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In a letter dated February 28, 1927, President Morgan wrote to the President Henry M. Wriston of Lawrence University in regard to a recent article Wriston published in the Educational News. In his article, Wriston advocated having separate campuses for men and women at coeducational institutions. Morgan explained that he was interested in this idea and wanted further information.

Helen E. Scott and Raphael E. Rupp were both Dickinson graduates of 1922. They were married on April 9, 1927 at the home of the bride's uncle (Dr. C. W. Moody) in Plainville, CT. The newlyweds moved to Methuen, MA.

Dickinsonians who attended the wedding ceremony included: Albert Berkey (1922); Lillian Mindlin (non-graduate of 1923) - wife to Philip E. Semel; Edith M. Robinson (1922) - wife to E. O. Leslie; and Louise Rupp (1919).

     Mary R. Curran (Mrs. J. H. Morgan), Dickinson graduate of 1888, and wife of President J. H. Morgan died on the morning of April 22, 1927.

Josephine Brunyate who graduated from Dickinson with the class of 1901 later became Josephine B. Meredith, Dean of Women of the College.

At the time this issue of the Dickinson Alumnus was released, Dean Meredith planned to spend the summer of 1927 in Europe. She hoped to sail after the 144th Commencement.

Dr. Helen L. Witmer graduated from Dickinson College with the class of 1919. After her graduation, she taught for two years. Witmer recieved her Master's degree in 1923 and her Doctor's degree in 1925; both degrees were received from the University of Winsconsin. She then moved on to conduct research under the Rockefeller Foundation and the University of Minnesota.

Edith A. Cahoon, class of 1902, married Arthur C. Bolte. During the winter of 1926, she spent much of her time at Wellesley visiting with her daughter, a student at Wellesley College, MA.

Lydia M. Gooding, class of 1910, became the librarian for Dickinson College; however, after some time working there she decided to return to school.

She became a student at School of Columbia University during the year of 1927; and was elected to become an instructor for them as of the school year of 1928-29.

 

Dr. Julia Morgan, graduate of 1911, had a post in Tsinanfu, Shantung. She remained there and continued working until she was ordered out by the Consul. When this happened, she set on her way home by way of Europe.

• Lottie Myers graduated with the class of 1912. She later married Mr. Lowe G. Rasmussen and had five sons. She and her sons spent several months with her parents in Carlisle early in 1927 hoping to stick around until Commencement. Her home was in Estlin, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Ivy M. Hudson, class of 1923, went on to teach American History in the Dover Junior HIgh School in Dover, Delaware.

• Sara Kathleen LeFevre, class of 1921, was from Carlisle, PA. She announced her engagement to John McCrosker Horner, of Harrisburg, when they attained a marriage licence in New York. They were to marry at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. The marriage ceremony would was set for some time in June of 1927 (a month or so after getting the license).

In a letter to President Morgan while on the S. S. Arabic in 1927, Dean Meredith explains her plans for the new female physical training program. She and Miss Frances Janney, instructor in physical culture, discussed the equipment needed as well as the text books required for the program. Dean Meredith ends the letter and proclaims that "physical education will progress next semester."

 

 

In August of 1927, a student named Frances A. Janney wrote to President Morgan requesting the name of a woman she could baord with in town. According to Janney, the woman lived accross from Metzger Hall and often takes in female boarders. The woman was recommended by Dean Meredith, the Dean of Women at the time.

In a letter dated August 4, 1927, Dean Hoffman wrote to President Morgan requesting that Morgan consider the application of Mary K. Gross. Hoffman wrote, "Once again I find myself in the ridiculous position of writing you in behalf of the admission of a co-ed to Dickinson when as a matter of fact I am stolidly against coeducation at Dickinson." This illustrates the ways in which many Dickinsonians had doubts regarding coeducation well into the 20th century.

On August 4, 1927, President Morgan responded to Frances Janney's letter requesting the name of the local woman who lives accross the street from Metzger Hall and boards female students. He explained that the woman's name was Mrs. J. W. Wetzel and she lived on North Hanover Street. He explained that with the college's recommendation, Mrs. Wetzel should accept Janney.

The 1930 edition of Dickinson's Microcosm yearbook features an eight page spread of women's portraits under the heading of "Campus Belles".  A committee of "three well known artists” judged and selected eight women as “most worthy of being placed under the caption of Campus Belles”.  Their selection relied "on the basis of a number of aesthetic attributes."  Women featured include, Florence Burt Shaw, Dorothy Virginia Loveland, Lenore Ann Cisney, Kathryn Louise Ammon, M. Jane Dando, Annabel G. Rice, Mary Sophia Everett, and Eleanore May James.

This image depicts a side view of Metzger Hall, the women's dormitory.

In this 1930 letter, Mary Grove, student and Vice President of the Young Women's Christain Association, welcomes a new student to Dickinson College. Part of the "Big sister, Litttle sister" program, Grove offers her congratulations and support as a Big Sister. Grove outlines the role of a "big sister" as well as provides a list of other recommendations.

