Margaret Chase Smith, Civic Education, and Wilson College

Women’s History Wednesdays

Margaret Chase Smith, Civic Education, and Wilson College
presented by Maxine Wagenhoffer, Director of the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education and Assistant Professor of History
March 11, 2026 at 2 p.m. in Lenfest Learning Commons, John Stewart Memorial Library

This presentation focuses on the relationship that Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of the U.S. Congress, had with Wilson College. In 1945, Smith participated in Wilson College’s seventy-fifth anniversary celebration. Smith returned to campus several times throughout the twentieth century, serving as a source of energy and political inspiration for Wilson women. Ultimately, this presentation highlights Smith’s impact on the Wilson College community over the years.

Sponsored by the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education.