June 19–22, 1871
After a soirée musicale the previous evening, commencement activities began on Tuesday, June 20, with Class Day in the afternoon. The Chapel was filled to capacity and decorated with baskets and wreathes of flowers and streamers of evergreens. An orchestra from the New York Philharmonic Society provided music and addresses by the seniors focused on the history and the future of the class.
Proceeding from the Chapel to the lawn west of Main, the seniors planted their class tree. Kate G. Jewett ‘71 delivered the senior oration and Annie B. Folger ’72 gave the junior oration. Following the deposit of the class records, the class song was sung, the orchestra taking up the theme. In the evening, Sarah Glazier ’68, a master’s student at Vassar and later a professor at Wellesley, gave the Philalethean Society address.
On Wednesday, the 21st, Commencement exercises were held in the Chapel. Addresses from the seniors in English, Latin, French and German were interspersed with musical selections before President Raymond conferred the baccalaureate degree on the 21 members of the class.
The New York Times