Drayer Hall

History of Metzger Hall

Date
October 1983

Written by Martha Slotten, this history of Metzger explains the building's early beginnings as a Prep School for Girls. After Drayer was built in the early 1950s, only freshman girls lived in Metzger until it was sold in 1963 and later dismantled. The completion of Drayer offered a local housing option for female students who would no longer have to walk many blocks to classes.

Drayer Hall: Residence for Women

Date
circa 1955

Drayer Hall postcard advertising Dickinson College's all female residence, closer to campus than any prior female housing.

A Graduate's Mischievous Memories of Dickinson, 1969

Date
March, 1979

As a further elaboration on her "Women as Leaders" survey, a female graduate reminisces on some mischief she participated in on campus. She remembers sunbathing on the Drayer roof, crawling out of Drayer's basement windows after hours, climbing into the Denny bell tower at night and climbing onto the roof of the library when it was under construction. She also remembers "going to that funny monument between Adams Hall and the Law School to do silly things" as well as "sitting in boxcars on the railroad" near the Biddle Field."

Women's Living Facilities Were "Excellent" According to a 1961 Female Grad

Date
March, 1979

In her "Women as Leaders" survey, a female member of the class of 1961 describes the living conditions for the women while she studied at Dickinson. She felt they were "excellent, with variety available." The women had meals served to them, along with tablecloths, proper "dressing" for meals, etc. She called mealtime "an oasis with close friends twice a day."

Puritannical Rules and No Place to Go

Date
October 28, 1960

The Dickinsonian reports on the issue of campus rules and surveys student opinions. One fraternity man described the social rules as puritannical. Bill Jones disagreed with the rule regarding women visitors in fraternity houses. According to the article, many students expressed disatisfaction over the "lack of places for couples or mixed groups to meet informally...." Shirley Bahrs complained of the lack of activities on campus, and Betsy Kraft bemoaned the fact that Drayer Hall, a women's dormitory, had no recreation room.

A Photo of a Female Student Relaxing in Drayer Hall, c. 1950

Date
1950

Drayer Hall was the first residence hall in Dickinson’s history built by the college solely for women. This photo depicts a woman relaxing in a Drayer Hall dorm room, c. 1950. The name of the woman is not known. If you recognize her, feel free to post the information below.

Female Students Socialize in Drayer Hall, c. 1950

Date
1950

Drayer Hall was the first residence hall in Dickinson’s history built by the college solely for women. This photo depicts three women studying in a Drayer Hall dorm room, c. 1950. The names of the women are not known. If you recognize someone in the photo, feel free to post the information below.

An Early Photo of Female Students Studying in a Drayer Hall Dorm Room. c. 1950

Date
1950

Drayer Hall was the first residence hall in Dickinson’s history built by the college solely for women. This photo depicts two women studying in a Drayer Hall dorm room,
c. 1950. The names of the women are not known. If you recognize someone
in the photo, feel free to post the information below.