1880-1889

The 1888 January Dickinsonian starts off the New Year with a brief article about the "advantages" of co-education. Apparently, the president of the class of 1889 deviated from his speech because he had caught the eye of a particular co-ed that he was found of, in front of everyone. The Dickinsonian further comments upon the scene that if only the 1890 class president had glanced in the same direction, his speech might have been more inspired.

This photograph depicts four women in a physics class. The women in the image are not identified.

This series of five photographs depicts early female Dickinsonians in a physical education class. The women use various forms of equipment in the photos. The photo pictured on this page lists the names of the women and it appears that the same women are in each image.

Beta Theta Pi, one of Dickinson's earliest fraternities, considered admitting Zatae Longsdorff into their fraternity. According to the minutes of April 17, 1885, "Miss Zata Longsdorf was discussed as a fit subject for the bond of fellowship but her case was dismissed." The discussion of her admittance was brief.

A parody on the Junior Oratorical Contest was written in 1886, and taunts Zatae Longsdorff's participation in it. One of the main features of this "event" is  Zatae singing the opening song, "Wait Till the Clouds Roll By." For the purposes of this parody, her oration is renamed from "Hand Workers vs. Head Workers" to "Head Work Verses Pony Work," and that she is labeled as "Our Pride When Absent." Zatae is finally mentioned in "Dramatis Personae" as stating, "I'm a Co-ed; I want a medal."

This photograph is a group picture of early female students of both Dickinson College and the Preparatory School from circa 1887. The women included in this picture are Zatae Longsdorff '87, Mary Curran '88, Hildegarde Longsdorff '88, Elizabeth Bender '88, Mary Evans '89, Alice Kronenberg '89, Mary Himes '89, Jennie Taylor '89, Jessica Longsdorff '91, Elizabeth Low '91, Lenora Whiting '91, Wilhemina Scarborough '91, and Sarah Yocum '91.

The 1889 Dickinsonian criticizes and attempts to give friendly advice to the new co-eds about their actions on campus. They warn them to "Don't be too fresh" and to "avoid all foolishness and flippancy which might place you in a false light...[and] provoke criticism." The Dickinsonian praises the co-eds of 1889 and 1891 as being prime examples of exemplar actions. To the new co-eds, they advise them to look towards these two classes and "consider the prejudice and opposition which they had overcome" and reflect on the respect with which they were treated. 

The 1889 Dickinsonian comments upon the Junior class's selection of editors to write for the Microcosm. Both Elizabeth Low and Jessica Longsdorff were selected for editors of the yearbook. The Dickinsonian believed that "the usual sound judgment of this class must have been temporarily obscured by some sudden streak of gallantry" to let two of the three co-eds participate.

The November 1889 issue of the Dickinsonian mentions briefly a fellow alumnus's comments on co-education. Richard Field had spoken out positively on his experiences with co-education at Dickinson. He stated that in his first year "the girls grabbed all the prizes" and in the second year "the fellows had to study twice as hard, in order not to get left. I am for it."

Two advocators for the admittance of a women's literary society write for the 1889 March issue of the Dickinsonian. The writers speak out against the prejudice against women at Dickinson, and advocate for the creation of a literary society. They speak for the rights of the female students, that it is only fair they be able to create such a committee simply because they attend Dickinson. The other speaker discusses the benefit of allowing the literary society, for its diversity of opinion would provide an increase of interest in the society.