“A Pocketful of Rules”, one of the various pamphlets published by the
Women’s Interdormitory Council in conjunction with the Dean of Women,
dictated the rules, regulations, and “proper behavior” that all women
attending Dickinson College were required to adhere to. First published
in 1964, “A Pocketful of Rules,” specifically outlined procedures and
rules of behavior that women were expected to follow in their dormitory
life and translate into their social life. It was particularly created
to target first year women and guide their adolescent behavior into

Following their decision not to abolish coeducation but rather to implement a quota on female students, the Board of Trustees discussed living arrangements for women on Dickinson's campus. The president of the College asked the Board of Trustees to turn South College into a dormitory for women. The president argued that Lloyd Hall was too small for the women of the college, many of whom had to find housing elsewhere. Thus, the Board of Trustees agreed and decided to renovate South College with a "moderate outlay of money."

Added to the 1967 version of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook are
the regulations on junior key privilege. The junior key privilege
allows junior women to sign out a key after dormitory closing hour on Friday or Saturday nights. Juniors may sign out keys on a first come-first serve basis and must
return by 3am. Other women in the dormitory (roommate or hallmate) must
check to see that the junior has returned by 3am. Violations of the 3am curfew made by the junior result in demerits and are reported to the dormitory president.

Mrs. Hugh A. Curran passed away at the home of President Morgan on February 7, 1924. Hypostatic pneumonia was the cause of her death at 81 years of age. Curran left a legacy of Dickinsonians by marrying a member of the class of 1860. She outlived her husband, and saw her son and daughter graduate from Dickinson. Mary C. Morgan was a member of the class of 1888 and James H. Curran graduated with the class of 1892. Mrs. Hugh Curran became the grandmother of 3 Dickinsonians.

 

Winona Mensch Gray (Class of 1948) describes female dormitory life during World War II in an interview. Gray lived in Metzger Hall during her freshman and sophomore years. She was only one of two sophomores who lived in the hall. She describes Metzger Hall as an "old building with high ceilings." There was a dining room in the basement and wash basins down the hall for laundry. The dean of women lived on the second floor in an apartment. She remembers the beds being uncomfortable.

In an interview, Phoebe Jane Dixon (Class of 1940) comments on the quota system for women. When asked how women felt about the quota system, she answered that she did not know because they never talked about such topics.

On February 25, 1909 convened to discuss the system of coeducation and whether or not coeducation should be continued at Dickinson College. According to the committee, though men were ardently against coeducation at its onset in 1884, many male students are no longer "irritated" by the presence of women at Dickinson College. However, many male students and alumni were concerned that female students, "have won an altogether disproportionate share of College honors and prizes.

Added to the 1966 version of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook are the regulations on senior key privilege. The senior key privilege allows senior women to sign out a key after closing hour. Seniors may sign out keys on a first come-first serve basis and must return by 3am. Other women in the dormitory (roommate or hallmate) must check to see that the senior has returned by 3am. If discovered that the senior idoes not show up or fails to abide by the 3am curfew,  the other women in the dormitory are obligated to report the infraction to the dormitory president.

Added to the 1965 "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook is the proper dress attire for Dickinson's dining hall. Women were required to wear "hose and heels" as well as "skirts and blouses." Men were required to wear slacks, dress shirt, tie, and coat.

Included in all of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook is a series of
pictures and poems, one for each day of the week. This poem reads, "Friday's girl is set for fun, when the busy week is done."

Included in all of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook is a series of pictures and poems, one for each day of the week. This poem reads, "Tuesday's rain brings Wednesday's flowers, Thursday's Child delights in showers."

Included in all of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook is a series of pictures and poems. This poem reads, "Tuesday child begins to fret, when Tuesday turns out dark and wet."

Included in all of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook is a series of pictures and poems. This poem reads, "Monday's child is bright and sassy, quite alert and very classy." This poem is included on the preface page of the guidebook.

Included in all of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook ais a series of pictures and poems. This poem reads, "Saturday is gay and Merry, Sue will dine with Gin and Sherry"

In the general information section of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook are rules on sunbathing, evening walks, and laundry for women. Female students were allowed to sunbathe but only in designated areas, determined by House Council representatives. Female students were "strongly urged" not to take evening walks after dark unaccompanied and laundromats were available to all female students.

As illustrated by Margaret MacGrefor in her interview she stated that in dormitory life, rules and regulations were implemented and monitored by proctors. Members of the opposite sex were not allowed inside the female dorimitories only in the parlors prior to curfew. When the womens relatives or acquaintances would come to pay them a visit the ladies were allowed to leave with them for the day only upon signing in and out. If you intended on staying out late or leave for the entire weekend special permission was required to be obtained.

Mary Ames Raffensperger, M.D. and C. DeLores Tucker were main speakers at "Voices of Today's Woman," a special seminar devoted specifically to women. Dr.Raffensperger was a Coordinator of Rehabilative Services of Childrens' Hospital of Philadelphia and Associate Professor of Pediatrics of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Ms. Raffensperger was also a Trustee of the College, where she received the honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1965.

Being a former member of Chi Omega sorority Margaret MacGregor reported in her interview that in order to govern and monitor student conduct across campus, sororities
had what were called patronesses, ladies from the area who were a part of that
Greek organization or were simply interested in volunteering their time towards
that sorority. Visitations to these chapter patronesses were required and
entailed formal wear in which the ladies had to "get dressed up with white
gloves and hats..." with "... their best finery." If for some

Honorable C. DeLores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1972 was the main speaker in "Voices of Today's Women" Seminar. Her address was, "Where Do We Go From Here? An Appraisal of the Expanding Role of Women in the 1970's?" was given on Friday, October 6th in the Social Hall. Ms. Tucker was the first Black woman ever named to a Cabinet post in Pennsylvania and was the highest ranking Black woman in the state government in the country at the time. She was also the first Black vice-chairman of the Democratic State Party.

As expressed by Margaret MacGregor in her interview she evoked that during the Second World War the great majority of Dickinson College women were extensively involved in social service deeds. As a result of drastic nurse shortages brought about by the global effort overseas, dozens of women would take the Red Cross nurses aid course and for several hours a week worked at the Carlisle Barracks, the Army War College, and the Carlisle Hospital.