Meredith, Josephine B.

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 her letter to President Morgan dated January 22, 1920, Dean Meredith discusses the running of the household at Metzger Hall. According to Meredith, in order to run the Hall, "two cooks, two house maids, two waitresses, a dishwasher, and George [a janitor]" are needed. The Dean of Women is concerned that the current staff, hired by Sarah K. Ege (the "Lady in charge of Metzger College"), are stealing from the college. Moreover, she argues that they do not do their jobs.

In a letter to President Morgan while on the S. S. Arabic in 1927, Dean Meredith explains her plans for the new female physical training program. She and Miss Frances Janney, instructor in physical culture, discussed the equipment needed as well as the text books required for the program. Dean Meredith ends the letter and proclaims that "physical education will progress next semester."

 

 

In a letter to Dean Meredith, President Morgan advised the Dean of Women to make sure that women who are ill are using the infirmary. It had recently come to his attention they were not and were putting others at risk.

In a letter to Dean Meredith dated April 6, 1920, President Morgan informed the Dean of Women that many female students have been absent from gym class. He wrote that "many of the young women are evading physical exercise. Professor Sellers, for the Absence Committee, says that he gets altogether too many excuses for sickness, but in most cases he feels some hesitation about probing too closely." Thus, President Morgan decided that excuses for gym class must be approved by Dean Meredith before being accepted.

In a letter dated November 12, 1919, a Professor of Forestry at Penn State College (now Penn State University) wrote to Dean Josephine Meredith in reference to her letter regarding trees for the Women's Dorm. The Penn State College offered to donate the trees and deliver them in the spring.

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 a letter dated October 27, 1919, President Morgan wrote Dean Meredith concerned about what he termed "class interference," also known as hazing. Such incidence occurred between sophomore and freshmen women in Metzger Hall.  He asked Dean Meredith to remind the women that a similar situation happened thirteen years earlier and that such behavior would not be tolerated. According to Morgan, such activity would result in expulsion.