Dances

This photograph depicts a group of female Dickinsonians at the 1914 Doll Dance. The women are clad in men's and women's attire.

This photo depicts a female Dickinsonian in her costume from the Doll Dance. The dolls collected for underprivileged children surround her.

 

The photo depicts the dolls collected from the annual Doll Dance. The dolls were sent to underprivileged children in New York.

 

 

This image depicts two Red Cross nurses collecting donations at the 1917 Doll Dance.

This essay by Dean Meredith outlined the problems faced when women attended fraternity dances. She argued that such dances were chaperoned however, before and after the dance was not. Often women would to travel to such events and it was impossible to watch them all the time. Thus, improper behavior occured between men and women.

In a letter to Dean Filler, Dean Meredith explained the College's policy on female students' relations with men of the War College. According to Dean Meredith, the female students often go to the War College to entertain the soldiers. However, there is a strict rule that prohibits women from "entertaining a young man not of the student body without special permission from the Dean of Women." She further explains that such a ruling is not "against the Uniform" but rather against a "chance acquaintance."

 

 

In a letter addressed to Dean Meredith, an unidentified woman discussed the rules regarding dance chapersones. The woman argued that the female staff of the college must chaperone the dances. They will take turns doing so and must be notified by the organization or indivdual hosting the dance. Morevoer, she argues that women who do not live in Metzger Hall should be subject to the same rules as the women living on campus. She suggests that their parents could be notified and should enforce such rules.

In a letter to President Morgan, Dean Meredith explained how she prohibited the women of Dickinson College from attending the Leap Year Dance. According to the letter, the dance was not held on Dickinson College's campus and was in the evening. For these reasons, Dean Meredith opposed the event. In the end, Miss. Mildred Conklin (Class of 1920) spoke with the women and they decided not to go and hold to the rules of the Student Government.

In a letter dated November 4, 1919, President Morgan writes to Dean Meredith regarding the rules of conduct for women at Metzger Hall after viewing them in a copy of the yearbook. Morgan argues that the present system of self-governance among the women is most desireable. However, he is concernd that the rules in place are lax and "too loosely drawn." This is particularly evident in reference to the rules regarding Hall absences.

In the 1951-52 Student Handbook describes the annual Doll Dance in its "Social Events" section. The handbook explains that the dance is held on the last night before Christmas Vacation. It was started by female Dickinsonians in 1901 when they promised Mrs. Maude Ballington Booth that they would "make and collect dolls to be given to the children of New York prisoners." Dancing and skits by students were central to the activities of the evening.