1940-1949

"Concerning Automobiles" lists the rules and regulations governing female students and transportation. No women who lives in a dorm on campus was permitted to keep a car in Carlisle unless speical permission was granted. This was to ensure their safety and prevent automobile accidents involving students. However, female students were allowed to ride in automobiles during the day without permission if the distance was short and the trip was for less than an hour.

Like the permission forms for an automobile and absences from meals, these two slips provided information for the College/ dormitory regarding its female students' whereabouts and plans for Saturday. It required information regarding places and times of social programs and the evening meal, and who would be escorting that woman. The evening slip also provides spaces for listing movies location and dance locations. This ensured the safety of female Dickinsonians.

Any absence from a class, college event, or even meal required notification or a pass for an excuse. The College required its female students to provide information about their location if they could not make College or dormitory functions. In an era without cell phones, knowledge regarding female students' welfare and location were considered critical in protecting its students.

Since the College deemed automobiles unnecessary for female students who lived in the dormitories, permission was necessary for students who wished to keep an automobile on campus for a special reason for a short period of time. This slip was required to receive permission to keep an automobile on campus, providing that the information provided proved to the college that a car was necessary.

This slip granted permission for female students to go on an automobile trip. It required the name of the student, the times of departure and return to campus, the reason for the trip and where the trip was to end, and who would be in the car with the student. If the purpose of the trip was not deemed necessary, permission would not be granted.

This card was created for women who needed or wished to leave campus for a certain period of time. It required information about the trip: the day and hour of departure and arrival back on campus, whom was to be visited, how the student would be traveling, and a disclaimer and signature signed by her parents agreeing that should an accident take place, the College would not be held accountable once the student left campus. Dean Meredith collected and approved these notices.

This pamphlet highlights the many rules governing Dickinson students regarding attendance, including special rules and penalties. Class could only be missed for chapel or medical necessities, either due to illness or prearranged for appointments. Demerits were received for skipped classes and being late, even for Physical Education classes. Every unexcused absense was worth 5 demerits, but that was doubled if it was the day before or following a holiday break.

A group of five unidentified women enjoy nice weather on the steps of Old West.  Photo taken circa 1940.

This picture dates circa 1940 and shows a women's bowling team as a part of Dickinson's physical education ideas for women.

Because of a recent tragic death of a female student at a nearby college, Dean Meredith and the College crack down on the rules regarding the female students' travel plans. Women are now required to get an "Absence from Metzger" card every time the student wishes to go on a trip overnight or late at night. This card supplies information both to the college and at home of where the student will be staying, with whom, who will be driving and when they will return.