HCC's story began in 1946 as the city-sponsored Holyoke Junior College, a fledgling institution that lacked many of the resources traditionally associated with colleges. Nevertheless, the school flourished, thanks to the perseverance of its small but dedicated staff. Dr. George Frost, the school's founder, and Ellen Lynch, his secretary, were the only full-time employees until 1958, sharing a tiny office in a former cloak room in the Holyoke High School building. Together they scavenged chalk, erasers, and pencils for the part-time faculty (many of whom were professors at area four-year colleges and universities), who taught classes in the borrowed quarters during the evenings. Innovation was, and continues to be, a cornerstone of the college's pursuit of excellence.