The following information was researched in the F.W. Olin Library. The questions were addressed to the From the Archive column in the past weeks.

Question: What were some of the activities and traditions in Mills history?

Answer: Mills history is filled with activities and traditions.

Every residence hall, for instance, hosted a dance and a tea party for all students. In 1917, the junior class held a “Juniorpheum” in which various jazz bands played and dancers performed as a part of a carnival.

In addition to these activities, each class and the faculty did stunts, which consisted of singing various versions of “traditional songs,” such as the Mills alma mater, “Fires of Wisdom.”

Mills also held many competitions between the freshwomen and sophomore classes. Besides a baseball game in spring, the two lower classes held a “Hide the Lamb” game, in which one class had to acquire a lamb and hide it from the other class. On designated days, the opposing team would then search for the lamb.

“Hat Day” was another well-remembered tradition. The freshwomen chose a day to sport their “class hats.” Sophomores searched for the package of hats prior to that day. If a sophomore found the hats, the freshwomen responsible would be locked in the clock tower for a few hours.

Throughout the year, freshwomen tried to climb the trees on campus and carve their graduation year as high as possible on the trunk, without a passing sophomore noticing.

Numbers can still be found engraved in some of the trees.

One of the most anticipated events was the freshwomen kidnapping.

Masked sophomores came to freshwomen rooms, blindfolded students, and led them throughout campus, including into the fountains. Then the juniors took control, leading the first years through a “Chamber of Horrors.” The night ended at the gymnasium with an ice cream social.

Question: Is it true that students weren’t allowed to go off campus back in the day?

Answer: Students were allowed to go off campus. However, as early as 1917, restrictions were placed on off-campus visits.

First semester freshwomen, for instance, were not allowed to go into San Francisco without a parent or guardian.

Any student leaving the campus was required to do so in groups of two or more.

Also, no student was allowed to stay off campus overnight without the permission of the school.

Students participating in sports teams had additional restrictions. A 10 p.m. curfew was enacted for all teams, 9 p.m. on the night before a game.

If you have any questions about Mills history, please submit to gcampbel@mills.edu.

The following are questions about Mills history, addressed to the Weekly in the past week. The answers have been researched in Olin Library’s Rare Book Room.

Question: What was the general war sentiment at Mills during WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War? Were there any programs enacted either in support or protest of these wars?

Answer: Generally, Mills students were in support of WWI and WWII.

The college held programs during both wars in which students were trained in both nursing and telecommunications.

In the summer sessions of 1941, Mills offered a Civilian Pilot Training Program to instruct women in avaiation in the event that the military needed to use commercial aircraft.

Among the classes taught were Theory of Flight, Navigation, Meteorology, and Civil Air Regulations. Also, in order to receive their Private Flying Certificate, the students participated in a maximum of 50 hours of flight training at Oakland Airport.

The Vietnam War, however, was different. Students were generally against the war and led nonviolent demonstrations both on and off campus.

Spring semester of 1970, the president of Mills College, Robert J. Wert, endorsed the closing of Mills for ten days during a nationwide college protest following the United States expansion of the war into Cambodia.

At this time, students did projects related to the war and attended workshops led by teachers.

Question: During WWII, were any Japanese-American students sent to relocation campus?

Answer: Yes, many students and staff members were relocated.

Aurelia Reinhardt, president of Mills during this time, was very upset and concerned about the wellbeing of those relocated. She corresponded with many students and staff residing in relocation campus in both Topaz, Utah and Rohwer, Arkansas.

These letters are available in the Heller Rare Book Rom.

If you have any questions about Mills history, please address them to gcampbel@mills.edu for future publications.