Coeducation (arguments against)

In a letter to president Morgan, Dickinson College Trustee L. T. Appold expresses concern regarding the possibility of allowing women on the Alumni Council. Claiming that his opinon on the matter has noting to do with his negative stance on coeducation at Dickinson, Appold argued that this could have a negative affect on the organization. Moreover, few women were a part of the organization at this time.

In a letter dated August of 1923, President Morgan wrote to Bishop William F. McDowell an informed him that coeducation at Dickinson College was in danger. Morgan wrote that "A few of the trustees have not been friendly to coeducation for a good many years, and raised the question at commencement, having it to take the form of a purpose to limit very decidedly the attendance of women." According to Morgan, Boyd Lee Spahr, Mr. Appold, and Mr.

In a letter dated August 9, 1923, President Morgan wrote to Reverend John R. Edwards, warning him that three prominent Dickinsonians are attempting to abolish coeducation at Dickinson College. Morgan explained, "A few of the trustees have not been friendly to co-education for a good many years, and raised the question at commencement... Since commencement, however, it has developed that two or three, Boyd Lee Spahr, Esq., of Philadelphia, being their spokesman, Mr. Appold of Baltimore and Mr.

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.

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.

Joseph Alexander Bennett (Class of 1894), wrote his commencement oration on the subject of co-education. He argues that instead of helping society, coeducation degrades it.

The February 1886 Dickinsonian shows once again that the Freshmen are in a heated debate over co-education. Within the past few days both sides of the class, the co-ed and anti-co-ed, have had "several dreadful encounters."

The "Editorials" section on the front page of the November 1885 Dickinsonian includes an article titled, "A Divided Class," which are divided on co-education. Some members of the class are for "the co-eds" and others are "anti-co-eds." The Dickinsonian calls for the Freshman class to "come to terms" with co-education and to not make themselves a laughing stock of the school. The paper also claims that their fight against the women is ridiculous because "chicks are timid creatures and daren't hurt anybody."

The October 1885 Dickinsonian mentions in the "Locals" section that the Freshman class is torn over the question of co-education. It was stated that ten members of the class "refuse to join the class-organization if the co-eds. are allowed to join." The other half of the class insisted that an invitation be "extended to the fair causes of strife."

The 1909 Microcosm published a humorous piece, the "Debate on Co-Education: Spirited Riot in Harman Literary Meeting." This piece is about a debate amongst the ladies of the Harman Literary Society on whether co-education is better for women or if it is better for women to study at an all-girl's institution.

The Microcosm satirically writes about a fictitious debate on the question that is to be "resolved that the co-ed must go." The first "speaker" begins by complaining that there are too many co-eds around they are "to the right...to the left of us...co-ed doctors, lawyers, preachers, [and] wives..." and that they need to go. The second "speaker" argues against the first, saying that the co-ed "must be with us always" because college life would be "sad and dreary" without their smiling faces.

"A Leaf from the Diary of Darwin's Spirit" is a humorous poem written by H. Curran Wilbur for the 1902 Microcosm. Basically, Curran is writing as if he is Darwin observing the curious case of female students at college. He claims to have found "another product of evolutionary law...the "Co-ed" with her mortarboard and gown." Co-eds are a strange case to him because they are "supposed to be a woman, but it looks more like a man.

In an editorial opinion and comment section of the Microcosm, co-education was amongst many of the diverse topics written about. The author argued about the value of co-education to society, arguing against the education of women alongside men. He felt that educating women has developed the idea of "women's rights clubs, mothers' protective unions, female temperance, political and religious agitators" that is only hurting society.

In March of 1885, the Dickinsonian published a peice illustrating early "co-ed's" experiences in the classroom. The Dickinsonian wrote: "Scene, the German class; Miss L translating, 'Alas! I am only a woman; if I were a man I would do something better than this.' Wild applause from the rest of the class."

In October of 1884, the Dickinsonian formally recognized coeducation at Dickinson College and explained that, "Co-education starts at Dickinson with a good prospect of success. Including those attending the preparatory school we have among us nearly a dozen of the fair sex."

In the October 1884 edition of the Dickinsonian, the staff of the paper addressed the resentment many male students felt toward the new female students. The author explained that "the impression seems to prevail that there will be too much "Co" and not enough "education." However, the article further explained, many of the male students admited that they realized that going coed was the "right thing to do."

