Voices of Today's Woman Seminar

In 1972 on October 5, 6 and 8, Dickinson held a seminar on women in
coordination with the Bicentennial Homecoming the same weekend.  The
seminar was "designed to examine the political, educational, legal, and
social conditions in our society which sometimes tend to reduce women's
participation as full partners with men in many aspects of life."  It was the first seminar on women ever held at Dickinson
and included a play by the Mermaid Players, speeches, workshops and
exhibits.  C. Delores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, was the major speaker. 

Paul E. Kaylor reported his meeting with Dean Mary Carson regarding the Women's Group Social Opinion Survey in a memorandum to President Howard L. Rubendall. Kaylor gives the background of the Women's Group, stating that students "not normally in the 'mainstream' of campus life" formed it the previous year. As a student organization, the group does not fall under rigid administrative control, though, according to Kaylor, the administration had been working to channel the group's efforts.

An article printed in the Dickinsonian discusses the history of women at Dickinson College. From the first acceptance of a woman as a student and female professors being admitted under the faculty status, to the celebrations and workshops, "Voices of Today's Woman," taking place the weekend of October 6th, 1972 in celebrating the changes that have been made.

Mary Ames Raffensperger, M.D. and C. DeLores Tucker were main speakers at "Voices of Today's Woman," a special seminar devoted specifically to women. Dr.Raffensperger was a Coordinator of Rehabilative Services of Childrens' Hospital of Philadelphia and Associate Professor of Pediatrics of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Ms. Raffensperger was also a Trustee of the College, where she received the honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1965.

Honorable C. DeLores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1972 was the main speaker in "Voices of Today's Women" Seminar. Her address was, "Where Do We Go From Here? An Appraisal of the Expanding Role of Women in the 1970's?" was given on Friday, October 6th in the Social Hall. Ms. Tucker was the first Black woman ever named to a Cabinet post in Pennsylvania and was the highest ranking Black woman in the state government in the country at the time. She was also the first Black vice-chairman of the Democratic State Party.

During the weekend of October 5-8th of 1972, a College symposium entitle "Voices of Today's Woman" took place. The committee composed of the Dean of Women Mary Watson Carson, Pam McFarland, who was a graduate intern at the College, and a group of women students planned a diverse program consisting of a play, panel discussions, guest speakers and get-togethers.