1950-1959

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers President Reed advising female students not to pursue certain careers. According to Low, after reading her oration, President Reed, "using my manuscript as a foundation, he read and refuted, telling me some of the fundamental truths of life. I still thanked him. Today, the idea of a woman entering other profession than teaching would pass without comment."

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers the first space soley for female students at Dickinson College. According to Low, the room was on the first floor of Bosler, next to the chapel. According to Low, the room was created after Dr. Reed became the President of the College.

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low describes her time at Dickinson College. She wrote, "My college life seemed a little one sided and lopsided at that. I got the broader view, and about as bitter an experience as any girl could have."

According to the 1958 student handbook, female students were expected to be "mature, poised, and self-reliant. They should show courtesy and consideration to others, and in all their relationships should be friendly, cultured, and forthright." The handbook further outlines instructions on dress (which should be "dignified" and "neat"), speech (which should be "calm and stright-forward, never evasive, boisterous or vulgar") and conduct.

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers an instance in which female students rebeled at graduation and wore white. Prior to the rebelion, and much to the chagrin of many female students, all students were required to wear black gowns at graduation. Low, like other early women at Dickinson, detested the requirement. However, she was forced to wear the color to her own graduation.

In her 1951 memoir, Elizabeth A. Low discusses the reaction of many male students to the institution of coeducation. According to Low, many male students rescented early female students. Low explains, "So far as I know there was never any scandal connected with the name of any co-ed. Much of the opposition resulted from the fear that Dickinson would degenerate into a young ladies seminary-type."

Under the Fraternity Social Functions section under the 1957 student handbook, female students were allowed to attend evening dinners at fraternity houses under the following regulations:

• one chaperone must be present
• female students were not allowed to arrive prior than 5:45pm and stay past 7:15pm
• the dinner must have been registered with the Dean of Women by the Wednesday before the event
• the president and officers were responsible for "conduct" as well as "maintaining the established hours of arrival and departure"

Wheel and Chain is a local honor society established in 1924. Membership includes up to nine senior women that exhibit excellence in "scholarship, outstanding leadership and activities, and service to the college." According to the 1957 student handbook, the purpose of Wheel and Chain was to promote fellowship among senior women.

The list of "women's rules" included in the 1956-57 student handbook was modified from a list of nine rules to seven that freshman students were required to adhere to.

The Mid-Winter Ball was an annual college event, where a "queen and her attendants are elected by the student body." The highlight of the dance was the actual crowning of the queen. The queen's responsibility was to "rule over the ball." In 1951, Ann Prescott won the title of queen at the Mid-Winter Ball.