Introduction
Bennett College, 1890-1978
The Bennett College Collection is a valuable record of New York State academic and women’s history, documenting education and cultural activities, administration, and the lives of students, faculty, and alumni across the 80+ history of Bennett College.
Beginning as a small school in Westchester County, Bennett College later established its permanent home in Millbrook, where its campus grew around the landmark building Halcyon Hall.
The College’s archival collection is significant as documentation of one of the early all-women’s educational institutions in New York State and reflects the broader evolution of women’s education and civil rights during the twentieth century. Materials in the collection include photographs, catalogs, administrative records, student publications, and personal correspondence that provide insight into daily life and academic programs.
This exhibit explores the College’s evolution from its roots in the 1890s through its closing in 1978, along with later records documenting the Millbrook campus prior to the demolition of Halcyon Hall in 2022. It showcases a selection of artifacts from Bennett College’s history and the founders, faculty, and alumnae who contributed to its enduring legacy.
Browse the entire Bennett College collection on New York Heritage here.