This document, provided by Dean Josephine Meredith, details the regulations for "automobiling." Regulations were implemented for daytime riding, evening riding, driving to distant places, and finally on maintaining vehicles at Dickinson. Female students were allowed to travel without securing permission during the day, as long as there were a minimum of two female students, and during the evening (as long as it was within city limits). Special permission was needed from the Dean of Women if female students were traveling long distances during the day.

Women's participation in the female chorus or Glee Club doubled between the years of 1930 and 1931.  The Microcosm documents a female chorus with only ten members in 1930.  The following year, however, women seemed to show a desire to branch out and express their musicality; the number of female singers in the group climbed to twenty-four.

This article in the Dickinsonian names Esther Chambers '32 as the new editor of the student newspaper.  Although the article describes her as the "first woman to hold the editorship for many years," earlier female editors have yet to be identified.  The other woman on the newspaper staff at the time was Marie Formad '34.  According to this article, Chambers was to hold a meeting on February 19, 1931 at which she would announce who she had chosen to serve as sports editor, associate editor, and desk editor.  A banquet for the members of the staff was also planned for March 6 at the

The Microcosm’s 1932 issue documents women’s athletics as “intramural only.”  In years past, women’s sports had been “intercollegiate competition between varsity teams,” yet it is noted that this particular system was changed to intramural several years prior to the ‘32 edition of the yearbook.  The sports were “organized along a recreational plan,” where women were “enabled” to chose one of the six athletic options to participate in.  Options included archery, basketball, clogging, riding, swimming, and hockey. 

Photograph taken in 1932 of female archers within the Dickinson College's Physical Education Department. It can be found in the Josephine Meredith Scrapbooks as well as in the 1932 Microcosm, page 234. In the back row, left to right, are Eleanor F. Peters '34, Mary E. Bell '36, Jeanne C. Whittaker '33, Dorothy Hillig '33, (and in front, left to right) Elizabeth M. Pyles '34, Helen M. Epler '34, and Mary L. Loy '31.

The schedule for students living in Metzger Hall began at 7:30am daily and was detailed throughout the day until house closing hours. Special hours were designated for classes, study, lunch, calling, dinner, and evening study hours.

Girls sports were conducted on the intramural plan under the guidance and supervision of the Director of Physical Education for Women at Dickinson College, Miss E Winifred Chapman. Hockey, indoor and outdoor archery, swimming, tennis, basketball, riding and volleyball. Volleyball was newly inroduced as a sport. A playing field was devoted to the girls' use for hockey and archery.  Every woman was required to complete two hours a week from any of the sports. The facilities had greatly improved in the last few years. The Athletic Council, along with Miss Chapman, supervise all sports.

This photograph depicts the Women's Student Government Association in 1933. The Association governed female students.

This photograph is of the Women's Sophomore Field Hockey Team. The women are standing on the steps of the Alumni Gymnasium, not the Weiss Center for the Arts.

The Junior Basketball Group of 1932-33, the Class of 1934. Top row: E. Wentzel, J. Bastress, M. Jacots, M. Davis, E. Billow,

Bottom row: W. LaBau, H. Baker, R. Sharp (capt), H. Allen, E. Hibbs

Dickinson's all female Harman Literary Society actively studied prominent figures in the literary world during the 1933 academic year.  A great deal of their focus during the second semester was "devoted to famous women who had won world-wide recognition in literary and other fields."  The large number of female members in the group is significant in and of itself and mirrors the significance of their focus on and appreciation for the female presence in literature.

Pictured here are the ladies of the Women's Student Government Association (Women's Student Senate) of 1933.

In 1933 the Microcosm reported that each female student was required to participate in two hours a week of the intramural sports offered. In the fall the choices were: hockey, outdoor archery, swimming, tennis, and horseback riding; in the winter: swimming, basketball, and indoor archery; and in the spring: tennis, volleyball, swimming, and riding. Miss Winifred E.

Numbering over 60 women, the McIntyre Literary Society was created for the goals of literary appreciation and self-expression.  This photo documents the group in 1933.

Riding at Dickinson was offered as a spring or fall "elective" for physical education provided an opportunity for female students to enjoy the "outdoor life" to take rides through the woods after learning the basics in a ring. According to the 1934 Microcosm, sometimes the College would plan long trips in which students could horseback ride over the mountains and cook dinner over a fire at the end of the ride.

Female student Minnie Zilch has a satirical article published in the 1934 edition of Dickinson’s Microcosm.  Zilch writes with a keen sarcastic wit and in her article, lists seven humorous reasons why she decided to attend Dickinson College.

The Dickinsonian calls for revisions of the all-College Senate plan proposed by Omicron Delta Kappa.

After some consideration and review, O.D.K. considers a revised plan
for the all-College Senate. The women of Dickinson were not in favor of
the original plan which called for presidents of sororities to
“automatically receive seats in the Senate,” because that gave an unfair advantage to those already in a position of power.  Instead they hoped that
more un-affiliated women of the campus would be able to be involved.
After a meeting with O.D.K. and the Women’s Senate, it was decided that

In an editorial in the October, 1934 Dickinsonian, the author reports that an old question of whether or not the Men's Senate should have power over the entire student body, has arisen once again. "Women, as well as men," argues the author, "contribute to the budget," as well as other aspects of college life, that often times, the Men's Senate are responsible for.

