The photograph depicts the Freshmen Camp in 1924 in the International YMCA College, now Springfield College. There can be seen 15 men in the photograph coming out from Lake Massasoit or still swimming in the lake.
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Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
With the encouragement of boys work pioneer Edgar M. Robinson, class of 1901, the College created a camp program for freshmen in 1924. Each year the new freshmen attended a freshmen camp during the summer. As part of one of the initiations, the freshmen had to swim across Lake Massasoit. “The Freshman informal initiation was warmly received by the Frosh. There is one consoling thought that remained with us that night. That is, our oppressors had to take the ducking with us, comrades in arms” (The Massasoit, 1924). The Freshman Camp tradition continues today with the College’s Outdoor Pursuits program for incoming students.
The photograph is in on a cardboard backing that was not scanned; On that cardboard backing is written "The Bog Trip / "Frosh" Camp 1924; On the back of the photograph is a sticker with "From the Hamilton & Jerome Co. Opticians * Kodak Supplies / 305 Main St. Springfield, Mass." written on it;
