Years Ago: The Historical Digital Collegian Database, now covering 100 years (1887-1987) allows us to re-visit and re-remember Penn State history through the eyes of the student newspaper.
Preparing Female Students to Be "..a Matron instead of a Parlor Ornament."
“It is the responsibility of the College as recipients of the bounty of the government to help citizens who have daughters as well as those who have sons.”—Penn State President, James Calder, 1871.
One year later President Calder reported to the Board of Trustees:
“Thus far six ladies have entered, and have proven as dilligent, orderly, and successful as the young men in the same classes.” “University Open to Coeds in 1871,” The Daily Collegian, Feb. 22, 1955, p. 20
Old State made few concessions to these first six women (784 males were enrolled that year) who attended the same courses as the men—focusing primarily on agriculture, science and engineering. By 1892, however, things had begun to change—women had more education options beyond State College. Some of these are reflected in the advertisments included in the Free Lance:
- Peirce College of Business (Chestnut Street, Philada., Pa.) offered “morning, afternoon and night sessions” in technical knowledge qualifying them for the transaction of business and the proper management of business affairs…. The course is now deemed to be more efficient for the training of youg men and women than ever before…” …1,050 students last year” (May 1, 1887)
- Walter’s Sanitarium (Berks County)—“…which teaches the ‘art’[of Massage] to scores of young women and men, enabling them thus to quadruple their salaries. Its graduates often earn $1,000 to $2,000 per year. We would like to correspond with young women especially with a veiw to their introduction to our school. Terms very moderate” (May 1, 1892)
Also included were Pennsylvania State College advertisments, which sought to attract young men and young women considering further education. Tuition for all courses of study was free:
- “Young women are admitted to all courses on the same terms as Young Men—elective courses in Modern Languages and Literatures and in History and Philosophy now offer them special advantages. A separate Cottage has been erected for their use…”—1897
- “Young Women are admittted to all courses on the same terms as Young Men”--1902.
- “For the Free Education of Both Sexes (1909)
Nursing School Offers
Courses in Family Life
As a result, of up and down female enrollments, partially due to the limited curriculum, dear “Old State” received state appropriations of $12,000 for a program in Home Economics and $13,000 for a Women’s Dormitory in 1907. (“State’s Appropriations,” State Collegian, 10/3/1907, p. 8). In September 1909, the College included 35 “girl students,” 16 of whom lived in the Women’s Cottage. The new Women’s Building was completed and dedicated that fall. (“At the Women’s Building” The State Collegian, Sept. 23, 1907: p. 6) Clearly, the “girl students” were here to stay.
In 1915, MacAllister Hall was re-made into a dormitory for women. The next building to accommodate the growing number of women did not take place until 1923-24, when a new dormitory “for girls” was erected in Holmes Field (cost: $250,000) by the Pennsylvania State Grange as a “part of the college emergency building fund campaign program.” (“State Grange will Erect Dormitory,”Penn State Collegian, Mar.16, 1923, p. 1)
The cost of housing for College students—men and women was frequently reported as the Trustees increased costs and new dorms and housing options became available. Housing in the women dorms ranged from $102-$130 (a second choice room versus a single room compared with the price for men’s rooms $99-$144, a third choice room versus a room with a bath). The meal plan was an additional $198. (“Room, Board Rates Approved by College: 15 Percent Change in Prices Approved by Trustees” The State Collegian, May 23, 1933, p. 1)
Women who were not housed in women’s dorms on campus lodged downtown at places such as the Miles Street Dormitory and the Co-ed Club—two “co-operative living accomodations.” Women were reported as contributing and average of $3.25 per week for a room and the use of a cooking stove, referigerator, and other kitchen facilities.With an additional $2.00 per week they were able to “eat satisfactorily.” Thirty-four women lived within these two co-ops. (“Women in Co-op Dormitories Slash Living Cost to $5.25,” Penn State Collegian, Feb. 9, 1937, p. 1)
Atherton Hall, a new dormitory for women, was completed for the 1938-39 school year. (“Work Starts on New Women’s Dormitory,” Penn State Collegian, Sept. 2, 1937, p. 5). The new Atherton Hall housed 512 women and included a staff of 79 employees (most of whom were students). “Two waiters for each of the 64 tables in the two dining rooms served the young ladies.” (“79 Prepare Food in New Dormitory for 512 Women,” Penn State Collegian, Oct. 7, 1938, p. 1). The College continued to fine tune women’s housing, when, in 1940, 320 women students were housed “in more closely related groups” in McCallister Hall, the Women’s Building, and at least three downtown dormitories, upperclass coeds were placed in Atherton Hall and Grange Dormitory, and transfers in town houses … in order to promote more spirit” among the women. (“’44 Women Excluded from Atherton Hall,” Penn State Collegian, May 30, 1940, p. 2)
Many women students did “work their way” to cover college expenses. In 1934 it was reported 71 women worked for the College; 40 worked on the Carnegie Library staff; 3 were stenographers in the Alumni Office; 6 worked at sandwich shops downtown; and 20 worked as “checker-ins” at the various dormitories; 52 women were “given permission” to work for their room and board at private homes in town and one student worked as a student nurse in the dormitories. (“836 Students Earned Part of Expenses Last Year—Table Waiting Heads List.” Penn State Collegian, Sept. 13, 1934, p. 6).
