Romance Languages and Literatures Department records

Shortly after the founding of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1837, the study of modern foreign language was introduced as an optional addition to the standard curriculum. In these early days, one instructor was employed to teach all modern language classes at the Seminary. In 1876, Mount Holyoke became one of the first colleges in the nation to require the study of a modern foreign language in addition to Latin and Greek. At this time, the only modern languages taught at Mount Holyoke were French and German. In the 1887/1888 academic year, French and German Departments existed at the College. The study of Italian and Spanish was introduced in the 1894/1895 academic year, but courses in these subjects were not offered regularly until 1901. In this year, Mary Vance Young, professor of Italian, came to the College and instigated the formation of the Department of Romance Languages. This new department included the study of French, German, Italian, and Spanish. In the 1936/1937 academic year, this department expanded to become the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. In the 1942/1943 academic year, the department disbanded and separate departments in each language were created. An interdepartmental major in Romance Languages and Literatures was available from 1942/1943 until 1972/1973. This was changed to an interdisciplinary major in 1973/1974. Although most institutions ceased to require the study of a modern language in the 1960's (only to reinstate the requirements in the 1980's), Mount Holyoke has consistently retained its modern language requirement.