In a response to the editorial in the October 18th issue of the Dickinsonian, which advocated an all-College Senate, the Women's Senate writes and "gives their endorsement to this proposal." Similar to the editor's concerns, the Women's Senate argues that since the Men's Senate "legislates on subjects which are of importance to the entire student body" and membership to the Men's Senate is limited only to men, the practices of said Senate seem unfair because only three fourths of the student body are represented.

The women of Dickinson's campus recognize the need for an all-College Senate, but also realize that there are "certain matters which affect only the women" of the campus.  Thus they propose that they maintain the seperate Men's and Women's Senates and "for the control of the other issues which affect the entire student body, an all-College Senate is both desirable and necessary."  The editor calls this third senate the "super-senate," and argues that it would not be an effective solution to the issues among the student governing organizations.  The caliber of membership would lower and acti

The Dickinsonian, still advocating a unified, all-College Senate,
writes an opinion in the November 30, 1934 issue.  The editor supports
the argument for a re-organized senate with documentation from the
minutes of Men’s Senate meetings; the responsibilities of the group and
the matters discussed and voted upon effected the women of Dickinson's student
body in addition to the men.  The author states, “there is no reason in
logic or justice why the situation of men voting on matters in which

In her report "Women at Dickinson College," Josephine B. Meredith discussed coed organization at Dickinson College. She explained that there were seven such organization. They included:

In her essay " Women at Dickinson College," Josephine Brunyate Meredith discussed women's extracurricular activities at Dickinson College. Meredith first examined the women's literary societies. She argued that the two women's literary societies were not as well organized as the male literary societies. She wrote that "The Literary Societies, however, provide the only chance for many of the students to learn how to speak and if properly helped by the Faculty many students would work hard and enjoy the work.

In her essay, "Women at Dickinson College," Josephine Brunyate Meredith took an in depth look at female students' role in religious life. She first looked at the Y.W.C.A., citing them as "somewhat of a problem" because they did not "reach many girls in a vital way...and lack definite objectives." However, the joint Y.W.C.A. and Y.M.C.A. meetings were well executed and well attended. She also discussed the organization of student called the "Freshman Commission." The organization held a weekly service on Sunday evenings in Metzger Hall.

In her essay "Women at Dickinson College," Josephine Brunyate Meredith has a section in which she discussed "Women's Fraternities" (now referred to as sororities) at Dickinson College. Meredith explained that "We have never had such good spirit existing between the Fraternities as exists at present. Pan-Hellenic rules and rushing methods, the result of years of hard work and experiment are now fairly satisfactory to everybody." Pleased with the women's work, Meredith argued that the college must provide better housing for the female fraternities as they do for the male fraternities.

In her report "Women at Dickinson College," Dean Josaphine B. Meredith discusses women's health in a section entitled "Health." She explained that there had not been a single serious illness in years as she is sure to send any sick women home or to the doctor as soon as she saw symptoms. Moreover, Dean Meredith advocated for a Women's Hygiene Program at Dickinson College. She wrote that "The girls need a course in Hygiene to supplement their physical training. The Physical  Tr. teacher has plenty of time for it.

In this section of her essay, Dean Meredith examined the conditions for study at Dickinson College. She had two main concerns about the conditions in the 1930s. First, Meredith is concerend with women dating. She explained that  commuters tend to come into town early and leave late now that they all have cars. This allows them to socialize and date unsupervised. Likewise, Meredith is concerned about Metzger Hall women dating as well. She explained, "Metzger girls spend their afternoon and other spare time about as day students do.

The introductory part of her report is entitled "Historical." In it she briefly accounts for the reasons women had not been admitted into Dickinson College up until 1884 and outlines the various developments that arose from that year on. Developments addressed include: additions to faculty and trends in enrollment.

Trustees deemed admission of women prior to 1884 inadvisable due to the saturation of recitation rooms, but co-education for Dickinson had been discussed for some time before housing conditions allowed women to
be admitted.

In addition to the noting of two male exchange students, the 1935 edition of the Microcosm documents Janine Morillot’s enrollment in the junior class at Dickinson College.  Morillot was a “valuable addition” to the student body and was “eager to learn everything she possibly could about this country and more especially about [the] College.”  The issue of the Microcosm also documents the date of her unfortunate passing, April 26, 1935, shortly after graduating from Lycee Fenelon.

In her essay "Women at Dickinson College", Dean Meredith discussed dating, dances, and chaperonage at Dickinson College. She explained, "The college is sometimes criticized because boys and girls are together socially so much. Other criticism is not just but it is somewhat merited. About 8 couples can be so conspicuous that they give the college an unenviable reputation." Meredith argued that it is easier to control the relationships if the woman lived in Metzger, however, it was much more difficult to control commuters.