Preserving the Songs of Simmons

A Singing College is a Happy College

Every language, culture, people, and nation creates a musical tradition preserving their history, stories, and experiences. The effect of music and song also has the power to gather and lift the spirits of the people through the best and worst of times, and this is what we find in the Simmons Song Book.

Front cover of the 1919 Simmons Song Book

Front cover of the 1919 Simmons Song Book.

Simmons We’ll Love You [sheet music]

"Simmons We'll Love You" [sheet music], 1919

Front cover of the 1923 Simmons Song Book

Front cover of the 1923 Simmons Song Book.

Simmons Summons Us All [sheet music]

"Simmons Summons Us All" [sheet music], 1923

Marion Abby Fitch - Fitchie

Marion Abby Fitch “Fitchie”, 1919.

A Cultural Record

In the summer of 1981, the Simmons Review celebrated the Simmons Song Book in an article by Teresa McKeon titled “Sing a Song of Simmons” featuring six alumnae and their musical contributions to the Song Book. The Song Book circulated in three editions: 1919, 1923, and finally in 1935, from which McKeon featured notable selections.

The first song featured is the Simmons TRADitional Song, written by Marion Abbie Fitch (1891–1987). Ms. Fitch, class of 1919, lovingly known as “Fichie”, was a Business major, and was a strong influence in many roles including Dramatics, Mandolin Club, editor of the Review, part of the Auxiliary Red Cross, and a leading member of the Song Book Committee for many years. McKeon quoted Fitch reminiscing how from an early age she would sit on her mother’s lap to play the piano. About 20 years later, Fitch became the leading composer of the Song Book.

The Simmons TRADitional Song reflects the customs of poetry and song telling a story and preserving historical and institutional knowledge in its musical form for piano and voice. Consisting of nine verses, the song echos the history of Simmons College— from John Simmons' inspiration for a Women’s college, through the Great Boston Fire of 1872, out of World War I, about Hoover’s hunger relief efforts during WWI, and around beloved college traditions.

Leadership and Faculty also understood the value of music to the college community as an expression of the People at that time, and for time to come. The 1923 edition of the Simmons Song Book was dedicated by Robert M. Gay, Chairman of the Division of Language, Literature, and the Arts. Likewise, the 1935 edition was dedicated by the Simmons President Bancroft Beatley.

Dedication of Simmons Song Book by Robert M. Gay

Dedication of Simmons Song Book by Professor Robert M. Gay

Dedication of Simmons Song Book by Bancroft Beatley

Dedication of the Simmons Song Book by Bancroft Beatley

May Day Breakfast [sheet music]

"May Day Breakfast" [sheet music], 1935

Title page of the 1935 Simmons Song Book

Title page of the Simmons Song Book, 1935

Listen... and Sing Along

Figure 7 Simmons Traditional Song by Marion Fitch '19. From Simmons Song Book (p. 70), 1935.

Simmons TRADitional Song Lyrics

  1. In Boston town long years ago there lived a man whose name was John To buy and cut his cloth just so was how he got along. Oh, when Johnny was a little lad around about sixteen, His fam’ly thought he was quite mad but he was not so green. He started bus’ness for himself and saved a lot of cash And after he had paid his debts he made a plan quite rash. 
  2. He thought he'd start a female school, a place from which much good could come Where girls could do things for themselves to brave the old  world’s hum But, in sev’nty two a big fire raged; his plans were sent askew Then after nearly thirty years the fund was built anew. And then the charter was obtained in ninety nine, ‘tis true The College was on Saint Botolph in the year nineteen two. 
  3. Mr. Lefavour was the President and he was liked by not a few But first in the hearts of college girls came our dear Dean Sally Lou Oh, she held the chair for many a year; Hoover saw the work she’d done And for the National Food Relief took her to Washington. In nineteen hundred three, the school was moved to Boylston Street Then to Fenway in nineteen four they went with eager feet. 
  4. Two years fled by with lightning speed we're hap-py that we can relate That in the year of nineteen six did the first class graduate. Joy and then again in nineteen nine, praise be to dear old John They took some money from out the fund and built the West Wing on. To keep tradition well in tact in real New England state They build a stylish cupola, the school to ventilate. 
  5. Alas, alack, the war broke out, no loyal Simmons girl would shirk Without neglecting studies they turned out to do war work. Oh, the bandages they made were fine, gray socks they made with glee The knitting needles flew like mad for the boys across the sea. How happy Johnny would have been to see his dream come true The girls they know just how to think and also how to do.
  6. The years rolled by and from the school young ladies marched with fearless tread And in professional ranks they were as usual at the head. Oh, into hotels they gaily tripped, in tea rooms by the score And profits rolled in rapidly as they never had before. In chemists’ labs for hours long they toiled with earnestness Till by their brains they soon became assistants and no less.
  7. With all the knowledge they could cram, girls seemed to have the time to play And on the tennis courts they’d sport, long skirts did not delay. Oh, but best of all throughout the year in every kind of way Was when the girls turned out and had a snappy old Field Day, And then on May Day all the girls around the Maypole danced But two poles weren’t as good as one although it once was chanced. 
  8. Old customs change and new ones come but to old ones we hold quite fast And singing on the college steps is one that’s bound to last. Oh, with pretty lanterns gaily hung at Prom time as you know The halls with joy then do resound for each girl has her beau. And now the girls can flirt and smoke as they never could before Because there always stood quite prim a chap’rone at the door.
  9. We used to have a lot of fun until they tightened up the reins And now the ghost walk it is gone with its liver and its chains. Oh, in spite of freedom which they won, in spite of customs too, The Simmons’ girl spends most her time learning to think and do. John Simmons’ dream has now at last become a living thing And now with all our might and main his praises we will sing (Simmons College, 1935, pp. 70–71).

References

Boston Conservatory of Music. (1920). Symphony Hall Pops: The thirty-fifth season nineteen hundred twenty [Music program]. https://archive.org/details/bostonpopsorches1920bost/mode/1up 

Boston Fire Historical Society. (n.d.). Great Boston Fire of 1872. https://bostonfirehistory.org/fires/great-boston-fire-of-1872/ 

Boston Symphony Orchestra. (n.d.). Performance history search [Composer: Marion Fitch]. https://archives.bso.org/Search.aspx?searchType=Performance&Composer=Marion%20Fitch 

FamilySearch. (n.d.). Marion Abby Fitch: 1 November 1891–12 April 1987 [Genealogical information; Record ID: KNBM-F9Y]. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KNBM-F9Y/marion-abby-fitch-1891-1987 

McKeon, T. (1981). Sing a song of Simmons. Simmons Review, Summer 63(3), 22–27. https://simmons.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_8a51b04a-f923-4515-8fc0-5d2cf66136bf/

Mills, D. (2021). Herbert Hoover's World War I-Era food relief work [Presentation; American History TV]. C-Span. https://www.c-span.org/program/american-history-tv/herbert-hoovers-world-war-i-era-food-relief-work/590591 

Simmons College. (1919). The Microcosm. https://simmons.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_508a052d-da96-4de6-98a8-5e6ddc208a8d/ 

Simmons College. (1923). Simmons Song Book. 

Simmons College. (1935). Simmons Song Book.

Simmons University. (2026). Simmons Traditional Song by Marion Fitch '19 [Music and video]. https://youtu.be/z11Wcx1i534?si=muKDL_6t3mBnPEIq

Preserving the Songs of Simmons