The first mention of coeducation in the Dickinsonian appeared in October of 1884. The male editors of the Dickinsonian advised male faculty to not, "show any partiality to the co-eds. (Co-eds. in the parlance of to-day means girls) After-recitation communications cannot be tolerated. Private instructions to a co-ed are only justifiable where the subject is particularly hard to grasp."

In her 1951 memoir, Elizabeth A. Low discusses the reaction of many male students to the institution of coeducation. According to Low, many male students rescented early female students. Low explains, "So far as I know there was never any scandal connected with the name of any co-ed. Much of the opposition resulted from the fear that Dickinson would degenerate into a young ladies seminary-type."

An article in The Dickinsonian's celebration of the college's 90th anniversary entitled "Dolly Destroys Dickinson Tranquility As Students Protest Coed Admission" explains the 1884 furor over the admission of a coed on campus. When Dolly Longsdorf became the first coed, writes the author, the Freshman divided over the "coed question." Dolly and the Board of Trustees stood their ground, and sixteen women were admitted to the college by 1890. The college needed to remodel Old West in order to accomodate female students.

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers how she felt alienated as an early female student at Dickinson College. Low wrote, "Dickinson stressed the idea that women were admitted through the front door, on the same footing as men. This was only partially true. The men had their fraternities, their old established societies, glee and other musical clubs, athletics, field days, games through which contacts were made with the best colleges in the land. They were free to do many things proscribed for us...

In her memoir recounting her time at Dickinson, Elizabeth Low remembers the treatment of female students by their male peers. She recalled that, "Some of these [female students] were attractive, charming young girls, but they were all co-eds, and woe to the one who tried to force herself to a recognition that was not given voluntarily." She further explains that "Personality was a factor, of course, and when linked to fine scholarship won not only the respect but admiration of male students. Some were ignored."

An inset in The Dickinsonian pokes fun at coeducation in a fictional conversation between a coed and a male student.
D-son coed: (Smarting) Where would this college be without girls?
D-son man: (Cool) Penn Hall and Wilson.

In her memoir recounting her experiences as an early female student at Dickinson College, Low recalls a fellow "co-ed" sophomore who "was more like a Dean than just another student." Though Low never mentions the woman's name, she explains that "She took her work seriously and co-education as her personal responsibility." Moreover, at an early party hosted by the sophomore "co-ed" she urged her fellow female students to sign a pledge proclaiming that "'We are set apart, destined for careers, we were superior and should not allow any entangling alliances to interfere with our life work." Unf

Upon her arrival at Dickinson College in 1886, Elizabeth Low was shocked to find that no housing arrangements had been made for female students. Unlike their male counterparts, early female Dickinsonians were not permitted to live in dorms on campus. Moreover, the school had not found housing in town for the young women.

In her 1951 memoir, Elizabeth A. Low recounts her time at Dickinson College as an early "co-ed." Low's memoir traces her career as a student in the preparatory school through to her latter years as a college student. Her story not only highlights Dickinson campus culture in the late nineteenth-century, but it also discusses what it was like to be an early female student at Dickinson College. Due to the large amount of information included in the piece, the document has been broken up into several posts with several themes including:

On May 24, 1883, the faculty discussed whether or not female students should be admitted to Dickinson College. Referencing the discussion regarding coeducation that took place two years earlier, the faculty decided that the conditions of the college grounds were now suitable for female students. Thus, the faculty decided to "recommend to the Board of Trustees that women be admitted to the classes of the college on the same conditions of men." Nearly all the faculty, with the exception of Professor Harman, voted in favor of coeducation.

On February 25, 1909 convened to discuss the system of coeducation and whether or not coeducation should be continued at Dickinson College. According to the committee, though men were ardently against coeducation at its onset in 1884, many male students are no longer "irritated" by the presence of women at Dickinson College. However, many male students and alumni were concerned that female students, "have won an altogether disproportionate share of College honors and prizes.

In 1908, the Board of Trustees established a committee to investigate the "advisability of continuing the Co-education at Dickinson College and whether we should decrease or diminish the facilities accorded to women." Trustee C.H. Zug and H. C. King led the committee and were to present their findings at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.

In his annual report to the Board of Trustees, President McCauley announces the beginning of coeducation at Dickinson College. The President asserts that since the first conversations regarding the admittance of women, changes have been made to the college buildings. Such changes include the building of rooms in which to hold recitation. Previously, recitation was held in men's dormitories (a location women in which women were not permitted).

Following its formation on June 26, 1883, the Committee on the Admission of Women presented its report on June 27, 1883. Trustee Alexander Gibson presented the report verbally. According to the minutes, "On motion consideration of the question was postponed for the present."