Low, Elizabeth A.

"I was a Co-ed": The First Space for Female Students on Campus

Date
1951

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.

"I was a Co-ed": Elizabeth Low Describes her Experience at Dickinson

Date
1951

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."

"I was a Co-ed": Female Students Rebel at Graduation

Date
1951

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.

"I was a Co-ed": The Lack of Early Women's Societies

Date
1951

In her 1951 memoir, Elizabeth A. Low remembers there being few early women's organizations at Dickinson College. She explained, "You may may wonder why we did not form a soceity of our own. The answer is obvious. There were too few of us, and our interests too diverse. Should each write a history not two would be alike."

"I was a Co-ed": Male Students Feared that Dickinson Would Become a Women's Institution

Date
1951

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."

"I was a Co-ed": Female Students felt Alienated from College

Date
1951

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers how she felt alienated as an early female student at Dickinson College. Low wrote, "Dickinson stressed the idea that women were admitted through the front door, on the same footing as men. This was only partially true. The men had their fraternities, their old established societies, glee and other musical clubs, athletics, field days, games through which contacts were made with the best colleges in the land. They were free to do many things proscribed for us...

"I was a Co-ed": Sorting Yarn in Gym Class

Date
1951

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers her women's gym class. According to Low, women's gym classes were "even worse" than men's gym classes. Low explained, "Gym came two days in succession, and we were so stiff we could scarcely move, and by the time we were limbered up, it was gym day again." Moreover, women's gym classes greatly differed from men's as the college believed that female students were "'too delicately adjusted.'" Instead, the gym instructor had the women sort yarn.

"I was a Co-ed": Socializing Among Female Students

Date
1951

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers the close realtionships shared among many early female students. She wrote that, "for the most part, the girls got along one with the other. However, not all were included in our walks." Low described how the women took long walks together, often while reading Shakespeare to each other. The women walked on High Street and "nearly always past Moorland." Furthermore, Low wrote, "We never, but once, met any male students, as they ran mostly on Hanover Street."

 

"I was a Co-ed": Female Students Insist upon "Inspecting" Elizabeth Low's New Room

Date
1951

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers the day she became a boarder of Miss Annie Rhoads who lived on the corner of West and Pomfret Streets.  Low wrote that she "lost no time" and immediately went to speak to Miss Rhoads so as to secure the room. Consequently, Low had no time to discuss her decision with the other female students. Low explained, "The change was so quickly accomplished that I had not told the Junior and Sophomore co-eds, but they soon found out and came round to inspect my room.

"I was a Co-ed": Coeducation in Dickinson's Prep School

Date
1951

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers her early days as a female student in the Preparatory School. She explained that there was little hostitlity toward female students in the Prep School. She explains that "There was not co-ed problem in the Prep. The boys made no distinction. Had we been refused admission to the society, we would have taken English in class." According to Low, however, black students were not affroded the same acceptance as white female students.