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Simmons College Traditions . . .
Then and Now

FATHER-DAUGHTER WEEKEND

The first Father-Daughter Weekend took place on February 15, 1963. The event was not very different from the one held now: it lasted for three days beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday. The event is a sister class tradition held for Seniors and Sophomores and their fathers.

The original Father-Daughter Weekend began with the fathers attending classes on Friday morning and early afternoon, followed by an afternoon tea at 4:00 p.m. Later, the fathers and daughters went out to dinner, which was followed by an evening at the theater.

On Saturday, the fathers and their daughters attended coffee hours held by each of the schools (now departments), which was followed by a welcome from the President, the Dean, and representatives from the Alumnae Association and students. This was followed by a faculty panel discussion on the question of whether women's colleges were obsolete. Following lunch, there were various games such as ping pong and volley ball.

Saturday evening was spent at the Hotel Beaconsfield where everyone had dinner. Dinner was followed by a formal dance, and prizes were awarded to the father who did the best "Twist" and for the "Handsomest Dad." Sunday morning was spent at a leisurely breakfast, church and a roast beef lunch. Following lunch there was a dorm Open House and a Yale-Simmons Glee club concert.

Changes to the basic structure of Father-Daughter Weekend have been few. Most of the changes are either in the location where the formal dinner and dance are held on Saturday night or in the types of entertainment offered. Because the event changes some each year, it is impossible to document all of the changes here, but some of the major ones will be mentioned.

In the late 1960's, alternatives to an evening at the theater - such as the "Ice Follies" - start to appear, and the event becomes less structured, with fathers and daughters being allowed to choose from a small array of entertainment. By the mid to late 1970's, the day of classes has become an informal discussion with members of the faculty, and cocktails are prominently mentioned as part of the Saturday evening of dancing. Also around this time, the Weekend starts to be billed as less of a "show your school to your father" and more of an informal getting reacquainted with your dad.

A review of the 1985 to 1995 editions of the Microcosm indicates that the Father-Daughter Weekend continues as a well-attended event . Photos from this time period depict smiling fathers/guardians and their daughters sightseeing, attending classes and receptions, and dining and dancing at elegant Saturday night Father-Daughter Balls. Since 1997 the event has been known as "Tribute to our Male Role Models" weekend to include grandfathers, uncles, and other important male figures in students' lives.

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Page updated: June 28, 2006