Graduation

In her 1984 research paper "The Presence of the Black American at Dickinson College from 1773 to the Present," Elaine Vivian Watson researched the influence of "Black America" upon Dickinson College. Her paper includes information on "unfamous firsts" at Dickinson as well as information on the Black Alumni Questionaire.

 

Some "Unfamous Firsts" Include:

 

1901: John Robert Paul Brock is the first black male student to graduate from Dickinson College.

 

This photo depicts female graduates of the class of 1916 being welcomed by the class of 1896.

This photograph depicts a group of female Dickinsonian graduating in 1910.

The photo depicts a group of female students at the 1910 Commencement. The photo was entitled "The Suffragettes."

This photo depicts a group of female Dickinsonians at the 1910
Commencement Services. The names of the women in the photo are unknown.

This photo depicts a group of female Dickinsonians at the 1910 Commencement Services. The names of the women in the photo are unknown.

 

Fifty years following her graduation from Dickinson College as the first female student, Zatae Longsdorff Straw received an honorary degree from her alma mater. The award was bestowed upon Zatae due to her position as "the first woman graduate of Dickinson College, a pioneer among women in the field of medicine, combining with a professional career the duties of motherhood and the demands of public service..."

 

 

In her speech delivered during a 1937 Commencementt Week Dinner, Zatae Longsdorff Straw remembers her time at Dickinson College. In the beginning of the speech, Straw admits that this was her first time back to Dickinson since she graduated in 1887. Thus, her mind flooded with memories of Dickinson during her 1937 visit. As the first female graduate, Straw described the harassment she received from her male counterparts. She described many of the faculty including Dr. Rittenhouse whose "eyes filled with tears" when male students treated her unkindly. Dr.

In a letter to Zatae Longsdorff, Dean Clara Marshall M.D. informs Zatae that she sucessfully passed her examinations and was recommended for a Degree of Doctor of Medicine. Longsdorff, the first female graduate of Dickinson College, graduated from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania and practiced medicine throughout her life.

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.