1890-1899

The Dickinsonian suggests a "Woman's Page" in order for Dickinson to be truly co-educational, and also since female students excel!

This five stanza poem by W.P.S. demonstrates his sadness when Miss Lillian Sara Marvel, the first female law student at the College, does not return his advances.

"Alas! the world has gone away / Since Lillian entered college, / For she has grown so learned, I / Oft tremble at her wonderous  knowledge. / When'er I dare to woo her now / She frowns that I should so annoy her , / And then proclaims, with lofty brow, / Her mission is to be a lawyer."

Miss Martha Barbour was hired as an instructor in physical culture (read, P.E.) for the female students at Dickinson. She was a graduate of the Boston School of Oratory and was not an alumna.

The November 1896 Dickinsonian mentions in the 'Alumni' section the goings-on of Elizabeth Bender '88. After graduating from Dickinson, she taught at the Carlisle Indian School and then decided to leave the country in 1890. Elizabeth Bender traveled to Japan in order to work for the Women's Foreign Missionary Society and is now the principal of the Girls' High School in Awoyama, Tokio. Miss Bender is mentioned as being "one of the first ladies to receive a diploma from Dickinson...capturing the honors of her class."

The March 1893 Dickinsonian published a section in memoriam of Angela E. Harry, a Freshman at Dickinson College and the daughter of Professor J. B. Harry. On February 5, 1893, Angela died in her home of a long illness. The Dickinsonian mentions fondly that her "characteristic traits were innocence simplicity and truth." The Freshman class sent her a beautiful floral tribute as a token of respect to her.

 The November 1893 Dickinsonian about Co-education from the Yale Courant. Ridiculing intellectual students who spend their time looking for the facts about love in books, the poet suggests that they now take advantage of co-education, which would provide many more answers to this life-long question of love.

" You have a key now to the situation , / To learn of love just try Co-education."

Miss Amy Fisher, class of 1895, was the first "regular lady teacher" associated with "this historic old institution." She had been in charge of the study halls at the Prep School, but in Spring 1896 began to teach regular classes at Dickinson. The rest of this entry in the Dickinsonian lauds the College on its liberal views:

Joseph Alexander Bennett (Class of 1894), wrote his commencement oration on the subject of co-education. He argues that instead of helping society, coeducation degrades it.

Dating from around 1890, this photograph shows Lovers Lane on what is now the Academic Quad. Lovers Lane was a tree lined path from West St. and High St. to East College. Many of the trees were taken down in 1929 which makes it difficult to imagine on the present day campus.

Singer, a male student, is reprimanded by his professor for trying to make "himself agreeable to the coeds" which is recorded in the 1892 April Dickinsonian. Professor Himes calls out Singer on his flirtatious actions asking him that when he is finished talking to the ladies, "the lecture will be continued...Please don't sit so close to them in the future."