Chellis House is named after May Belle Chellis, the first woman to graduate from Middlebury in 1886, who was not only valedictorian, but who also won the College’s highly coveted Greek Award, a success very much grumbled about by her male classmates. Continuing her legacy, Chellis House serves as the Feminist Resource Center.
The center began in 1993 to offer informational, educational, and cultural resources for the Middlebury community while also being a feminist extracurricular activity center and safe welcoming home for all students.
The building includes the Allison Fraker Library, a reading room filled with materials on feminism, sexuality, and gender studies; a comfortable living room; and a splendid back deck. The house is also used by various groups, including Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM), It Happens Here, and the Sister-to-Sister and Brother-to-Brother programs, for regular meetings and special events.
56 Hillcrest Rd.
Middlebury, VT 05753