1920-1929

Madame de Vilaine's Background

Date
December 21, 1922

This document describes S. Louise de Vilain's educational training. According to the document, de Vilaine studied in France and Germany. In 1882, she received her A. M. at Karlsruhe, State of Baden, Germany. 

President Morgan Writes to S. Louise de Vilaine Regarding her Salary and Rank

Date
September 29, 1920

In his letter dated September 29, 1920, President Morgan responded to a complaint mad by S. Louise de Vilaine, instructor of French and House Mother at Metzger Hall. According to the letter, de Vilaine believed President Morgan's decision to not promote her to a a full professor was unfair. President Morgan took offense to this and told de Vilaine to remain calm and explained his stance.

Madame de Vilaine is not Happy with Her Salary

Date
June 2, 1919

After accepting the position as both house mother and instructor at Dickinson College, S. Louise de Vilaine wrote to President Morgan and expressed her disappointment. She wrote, "I accept your offer although it is not as generous as I had expected. My work is worth more and still count on your raising it to $1400 before the year is over."

S. Louise de Vilaine Accepts the Position of House Mother at Metzger Hall

Date
June 28, 1919

In a letter dated June 28, 1919, S. Louise de Vilaine, a French instructor at Dickinson College, accepts the house mother position at Metzger Hall. She wrote President Morgan requesting more information regarding the position, house rules, her teaching agenda, and whether or not she will recieve room and board.

A Female Graduate Describes Her Experiences in Graduate School, 1922

Date
November 12, 1922

In her letter to President Morgan dated November 12, 1922, Helen Witmer describes her experiences as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Witmer was struck by the sheer size of the University and asserted that there were 30,000 people at the homecoming football game alone. Though she was impressed, Witmer explained that she would "still prefer to see an F&M v. Dickinson game."

Dickinson College and the Association for Collegiate Alumnae

Date
January 13, 1921

On January 13, 1921, Dickinson alumna Helen L. Witmer wrote to President Henry Morgan requesting information pertaining to Dickinson's relationship with the Association for Collegiate Alumnae (ACA). According to Witmer, a women's college club was recently formed in Lancaster, PA. However, only women who attended institutions affiliated with the ACA were permitted to join the association. Witmer was told the Dickinson College was not allowed to to join the ACA because the school does not hire female faculty members.

Mrs. J. W. Wetzel Boards Female Students in 1927

Date
August 4, 1927

On August 4, 1927, President Morgan responded to Frances Janney's letter requesting the name of the local woman who lives accross the street from Metzger Hall and boards female students. He explained that the woman's name was Mrs. J. W. Wetzel and she lived on North Hanover Street. He explained that with the college's recommendation, Mrs. Wetzel should accept Janney.

Women Living Off Campus in 1927

Date
August 2, 1927

In August of 1927, a student named Frances A. Janney wrote to President Morgan requesting the name of a woman she could baord with in town. According to Janney, the woman lived accross from Metzger Hall and often takes in female boarders. The woman was recommended by Dean Meredith, the Dean of Women at the time.

In 1927, Many Dickinsonians are STILL Against Coeducation

Date
August 4, 1927

In a letter dated August 4, 1927, Dean Hoffman wrote to President Morgan requesting that Morgan consider the application of Mary K. Gross. Hoffman wrote, "Once again I find myself in the ridiculous position of writing you in behalf of the admission of a co-ed to Dickinson when as a matter of fact I am stolidly against coeducation at Dickinson." This illustrates the ways in which many Dickinsonians had doubts regarding coeducation well into the 20th century.

Separate Campuses for Men and Women

Date
February 28, 1927

In a letter dated February 28, 1927, President Morgan wrote to the President Henry M. Wriston of Lawrence University in regard to a recent article Wriston published in the Educational News. In his article, Wriston advocated having separate campuses for men and women at coeducational institutions. Morgan explained that he was interested in this idea and wanted further information.