Smith College Junior Year Group

Whereas Smith already had a Junior Year Abroad program in Paris since 1925 (See Gantrell), most of its students resided with families in Paris although some resided at Reid Hall but generally found the place to be too similar to an American dormitory (Smith Archives, 1935).In 1946, the group studied in Geneva because the situation in France was much too difficult.

Since there were few facilities to house a large group of students and since French families were still struggling with food shortage in the aftermath of the war, Reid Hall became the residence for the group of young women who arrived in 1947, via the De Grasse ocean-liner. The Herald Tribune (November 29, 1947) reports that they were the largest group at Reid Hall, with thirty-eight students in residence who came from different women's colleges on the Eastern seaboard: Smith, Bryn Mawr, Russel Sage, New Jersey College of Women, Barnard, Wilson, etc. They studied mainly at the Sorbonne, Sciences Po, and the Louvre. The director of the Smith group was Madeleine Guilloton, who had headed the group in the 1930s. On the average, students were 20 years of age and many became involved in Reid Hall's musical activities.

Miss Leet and Smith student Lucy Elmer

Dorothy Leet visited Smith College in April, 1948 (NY Sun, April 21) to talk about France and Reid Hall.

Through the years, the Smith students gradually reintegrated French families, using Reid Hall as their administrative hub. In the fifties, numerous students from Smith passed through Reid Hall.

Smith Students in Reid Hall's Courtyard, 1949 (Smith Archives)

Several years ago, several Smith Reid Hall alums came together at the Hall to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. A number had stayed in France, married a French man and/or established careers for themselves in Paris. Others had returned to the U.S. and came back to France on visit with family or friends. Their transformative year in Paris remained indelible in their mind and the French language also remained quite active for many.

In 2020, Smith College still has its headquarters at Reid Hall and occupies the space they had secured long ago. As Martine Gantrell, professor of French and former Director of the program, describes it, the model of the program is more or less the following: "It is a year‐long program; students start the year with an orientation during which they take classes in French language and methodology, and learn about the history and culture of France; they live with families and study at French universities; and they are under the supervision of a faculty member who belongs to their home institution and serves as their academic adviser" (11).