As an annual tradition for five years, the Microcosm selected one female student--based "strictly on beauty"--as the 1959 Miss Microcosm. Unlike 1958, the Microcosm outsourced the selection of Miss Microcosm to James "Maverick" Garner in California. James Garner chose Anne Briner.
Continuing the four-year tradition of electing a "Miss Microcosm" from Dickinson's coeds, the 1958 editorial staff of the Microcosm selected nine students from the nominations of fourteen national fraternities. The staff submitted photos of these women to three judges, who chose one Miss Microcosm, which the yearbook presented "as Dickinson's finest in grace, beauty, and charm."
In 1958, The Dickinsonian was led by a female editor-in-chief, Doris Weigel. According to the Microcosm, the editor-in-chief and her staff deserves "credit for this faithful picture of Dickinson's daily life." While the managing editor was a male student, the feature editor, news editor, copy editor, and business manager were all female.
The 1957 Microcosm continued its three-year custom of electing a "Miss Microcosm" along with her court. Like in 1956, fourteen national fraternities on campus nominated female students from which the editorial staff selected nine. These nine appeared before three judges who chose them based on their beauty and charm. They elected Barbara James Kline, a married student, as "Miss Microcosm." The runners up were Patricia Townsend, Mary Greensides, Patricia Eshelman, Inge Paul, Joan Brownell, Sue Fooder, Jeanne Thomas, and Nancy Cross.
The 1956 Microcosm presented the "Queens of Campus." The fourteen national Greek letter fraternities on campus nominated ten female students to parade in front of three judges. From these, the judges chose one "Miss Microcosm" and six runners up.
The 1955 Microcosm gave the task of selecting the year's "Miss Microcosm" to Jack Webb, a "well-known personality in the theatrical world." Of the eight portraits of Dickinson College coeds sent to him, he chose Joanne Neilson as "Miss Microcosm." Runners-up included: Susan Marquardt, Patricia Eshelman, Jeanne Carlson, Jocelyn Peltz, Carolyn Fitzcharles, Jane Lewis, and Mary Ann Walter.
The 1955 Microcosm lists Victoria Kathryn Hann as the new Dean of Women and lauds her as an "ideal Dean of Women" who is enthusiastic, efficient, has a "winning manner," and understands "women students and their problems."
The 1954 Microcosm shows a picture of the recently completed Drayer Hall which, according to the Ten Year Development Plan, was constructed in 1952 to house upperclass women students.
While the staff of the 1952 Microcosm chose to replace campus beauties with outstanding social events, the 1953 Microcosm brought back the "Campus Beauties" feature. Included with a poem by Lord Byron were pictures of the four female students selected.
Instead of presenting campus queens or Varga girls in the features section of the 1952 Microcosm, the staff chose to highlight social events from the year. They chose five events, including Homecoming, the Christmas season (which comprised a Nativity Play and a Doll Dance, among other activities), the Mid-Winter Ball, the Inter-Fraternity Weekend, and the Follies.