WELLESLEY, MASS.- Destroyed by fire in 1914, College Hall, once the heart of the Wellesley College campus, became the focus of a community-based excavation aimed at uncovering historical artifacts linked to its classrooms, dormitories, laboratories, and cultural collections. These artifacts are the focus of
Digging Into History: The Wellesley College Hall Archaeology Project, a new exhibition on view from September 19 through December 14, 2025 at the
Davis Museum at Wellesley College. It is one of three exhibitions marking the 150th anniversary of Wellesley College.
Led by former Wellesley faculty member Dr. Elizabeth Minor ’03, more than 100 students and volunteers joined the community excavation from 2017 to 2023. They unearthed fragments of daily life— from oyster shells and sardine cans to ancient Mediterranean ceramics and architectural elements— all of which offer a tangible connection to the lived experiences of early Wellesley students.
The excavation project highlighted the power of community-driven, participatory research and experiential learning. It brought archaeology into Wellesley’s backyard, making the discipline more accessible while addressing inequities in the field by centering local knowledge and prioritizing inclusion.
Alejandra Chaisson ’19 and Olivia Reckley ’18 excavate a unit near the staircase in Tower Courtyard. Photo courtesy of the Wellesley College Hall Archaeology Project.
Dr. Minor says, “This excavation became a space for Wellesley students to see themselves in history, and to imagine their own futures. Students loved exploring by digging through the actual remains of College Hall, as well as the paper archives. They connected with the stories of students who moved through the same spaces 100 years ago, who faced many of the same challenges they do today. One participant only half jokingly wrote in their final report: ‘I took this class thinking that archaeology meant looking for golden treasure, but now I know that the REAL treasure was the friends I made along the way!’”
Digging Into History invites reflection on how the past informs our present—just as Wellesley marks its 150th anniversary by honoring an extraordinary history, looking toward an exciting future, and reaffirming its commitment to educating women who will make a difference in the world.
Digging Into History is co-curated by Dr. Nicole Berlin, Associate Curator of Collections, and Dr. Elizabeth Minor ’03, former Wellesley College Anthropology faculty member and current Assistant Professor at California State Polytechnic University, with contributions from Alejandra Chaisson ’19, Anjali Aralikar ’23, Anna Calderon ’23, Rebecca Darling, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, Georgia Oppenheim ’20, Julz Vargas ’24, Juening Mao ’26, Kalei Oliver ’20, Kelly Giudice DS ’25, Mary Beth Timm, Interim Co-Director and Associate Director for Operations and Collections Management, McKenna Morris ’19, Megan Rodriguez-Hawkins ’25, Paola Favela ’19, and Rachel Tao ’19.
Additional participants and supporters of the Project include: Abby Jarcho ’26, Alex Cahn ’23, Allie Beighle ’26, Anastacia Markoe DS ’23, Anna Smith ’23, Ashley Bisram ’22, Ash He ’24, Audrey Ballarin ’23, Aylish Klepper ’21, Blythe Terry ’23, Caden Rijal ’23, Caylee Pallato ’20, Clara Ferrari ’20, Coco Plasencia ’24, Deyra Aguilar ’24, Eliene Wu ’20, Em Kramer ’23, Emma Ross ’24, Giulia Bronzi ’21, Ginnie Peery ’24, Jen Enriquez ’24, Josephine Kim ’20, Josie Kutcha ’23, Kadidia Keita ’24, Kate Hall ’22, Karen Mueller ’23, Kasey Cole ’25, Katharine Gavitt ’21, Kelly Navickas ’19, Kyra Deehr-Lewis ’23, Lara Kurtz ’26, Looghermine Claude ’20, Lulu Al Saud ’20, Mads Jackson ’24, Madeleine Bettencourt ’22, Madison Miller ’21, Marie Delahousse ’26, Maddie Moon ’23, Olivia Arthur ’23, Oladunni Oladipo ’22, Patricia Tao ’23, Rachel Beaton ’21, Sabina Unni ’19, Sarah Guise ’20, Sissi Chen ’26, Sophia DeCubellis ’23, Sophia Greenberg ’21, Sophie Wilson ’22, Sreyneang Loeurng ’24, and many more…
The excavation was supported through generous funding from the Paulson Ecology of Place Initiative. This exhibition is generously supported by the E. Franklin Robbins Art Museum Fund and the Mellon Academic Programs Fund.
