The Out But Not Down Club is composed of retired faculty and staff of Smith College "to explore possibilities of the employment of the members' leisure time in ways beneficial to the community and each other." This Smith College group were originally called the Alpha Chapter in hopes that the organization might be a Four College group with a chapter on each campus and that there would be periodic group meetings. This did not occur. The club was suggested by Albert Blakeslee who served as the first president.
From the description of Out But Not Down Club records, 1952-[ongoing]. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 53003204
The Out But Not Down Club (OBND) was the generous innovation created by Albert Blakeslee, Professor of Botany and Director of the Smith College Genetics Experiment Station, 1942-1954. When his wife Margaret Blakeslee died in 1947 he donated money to the college to create a memorial fund in her honor called "An Investment in Friendship." The memorial fund supports the activities of the OBND Club which primarily consist of several dinners each year featuring speakers on a wide variety of topics. Members of the Smith College faculty and administration who plan to continue living in the Northampton area are eligible for membership when they retire.
From the guide to the Out But Not Down Club Records RG 40., 1952-1998, (Smith College Archives)
