Views on the importance of the woman's contributions to shaping culture and the role of female leadership at Mount Holyoke College are considered. According to historian Mary Ritter Beard, the "woman's tradition" of imparting a progressive social consciousness to the culture has been an important influence. Beard addressed Mount Holyoke in 1937 at the college's 100th anniversary, when the college's historical mission to promote female leadership and internationalist values was justified. The centenary activities offered a vision of the college's future, which may be identified as an organizational saga. The first component of the saga was that Mount Holyoke's women leaders had been successful. Examples of strong leadership were demonstrated by Mary Lyon, the college's founder and by Mary Woolley, the president for 36 years. At the 100th anniversary, celebrants discussed the moral values and social goals that were fostered by the college's female leaders and that constituted a special heritage for the college women. Education at Mount Holyoke has been based on the tenets of human possibilities, human worth, and human self-improvement. Similarities and distinctions between the Mount Holyoke saga and basic tenets of the Social Gospel were also noted. (SW)