The Mount Holyoke College Art Department records consist of correspondence; department reports; telegrams; historical sketches and notes; memos; lecture transcripts and announcements; pamphlets; flyers; posters; press releases; news and magazine articles; minutes, agendas, and notes from department meetings; financial records; check stubs; appropriation requests; petitions to raise funds; course outlines; syllabi; teaching notes; examinations; student papers; student enrollment lists; faculty publication lists; biographical sketches; art collection inventories; art show invitations and programs; art building plans and specifications; statistical tables; prints; slides; photographic negatives; and photographs. In general, the records deal with all aspects of the formation, operation and funding of the Mount Holyoke College Art Department. Also included are documents related to the college Art Museum and the art collections of Mount Holyoke throughout its history. In addition, the records describe special programs, lecture series, and guest professorships such as the Egypt Exploration Fund, the "Friends of Art" program, the Purington Professorship, the Amy M. Sacker Memorial Lectureship (1965-1969), and the Hyde-Foss Lecture Series (established in 1948). Of particular note is correspondence from 1903-1906 between the college Art Department and the U.S. Bureau of Education regarding a special report on "American Education in Fine and Industrial Art." Another correspondence noteworthy for its unique and extensive handwriting is between Gertrude S. Hyde, a departmental chair, and various well-known artists regarding the contest to hang a painting in the library's newly built Stimson Room. Significant correspondents include the US Bureau of Education, Gertrude S. Hyde, Mary E. Wooley, Harriet Newhall, Henry Moore, and the Portland Museum Art.