a fellow-student over night.”
Nicholas Ostermann ‘36, who, sixteen years later, would begin his gender transition, graduates from Wellesley College.
In 1938, Eleanor Blair ‘17 and Cécile de Banke move in together in the Ville.
Following a life-threatening accident, Nicholas Ostermann begins his gender transition.
In this clip, Elsa Greene reflects on how the emotional strain and fear surrounding her sexuality during college affected her academics.
Here, Elsa Greene discusses Wellesley’s mid-century denial of lesbian existence on campus and how that policy shaped disciplinary practices.
Here, Susan Hoover reflects on the conservative attitudes toward sexuality at Wellesley in the early 1960s.
Susan Hoover recalls being out to only a few friends while at Wellesley in the early 1960s and describes how secrecy around her sexuality made that time deeply painful.
In this clip, Susan Hoover reflects on the dual pressures queer students faced at Wellesley from both administration and peers.
Susan Hoover reflects on her involvement in Wellesley’s theatre scene, particularly the Shakespeare Society, where she enjoyed performing male roles.
Nora Ephron ’62, in her 1996 commencement speech, says that while at Wellesley, she experienced a social atmosphere designed to prepare each graduate to be “a lady.” She reveals that while she was at Wellesley, the College “actually threw six young women out for lesbianism.”
In this clip, Elsa Greene reflects on the early stages of understanding her sexuality during college.
Elsa Greene recalls being discovered in an intimate moment with her girlfriend during her senior year at Wellesley and the disciplinary consequences that followed.
Nancy Wanderer reflects on dating, sexuality, and gender expectations during her time at Wellesley in the 1960s.
In this clip, Nancy Wanderer recounts her dating experiences at Wellesley and the social pressures surrounding marriage, sexuality, and gender expectations during the Vietnam era.
Cécile deBanke, who lived with Eleanor Blair ’17 for nearly 30 years, passes away in 1965.
Wellesley changes its policy on women as guests in the dormitories, allowing female guests to stay overnight only “when beds are available.” Previously, the official policy only required students to get permission from their Head of House to host women as guests and did not include restrictions on beds.
In this clip, Victoria Barstow recounts that her father, a Wellesley faculty member, was gay and gradually became more open about his sexuality from the late 1960s through the 1990s.
Wellesley’s Chaplaincy begins to sponsor discussions on “gay liberation and homophile issues.”
Elyse Cherry recalls when students and faculty were openly lesbian and seeking formal recognition, including a budget for a student group.
Here, Elyse Cherry reflects on the way students at Wellesley navigated their sexual identities, often marrying heterosexually before coming out later in life.
In this clip, Sherry Zitter discusses how language around sexuality evolved during and after her time at Wellesley.
In this clip, Sherry Zitter recalls first encountering Wellesley during nationwide antiwar protests and being drawn to the college’s spirit of activism and open dialogue.
Nicholas Ostermann ’36 explains his name change to the College.
Professor Paul Barstow advises College President to begin formulating a plan to support gay students.
Lesbian students form the Mytilene Society, named for the capital of Lesbos, as a sub-committee of the Women's Committee.
In response to student interest in learning about “homosexuality, especially lesbianism,” the Counseling Office creates a list of books on the topic and notifies the President’s Office that they will begin circulating it to students.
Here, Helen Fremont recalls that while Wellesley’s feminist environment encouraged women’s empowerment, students rarely discussed sexuality or identity openly.
Professors, students, admin, and staff from schools including Wellesley hold the first meeting of Gay Academic Union (GAU) of New England in Boston. The organization, which existed from 1973 to 1984, advocated for gay studies within universities and fought for anti-discrimination protections.
Student organizations, including the Mytilene Society’s parent organization Women’s Committee, organize a 10-day conference on human sexuality on campus, holding discussions and inviting experts to speak about their research. An event on “Lesbianism” features a movie showing and discussion.
Here, Victoria Barstow describes the Mytilene Society as an informal social group for women seeking connections with other queer women.
Victoria Barstow recalls entering Wellesley in 1976 and studying psychology, where discussions of gender and sexuality were limited and often pathologized.
Students, staff, and faculty organize a 6-week course on topics related to human sexuality.
Sherry Zitter reflects on her gradual process of understanding her sexuality.
Sherry Zitter reflects on how Wellesley’s dorm rules in the 1970s revealed persistent taboos around sexuality.
Helen Fremont reflects that during her time at Wellesley in the 1970s, gender was discussed only in binary terms—women versus men.
Suzette Mullen reflects on realizing her attraction to women only later in life, noting that she lacked the language and representation to understand it while at Wellesley.
In this clip, Suzette Mullen reflects on coming out later in life and finding peace with the timing of her self-discovery.
Here, Suzette Mullen reflects on how her time at Wellesley shaped, but did not immediately awaken, her understanding of her sexuality.
The Gay Concerns Group begins to meet weekly.
Suzette Mullen explains that during her time at Wellesley, queerness was largely absent from her social world.
Janice Molloy describes informal social spaces associated with queer students at Wellesley during the early 1980s.
Janice Molloy describes the visibility and support structures for queer students at Wellesley in the early 1980s.
Janice Molloy recalls the influence of the women’s music movement during her years at Wellesley, noting its role in fostering a sense of community among lesbian and feminist students.
Spam is posted advertising a discussion group on “exploring sexual preference.”
Wellesley Lesbians and Friends (WLF) begins to hold weekly meetings.
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