An air of parentalism from The College to the Coeds underlies many of the restrictions and services offered to “the girls.” In 1922, the Dean of Women, Miss Margaret A. Knight, developed a “record card” to help the women students understand what they intended to do once they left college. Clearly, a good education should not be wasted:
“It is necessary to ascertain whether or not a girl has the ability to do the kind of work she chooses, and if not whether she can develop that ability. All personal characteristics such as helalth, mental ability, conduct, appearance, and attitude toward her work [were] carefully noted and kept on file…”
Dean Knight surveyed the girls and asked them to name their vocational choices—Teaching, Home Economics, and “Other Subjects” topped the list. (“Senior Girls Name Vocational Choices, Plan Inaugurated by Dean M.A. Knight to Discover Interests of Women Students,” Penn State Collegian, Apr l4, 1922, p. 2) Clearly more than a few wanted to keep their options open.
Perhaps some of those women living off campus sought to be free of some of the dormitory housing restrictions. For example, The WSGA Senate announced the following “permissions” over a Memorial Day weekend:
“Coeds who go home after finals and return for houseparties are under College jurisdictioin and must stay in the dormitories. Fireshman womenmust have written permissions from home for houseparties.” (“Coeds Hours Rreleased For Rest of Term, ” Penn State Collegiean, May 24, 1940, p. 2)
And this: “Any women planning to stay overnight in another dormitory or downtown or to leave for the weekend must aks their hostesses for permission—in advance, if possible.” “We Women, April 19, 1940, p. 2
It is hard to understand why there was so much concern about future professions. Women excelled at Penn State. “Three of the five students standing highest scholastically in the sophomore and junior classes” were “women students.” (“Women Students Rank High in Class Standing, Records Show three Co-eds among first five of Sophomore and Junior Students,” Penn State Collegian, Oct. 7, 1924, p. 1) By 1940, 240 Coeds (of the 1,350 enrolled) were earing as much as $36,500 per year, “from odd jobs performed after class hours; total earings of the women was expected to exceed those of any previous year with “domestic work” being the primary occupation (based on an informal campus survey). (The Penn State Collegian, Mar. 8, 1940, p 3)
But then, of course, there was this to consider: Of the 8,300 students enrolled in the 1949/50 school year, 1,500 were women. In Februaryl welcome to the new women students contained in the We the Women column, Frances Keeney, keenly points out:
One of the first discrepancies you will notice on the campus is the vast army of males compared to the scarcity of les femmes fatales. But having 4.53 boys to yourself may prove very adventageous. There is always the Duck Pond or tennis courts to go ice skaiting on; of course .53 carries the skates. Also, the Ski Club is renovating an old farm house to take the place temporarily of the ill-fated Ski Lodge. So things will be all set for you and your 4.53 to go skiing. Perhaps here again .53 coulbe be drafted into hauling duty. (Feb. 6, 1949, p. 14).
Clearing the 4.53:1 male female ratio was a distinct advantage for the women of Old State!
Advertisment seen in The Daily Collegian, Dec. 4, 1952, p.2
