1900-1909

Dear Queenie...Dating Advice 1900s Style

Date
1907

"Queenie's Balm for Lovers" is a whimsical piece about dating questions fellow Dickinsonians might have. One of the questions is about a man who has fallen in love with a fellow co-ed student that is in all of his classes, but does not know how to approach her. Another question is about co-ed romance, except this time the man has too many co-eds that like him. In total, he has 8 co-eds that are after his affections and is confused on how to choose the right one for him. These and other questions on such "tangled love affairs" are answered by a said "Queenie".

"To Mrs. McAnney," Who Keeps Watch Over the Co-eds...

Date
1907

"To Mrs. McAnney" is a poem published in the 1907 Microcosm about the woman who watches over the females in their housing. According to the poet, these co-eds are "seldom happy, unless they're with a boy." In order to see these co-eds though, the men have to keep Mrs. McAnney happy when they are at the "Hen Roost" for she will always "treat them square."

Harman Literary Society "Is Marriage A Failure" Cartoon

Date
1907

A section of the 1907 Microcosm included cartoons of various organizations and the types of fictitious contests they would be involved with. One window of the cartoon depicts the Harman Literary Society in a heated debate over the question of "Is Marriage a Failure."

Omega Psi Sorority Becomes Chi Omega in 1907

Date
1907

In 1907, the Omega Psi Sorority was adopted into the Delta Chapter of the Chi Omega Sorority. The Omega Psi Sorority was started in 1899 at Dickinson College.

From the Educational Institution to the Institution of Marriage

Date
1907

The 1908 Microcosm notes that two fellow junior classmates, Chalmers Stuart and Ethel Prouse were married on April 2, 1907. Ethel Prouse had been a "co-ed at the institution for the past three years" and had classes with Chalmers Stuart. The couple had "met about three years ago as classmates" and now has married. On a different subject, the short paragraph on the couple mentions how Stuart used to be the night watchman for Lloyd Hall and had "gained glory for himself on the memorable night of attempted burglary, when he quieted the panic-stricken girls."

Second Woman to Enter Dickinson Law...7 Years Later

Date
1906

7 years after Sara Marvel entered the Dickinson School of Law in 1899, Dolly O'dea is the next woman to go to law school in 1906. As a Junior Class Officer, Dolly is the secretary. Nothing further is mentioned about her in the 1906 Microcosm.

Note to Professors: Never Flunk a Charming Female Student

Date
1906

"After the Exam" is a poem about a male student being taken by a female student's charms after class one day. On this particular day they had taken an exam and the female student tells the male one that she had flunked the exam today. The male student cannot believe what kind of Professor would "flunk such a winsome lass? Her smile would be worth an "A" to me." He further states that he would have passed her in an instant, if he were the Professor, even if she had only given him the slightest nod.

"A Midnight Prowler" at Lloyd Hall

Date
1906

A 'Miscellany' section of the Microcosm included a story about a "night prowler" at Lloyd Hall. Apparently one night, one of the female students saw a man peering in a window at her. This of course caused quite a stir amongst the females staying in Lloyd Hall. To calm the women down, a man was asked to sleep in the Hall until the excitement was over. A Dr. Gooding explained the event in syllogistic form stating, "Man helpful in emergency. Emergency at Lloyd Hall. Man helpful at Lloyd Hall."

A Classroom Joke on Co-eds

Date
1905

The Microcosm has a section where they document some of the great and humorous quotes classmates have heard in the classroom. One of the quotes printed dealt with co-education. The one male student had inquired about the reason why people come to college, that they are to "be made men of, of course?" The second male then answers him, "How about the co-eds?"

Co-eds Are One of the Reasons Why Parents Should Send Their Sons to Dickinson

Date
1905

The Microcosm writes a list of the top 16 reasons why parents should send their sons to Dickinson. One of the reasons is because of the co-eds on campus for "all lovers of beauty can find ample chance for gratification...at the co-ed house, situated very close to the campus." And because women are "admitted to all privileges of the college" it means that good society is "thus insured."